1._The burden of Damascus. _Here he prophesies against the kingdom of Syria, and mentions the chief city in which the seat of the kingdom lay. It was proper that this calamity, like others which came before it, should be described, that the righteous might confidently believe that God would one day... [ Continue Reading ]
2._The cities of Aroer are forsaken. _It is not probable that _Aroer _here denotes the city which is mentioned elsewhere, (Numbers 32:34;) but it is rather the name of a country. He draws the picture of a country which has been ruined; for he shews that those places in which cities had been built wi... [ Continue Reading ]
3._The fortress shall cease. _(4) He points out the reason why the Lord determines to cut off the kingdom of Syria. Amos (Amos 1:3) enumerates additional reasons, but the most important was that which the Prophet mentions, namely, that they had drawn the kingdom of Israel to their side for the purpo... [ Continue Reading ]
4._The glory of Jacob shall be diminished. _(5) Although he had undertaken to speak of Syria and Damascus, he takes occasion to join Israel with the Syrians, because they were bound by a mutual league, and were united in the same cause. The Syrians, indeed, whom Isaiah chiefly addresses, were like a... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And it shall be as when the harvest-man gathereth the corn. _He shews by a comparison how great will be the desolation. “As the reapers,” he says, “gather the corn in armfuls, so this multitude, though large and extended, will be mowed down by the enemies.” Now that he may not leave a remainder,... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it. _This metaphor has a different meaning from the former; for as if the name of the nation were to be entirely blotted out, he had expressly foretold that nothing would be left after the slaughter. He now adds a consolation, and thus abates the severity of t... [ Continue Reading ]
7._At that day shall a man look to his Maker. _He now shews the fruit of this chastisement, and this is the second consolation with which the godly ought to fortify themselves amidst their afflictions. Although they perceive nothing but the wrath of God, yet they ought to reflect that the Lord, who... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And he shall not look to the altars. _This contrast shews more clearly that the _looking _which he spoke of in the former verse relates strictly to hope and confidence, for he says that every kind of sinful confidence will vanish away when men have learned to hope in God; and indeed in no other m... [ Continue Reading ]
9._In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough. _He follows out what he had begun to say about driving out the inhabitants of the country; and as the Israelites, trusting to their fortified cities and to their bulwarks, thought that they were in safety, he threatens that they will be... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation. _He shews the reason why the Lord exercises such severity against the Ten Tribes, that they may not complain of being unjustly afflicted or too harshly treated. The sum of what is stated is, that all those evils come to them because they have... [ Continue Reading ]
11._In the day. _This denotes the incessant labor which is bestowed on plants and seeds. Yet we might understand by it the fruit which is yielded, as if a vine newly planted would immediately produce wine. And this agrees with the next clause, in which _the morning _is put for _the day. _This appear... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Alas _(8) _for the multitude! _Some render Woe, making it to denote execration. Sometimes, as we have seen elsewhere, it is employed in calling to a person; but on the present occasion I rather think that it betokens sorrow, (9) for he groans on account of the calamity which he foresees will bef... [ Continue Reading ]
13._The nations shall rush. _Although he appears to follow out that threatening, which he formerly uttered, yet he begins to comfort believers by repeating the same statement, as if we should say, “They who were unmindful of God must be punished for their wicked revolt, and must be, as it were, over... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And, behold, at evening tide trouble. _The meaning is, “As when a storm has been raised in the _evening, _and soon afterwards allayed, no trace of it is found in the _morning, _so will cheerful prosperity suddenly arise, contrary to expectation.” The Prophet intended to state two things — first,... [ Continue Reading ]