Isaiah 24:19,20

The earth is utterly broken down— The prophet here, in the most chosen metaphorical expressions, describes a mighty earthquake, by which the land of Asia, Syria, Judaea, depressed by the divine judgments, should be vehemently shaken. The 20th verse should be rendered in the present tense, like the 19th. The land reels to and fro like a drunkard, and is shaken like a cottage in a garden; [chap. Isaiah 1:8.] because the transgression thereof is heavy upon it, and it falls, and shall not rise again. Earthquakes, metaphorically taken in Scripture, denote those great and hurtful changes which happen in the world or the church. We learn, however, that at the period here referred to there was a remarkably great earthquake, by which, as Justin informs us, lib. 40: cap. 2 a hundred and seventy thousand men and many cities were destroyed.