The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Ver. 1. _The burden._] That is, the burdenous prophecy. It should not have seemed a burden, Jer 23:36 but it is a grievous burden to graceless persons to be told of their sins, and foretold of their punishments. _See Trapp on "_ Nah 1:1 _... [ Continue Reading ]
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. Ver. 2. _Lift up a banner._] _Deus hic quasi classicum canit; _ God, as chief general, gives forth his orders to the Medes and Persians. He is a "man of war," Exo 15... [ Continue Reading ]
I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, [even] them that rejoice in my highness. Ver. 3. _I have commanded my sanctified ones,_] _i.e., _ I have by my secret instinct stirred up and set on my Medes and Persians, Isa 13:17 whom in my decree I have set a... [ Continue Reading ]
The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. Ver. 4. _The noise of the multitude._] The Medes that come against Babylon are both numerous and streperous, as... [ Continue Reading ]
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Ver. 5. _They come from a far country._] Heb., From a land of longinquity. _Even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation._] ' Oπολομαχους, "Vessels of wrath,... [ Continue Reading ]
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Ver. 6. _Howl ye._] "For the evils that are coming upon you" (as in Jam 5:1). We may well say the same to mystical Babylon. _ For the day of the Lord is at hand._] And yet it came not till over two hun... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: Ver. 7. _Therefore shall all hands be faint._] Base fear, that cowardly passion, shall betray them to the enemy, by expectorating their courage, and causing their hearts to fall into their heels, as we say. But this also cometh f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames._ Ver. 8. _And they shall be afraid._] “ _Conturbabuntur -_ Innumerabilibus sollicitudinibus. ” __ They s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it._ Ver. 9. _Behold the day of the Lord cometh cruel._] So it shall seem to the enemies, because "an evil, an only evil, behold, is come," Eze 7:5... [ Continue Reading ]
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. Ver. 10. _For the stars of heaven shall not give their light._] _a_ They shall have punishment without pity, misery witho... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Ver. 11. _And I will punish the world._] That is, the Chaldean state; for they reckoned themselves κοσμοκρατορας,... [ Continue Reading ]
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Ver. 12. _I will make a man more precious._] _Quod rarum, carum._ Men shall be reduced to a small number, not nobles only, _sed triobolares homunciones,_ but peasants; nor shall any money be taken in exchange... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. Ver. 13. _Therefore I will shake the heavens,_] _i.e., _ For the pride, arrogance, cruelty, and other impieties of these Babylonians, I will bring... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. Ver. 14. _And it shall be as the chased roe._] Or, "She," that is, Babylon, "shall be," when drunk with security, that usher of destruction, sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword. Ver. 15. _Every one that is found shall be thrust through._] This maketh them flee for it. _Quis enim vult mori? prorsus nemo._ Life is sweet, and men will rather flee than die. _ Eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. Ver. 16. _Their children shall be dashed in pieces, &c._] As had been prayed and prophesied long before Psa 137:9 and this was but _lex talionis._ See 2Ch 36:17 Lamentations 5:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and [as for] gold, they shall not delight in it. Ver. 17. _Behold I will stir up the Medes._] Together with the Persians under the conduct of Darius and Cyrus. _ Which shall not regard silver,_] _sc., _ For a ransom, but... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 13:18 [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. Ver. 18. _Their bows also shall dash the young men._] They shall double destroy them. _O barbaram crudelitatem!_ O cruel barbarian. _a_ And t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah._ Ver. 19. _And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms._] Those four great monarchies of the world had their times and their turns, their rise and their ruin. The Roman empire can... [ Continue Reading ]
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. Ver. 20. _Neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there._] The Scenites, _a_ or vagrant shepherds of the Arabian Deser... [ Continue Reading ]
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. Ver. 21. _But wild beasts of the desert._] Heb., _Ijim, Ochim, &c._ These are names of wild creatures unknown to us in these parts. _ And sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. Ver. 22. _And the wild beasts of the islands._] Heb., _Ijim_ - _i.e., _ desolate places and far remote. _ And her tim... [ Continue Reading ]