A Prophecy of Vengeance on Edom, and the future blessedness of Israel The oracle consists of two sharply contrasted eschatological pictures, one of judgment, the other of redemption. i. The first (ch. 34) commences with a lurid description of the terrors of the last judgment, which is a universal... [ Continue Reading ]
The announcement of the world-judgment, introduced by a proclamation addressed to all nations. The peoples are invited to _come near_, as if for debate (ch. Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 57:3), but really to hear their doom. Cf. ch. Isaiah 1:2; Deuteronomy 32:1; Micah 1:2. _all that is therein_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the indignation of the Lord_ Rather, FOR JEHOVAH HATH INDIGNATION … AND FURY. It is remarkable that no reason is assigned for Jehovah's anger. _their armies_ THEIR HOST (R.V.). _he hath utterly destroyed them_ Lit. HE HATH MADE THEM A DEVOTED THING, _ḥçrem_, a technical word for that which is... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Joel 2:20; Amos 4:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
The representation seems somewhat confused. Bickell acutely observes that "the host of heaven" is probably a marginal gloss to "their host" later in the verse, and that the original subject of the first clause ("the hills") has been displaced by it. The first line then supplies the parallel to the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_my sword_(see on ch. Isaiah 27:1) _shall be bathed_ Better: IS DRUNK; i.e. not "with blood" (which suggests an idea foreign to this passage) but "with fury," in preparation for its work, which is on earth. _Idumea_ Read EDOM with R.V. The A.V. uses this Greek form here and in Isaiah 34:6, and in E... [ Continue Reading ]
The slaughter of the inhabitants of Edom.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sword of the Lord is filled_ Render: A SWORD HATH JEHOVAH WHICH IS FILLED, &c. _made fat with fatness_ Or, "greased with fat" (different words in the original). The Edomites are compared to sacrificial animals; cf. Zephaniah 1:7; Jeremiah 46:10; Jeremiah 51:40; Ezekiel 39:17 ff. (See also 2 Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
For _unicorns_render with R.V. WILD OXEN. _come down_ sc. to the place of slaughter, Jeremiah 48:15, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. ch. Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 63:4; Jeremiah 50:28; Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 51:11. _the controversy of Zion_ with Edom.... [ Continue Reading ]
The description is no doubt suggested by the volcanic phenomena which accompanied the destruction of the neighbouring cities of the Plain (Genesis 19; Jeremiah 49:18). The division of clauses in the LXX. is much preferable to that in the Hebrew Text. Render accordingly: … AND ITS LAND SHALL BECOME P... [ Continue Reading ]
The fate of the land of Edom is next represented under two incompatible images, first that of a perpetual conflagration (Isaiah 34:9), and second that of a dreary solitude, peopled only by "doleful creatures" (Isaiah 34:11 ff.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the cormorant and the bittern_ Zephaniah 2:14. R.V. has "the pelican (Leviticus 11:18; Psalms 102:6) and the porcupine"; for the latter see on ch. Isaiah 14:23. _the line of confusion, and the stones_(R.V. PLUMMET) _of emptiness_ See on ch. Isaiah 28:17. These implements of the builder were natural... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall call the nobles … there_ A very obscure sentence, probably through a defect in the text. The rendering of E.V. might be maintained if with Prof. Weir we suppose a transposition of words in the original; the inference being that the monarchy in Edom was elective (cf. Genesis 36:31 ff.). M... [ Continue Reading ]
The mention of nobles and princes naturally leads to the palaces and castles. _dragons … owls_ JACKALS … OSTRICHES (R.V.). See on ch. Isaiah 13:21 f.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wild beasts the desert … wild beasts of the island … satyr_ See on ch. Isaiah 13:21 f. _the shrich owl_ The Hebr. is _Lîlîth_, a fem. formation from _Iáil_"night." Render with Cheyne: THE NIGHT-HAG. Lilith appears to be a creation of the Babylonian demonology. "This Lilith plays a great part in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the great owl_ THE ARROWSNAKE as in R.V. _gather under her shadow_ The expression is almost meaningless, when applied to a very small snake. Duhm, by a clever emendation, reads "shall lay and hatch and heap up her eggs" (_bêçehâ_for _běçillâh_).... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse is remarkable in several respects. It seems to be a solemn assurance that the foregoing prediction shall be fulfilled literally and down to the smallest details; and must therefore be addressed to a future generation of readers. This implies a view of the scope and functions of prophecy, w... [ Continue Reading ]
The eternity of the judgment is again emphasised (Isaiah 34:10).... [ Continue Reading ]