The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; [so] it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. Ver. 1. _The burden of the desert of the sea,_] _i.e., _ Of Babylon, Isa 21:9 which is here called a sea, because situated by many waters, Jeremiah 51:13 _; _ Jer 51:3... [ Continue Reading ]
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Ver. 2. _A grievous vision._] Heb., Hard, harsh, _tyrannorum speculum:_ here is hard for hard; God loveth to... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it]. Ver. 3. _Therefore are my loins filled with pains._] I, Babylon, or I, Belshazzar, am in a woe case. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. Ver. 4. _My heart panted._] Or, Fluttereth to and fro, as not able to keep in its place. _Viro impio calamitatibus presso nihil desperatius est._ Nothing is more hopeless and crest fallen than a w... [ Continue Reading ]
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield. Ver. 5. _Prepare the table._] _Insultat regi Balthasari, ac irridendo voces illius memorat._ _a_ Prepare the table, said Belshazzar. But more need he had to have said, Prepare the battle; set the arm... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth._ Ver. 6. _For thus hath the Lord said unto me._] Confirming, by a prophetic vision, what I had foretold concerning the calamity of the Chaldees.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: Ver. 7. _And he saw,_] _scil., _ In a vision. _ A chariot with a couple of horsemen._] Darius and Cyrus. _ A chariot of asses and a chariot of camels._] Bea... [ Continue Reading ]
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: Ver. 8. _And he cried, A lion,_] _i.e., _ A stout and cruel enemy is upon us. Or, He cried as a lion, so some render it - that is, the watchman cried aloud, professing his ut... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. Ver. 9. _And, behold, here cometh a chariot o men._] Or, Behold, even now are gone in - that is Cyrus... [ Continue Reading ]
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. Ver. 10. _O my threshing, and the corn of my floor._] That is, O my church and people, whom by so many tribulations I have hitherto been threshing, that I might sunde... [ Continue Reading ]
_The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?_ Ver. 11. _The burden of Dumah,_] _i.e., _ Of Idumea, _a_ or of the Edomites. For burden, see on Isaiah 13:1. This prophecy is the shorter the harder. The Jews apply this prophecy to Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. Ver. 12. _The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night._] This is a short and sharp answer - _q.d., _ say it be yet morning with you and clear day; yet, as sure as the night followe... [ Continue Reading ]
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. Ver. 13. _The burden upon Arabia._] As a burden upon a beast. These Arabians or Hagarens had assisted, likely, Tihakah the Ethiopian against Sennacherib, and are therefore set upon by him. Sure it... [ Continue Reading ]
The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. Ver. 14. _Brought water to the thirsty._] Or, Bring forth water wherewith to meet the thirsty; with your bread prevent those that flee; be speedy and spontaneous in your benefic... [ Continue Reading ]
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. Ver. 15. _For they fled from the swords, &c._] Swords, bows, battle to all the rest. Crosses seldom come single. See on James 1:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: Ver. 16. _Within a year, after the years of an hireling._] See on Isaiah 16:14; before the year be come about. _ All the glory of Kedar._] Whose tents Psa 120:5 were ru... [ Continue Reading ]
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it]. Ver. 17. _And the residue of the number of archers._] Heb., Of the bow, whereby these Kedarens lived much, as had also their ancestor Ishmael. Gen 21:... [ Continue Reading ]