THE BURDEN - o of the word of the Lord in (or, upon) the land of Hadrach The foreground of this prophecy is the course of the Victories of Alexander, which circled round the holy land without hurting it, and ended in the overthrow of the Persian empire. The surrender of Damascus followed first, imme... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAMATH ALSO SHALL BORDER THEREBY - o. Near to it in place and character, it shall share its subdual. After the betrayal of Damascus, Parmenio was set over all Syria. “The Syrians, not as yet tamed by the losses of war, despised the new empire, but, swiftly subdued, they did obediently what they... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TYRE DID BUILD HERSELF A STRONGHOLD - She built it for herself, not for God, and trusted to it, not to God, and so its strength brought her the greater fall. The words in Hebrew express yet more. “Tyre” (Zor) literally, “the rock,” “built herself mazor, tower,” a rock-like fort, as it were, a ro... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD - Such were the preparations of Tyre. Over against them, as it were, the prophet sets before our eyes the counsels of God. Theodoret: “Since they had severed themselves from the providence of God, they were now to experience His power.” “The Lord will cast her out” , literally, deprive her of... [ Continue Reading ]
ASHKELON SHALL SEE AND FEAR - The words express that to see and fear shall be as one. The mightiest and wealthiest, Tyre, having fallen, the neighbor cities of Philistia who had hoped that her might should be their stay, shall stand in fear and shame. Tyre, being a merchant-city, the mother-city of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A BASTARD SHALL DWELL AT ASHDOD - o The “mamzer” was one born unlawfully, whether out of marriage, or in forbidden marriage, or in adultery . Here it is, probably, like our “spurious brood” ; whether it was so itself or in the eyes of the Ashdodites; whence he adds. I WILL CUT OFF THE PRIDE OF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL TAKE AWAY HIS BLOOD OUT OF HIS MOUTH - The “abominations” being idol-sacrifices , the “bloods” will also be, the blood mingled with the wine of sacrifices, of which David says, “Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer” Psalms 16:4; and Ezekiel unites the offences, “Ye eat With the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT MY HOUSE - (for my house’s sake) because of the army “Because,” it is added in explanation, “of him that passeth by and of him that returneth;” Alexander, who passed by with his army, on his way to Egypt, and “returned,” having founded Alexandria. It was a most eventful march... [ Continue Reading ]
From the protection, which God promised to His people and to His House, the prophet passes on to Him who was ever in his thoughts, and for whose sake that people and temple were preserved. He had described the great conqueror of this world, sweeping along in his course of victory. In contrast with s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL CUT OFF THE CHARIOT - The horse is the symbol of worldly power, as the ass is of meekness. “Some,” says the Psalmist, “put their trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” Psalms 20:7. “A horse is but a vain thing to save a man” Psalms 33:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THEE ALSO - The prophet turns from the deliverance of the whole world to the former people, the sorrows which they should have in the way, and the protection which God would bestow upon them for the sake of Him, who, according to the flesh, was to be born of them. “Thou too;” he had spoken of... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN YE TO THE STRONGHOLD - that is, Almighty God; as the Psalmists so often say, “The Lord is the defense of my life” (Psalms 27:1, add Psalms 31:5; Psalms 37:39; Psalms 43:2; Psalms 52:9); and Joel, “The Lord shall be a stronghold of the children, of Israel” ; and Nahum, “The Lord is a stronghold... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN - or For I have bent Judah for me As a mighty bow which is only drawn at full human strength, the foot being placed to steady it. It becomes a strong instrument, but only at God’s Will. God Himself bends it. It cannot bend itself. “And filled the bow with Ephraim.” The bow is filled, when the a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL BE SEEN OVER THEM - o “He will reveal himself,” protecting them. Cyril: “He says plainly, that the Lord God will be with them and will fight in serried array with them and will with them subdue those who resist them.” It is as if he would say, “When they go forth and preach everyw... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD OF HOSTS, SHALL DEFEND THEM - As God says, “I will defend this city to save it, for Mine own sake and for My servant David’s sake” . The word is used by Isaiah only before Zechariah, and of the protection of Almighty God. The image of the complete protection on all sides stands first in God... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD THEIR GOD SHALL SAVE THEM IN THAT DAY - Still all should be God’s doing; they themselves were but as a flock, as sheep among wolves, ready for the slaughter; but they were “the flock, His people,” as He says, “I will increase them like the flock, men, as the flock of holy things, as the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HOW GREAT IS HIS GOODNESS - For it is unutterable! As the Psalmist said, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:1, and Jacob, “How awful is this place!” Genesis 28:17, and the Psalmist, “How awful are Thy doings!” The goodness and the beauty are the goodness and... [ Continue Reading ]