It is probable that the prophecy in this chapter was delivered about the same time as that in the previous chapter, and on the same general occasion. It is evident that it refers to the time of Hezekiah, when the Jews were alarmed by an apprehended invasion of the king of Assyria. Hezekiah had revol... [ Continue Reading ]
WO, - (see the note at Isaiah 18:1). TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN - To those whom he had nourished as children, and who had rebelled against him (see the note at Isaiah 1:23). THAT TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF ME - They look to Egypt, and depend on a human arm. AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING - The idea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WALK TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT - Hebrew, ‘Going in the descent to Egypt.’ That is, they do it by their ambassadors Isaiah 30:4. The journey to Egypt from Palestine is always represented as going down Genesis 12:10; Genesis 42:3; Genesis 43:15; Numbers 20:15; Deuteronomy 10:22. TO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SHALL THE STRENGTH OF PHARAOH BE YOUR SHAME - (see the note at Isaiah 20:5). YOUR CONFUSION - Hebrew, ‘For reproach.’ It would either occur that the Egyptians “would” not enter into an alliance; or that if they did, they “could” not defend them, and in either case it would be the source o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS PRINCES - The sense of this verse seems to be this. The prophet is stating the fact that the Jews would be ashamed of their attempted alliance with Egypt. In this verse, and the following, he states the manner in which they would be made sensible of their folly in seeking this alliance. He t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ALL ASHAMED - That is, all the legates or ambassadors. When they came into Egypt, they found them either unwilling to enter into an alliance, or unable to render them any aid, and they were ashamed that they had sought their assistance rather than depend on God (compare Jeremiah 2:36).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF THE BEASTS OF THE SOUTH - The word ‘south’ here refers doubtless to the country to the south of Judea; and particularly to Egypt. Thus it is used in Daniel 11:5. The phrase ‘beasts of the south,’ here refers to the animals that were traveling to Egypt. Isaiah, in vision, sees the carav... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE EGYPTIANS SHALL HELP IN VAIN - That is, if they enter into the alliance, they shall not be able to defend you from the invader. The other member of the sentence would seem to imply that they would make promises of aid, and would even boast of being able to deliver them, but that they would f... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW GO - This is a direction to the prophet to make a permanent record of the character of the Jewish people. The fact to be recorded was, that they were rebellious Isaiah 30:9; the design for which the record was to be made was to show to future times that this had been the uniform character of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THIS IS A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE - (see the note at Isaiah 1:2). LYING CHILDREN - They had promised in solemn covenant to take Yahweh as their God, but they had been unfaithful to their vows.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SAY TO THE SEERS - The prophets (see the note at Isaiah 1:1). SEE NOT - They desire not that they should communicate to them the will of Yahweh. PROPHESY NOT UNTO US RIGHT THINGS - It is not probable that they “openly” demanded of the prophets that they should declare falsehood and deceit, b... [ Continue Reading ]
GET YE OUT OF THE WAY - Or, rather, ‘Recede from the way;’ or ‘Turn aside from the way.’ The words “way” and “path” are used to denote the true religion, or the true doctrines of God Matthew 7:14; Matthew 22:16; John 14:4; Acts 18:26; Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23; 2 Peter 2:15. The request here was that th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE HOLY ONE - Yahweh. There may be some reference here to the fact adverted to in Isaiah 30:11, that they were weary of the name of the Holy One of Israel, and of the perpetual reiteration of his commands. Isaiah, as if to show them how little he was disposed to comply with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THIS INIQUITY - That is, this refusing to trust in Yahweh, and this intention to seek the alliance of Egypt. The general sense of the figure here is, that their depending on Egypt would involve them ultimately in complete and awful ruin - ruin that should come upon them as suddenly as when... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL BREAK IT AS THE BREAKING - That is, its breaking shall be like the breaking of a potter’s vessel. The Septuagint reads it, ‘And its fall (τὸ πτῶμα _to_ _ptōma_) shall be like the breaking of an earthen vessel,’ AS THE BREAKING OF THE POTTER’S VESSEL - That is, as an earthen, fragile... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD - The design of this verse is to give a reason for the destruction that should come upon them. That reason was, that God had indicated to them the path of truth and safety, but they chose not to follow it, and refused to put confidence in him. IN RETURNING - In returning... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE SAID, NO - Ye who proposed an alliance with Egypt. FOR WE WILL FLEE UPON HORSES - The word ‘flee’ (נוּס _nûc_), usually signifies to flee before or from any person or thing. But here it seems to have the notion of making a rapid motion in general, and not to refer to the fact that they expec... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE THOUSAND ... - The sense of this is, that you shall be easily alarmed and overcome by those who are inferior in numbers and strength. The number ‘one thousand,’ is put for a large indefinite number; probably meaning all. AT THE REBUKE OF ONE - The number one here is put to denote a very small n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEREFORE - The sense of the words rendered ‘and therefore,’ may be better expressed by the phrase, ‘yet moreover,’ meaning, that notwithstanding their sins, and the necessity of punishing them, Yahweh would be longsuffering, and would yet bring the nation to repentance. AND THEREFORE WILL HE BE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL IN ZION - (see the note at Isaiah 1:8). The language here is evidently adapted to a return from the captivity. The whole design of the passage Isaiah 30:19 is to describe a future state of prosperity by images mainly drawn from the idea of temporal enjoyment. The sense is,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH THE LORD GIVE YOU THE BREAD OF ADVERSITY - The bread that is eaten in a time of calamity; that is, he would bring upon them sore distress and want. THE WATER OF AFFLICTION - Margin, ‘Oppression.’ That is, water drank in times of affliction and oppression, or in the long and weary days of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINE EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD - A command or admonition. You shall not be left without spiritual guides and directors. BEHIND THEE - That is, says Vitringa, the voice of conscience, as an “invisible” guide, shall admonish you. The idea, however, seems to be that if they were ignorant of the way,... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL DEFILE ALSO - That is, you shall regard them as polluted and abominable. This is language which is often used respecting their treatment of the images and altars of idolatry when they became objects of abomination, and when they were induced to abandon them (see 2 Kings 23:8, 2 Kings 23:10,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HE GIVE THE RAIN OF THY SEED - That is, he shall send rain on the seed which is sown. You will be allowed to cultivate the soil without molestation, and God will give you fruitful seasons and abundant harvests. This is a poetic description of a happy or golden age, when there would be pea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG DONKEYS THAT EAR THE GROUND - Hebrew, ‘Labouring,’ or ‘cultivating the ground,’ that is, plowing it. The Old English word “ear” (from the Latin _aro_) meant to till, to cultivate. The word is now obselete, but this is the sense which it has in the Bible Genesis 45:6; Exodus 34:21; Deu 21:4... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY OF THE GREAT SLAUGHTER - When the enemies of the people of God shall have been destroyed - probably in a time subsequent to the slaughter of the army of the Assyrians. WHEN THE TOWERS FALL - The towers of the enemy; perhaps referring here to the towers of Babylon. After they should fall,... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER - In addition to all the blessings which are enumerated above. THE LIGHT OF THE MOON - Light is in the Scriptures an emblem of purity, intelligence, happiness, prosperity; as darkness is an emblem of ignorance, calamity, and sin. This figure is often used by the poets. Thus Horace: _Soles... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE NAME OF THE LORD COMETH - (compare the notes at Isaiah 19:1). The verses following, to the end of the chapter, are designed evidently to describe the destruction of the army of Sennacherib. This is expressly declared in Isaiah 30:31, and all the circumstances in the prediction accord wit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS BREATH - The word רוח _rûach_ properly means “wind,” air in motion; then a breathing, an exhalation, a breath; then the soul, spirit, etc. The idea here seems to be that of excited, and rapid, and agitated breathing, as when one is in anger (compare Judges 8:3; Zechariah 6:8). AS AN OVERFLO... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL HAVE A SONG - That is, ye inhabitants of Jerusalem shall rejoice when the army of the Assyrian is destroyed. AS IN THE NIGHT, WHEN A SOLEMNITY IS KEPT - The word ‘solemnity’ here (חג _châg_) denotes a festival, or feast; and refers, by way of eminence, to the Passover, which is usually des... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL CAUSE HIS GLORIOUS VOICE TO BE HEARD - That is, he would give command to destroy them. They could not fail to recognize his voice, and to feel that it was accomplished by him. THE LIGHTING DOWN OF HIS ARM - The descent of his arm - alluding to the act of striking, as with a sword... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE - Lord By the command of the Lord; that is, his voice going forth in the manner specified in Isaiah 30:30. WHICH SMOTE WITH A ROD - Who was accustomed to smite as with a rod; that is, his government was tyrannical and severe. As he had been accustomed to smite in that m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN EVERY PLACE - Margin, ‘Every passing of the rod founded.’ Lowth renders it, ‘Whenever shall pass the rod of correction.’ The whole design of the passage is evidently to foretell the sudden destruction of the army of the Assyrians, and to show that this would be accomplished by the agency of G... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TOPHET - The same idea is conveyed in this verse as in the preceding, but under another form, and with a new illustration. The sense is, that the army of the Assyrians would be completely destroyed, as if it were a large pile of wood in the valley of Hinnom that should be fired by the breath of... [ Continue Reading ]