_THE PROPHET THREATENETH THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE IN EGYPT, AND
CONTEMPT OF GOD'S WORD. GOD'S MERCIES TOWARD HIS CHURCH. GOD'S WRATH
AND THE PEOPLE'S JOY IN THE DESTRUCTION OF ASSYRIA._
_Before Christ 713._
THE third section of this discourse is contained in the four following
Chapter s, an... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, &C.— These two verses contain the
proposition of the discourse, exhibiting the carnal counsel of the
Ephraimites condemned by God, which makes the basis of this
prophetical declamation. The Ephraimites are addressed as refractory
children, more strongly to mark their... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, &C.— The prophet here foretels the unfortunate event of
their enterprize; namely, that their reliance on the strength of _So,_
the Pharaoh or king of Egypt, should avail them nothing, but turn out
to their confusion. See 2 Kings 17:4. This is more fully set forth in
the subsequent verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS PRINCES WERE AT ZOAN— _When his princes—to Hanes,_ Isaiah
30:5 _they were,_ &c. Isaiah 30:6 _as to the burden of the beasts
southward, unto a land—from whence come the lioness and stout
lion_—ver. 7. _Therefore have I called her, Rage to rest;_ or
_Pride_ [_Rahab,_ a name of Egypt] _be still... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW GO, WRITE IT BEFORE THEM, &C.— See the analysis. The Spirit of
God, about to convict the degenerate people of the foolishness of
their counsels, pierces into the inmost source of their errors,
namely, their irreverence and disregard of the true word of God, and
the faithful teachers of that word... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL— The consequence of the
fault is here exhibited by the prophet in two sentences; the former in
these verses, the latter in Isaiah 30:15. The prophet in this place
declares, that their punishment shall be the entire destruction of
their state, set forth und... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD— The second sentence contains a judicial
reproof and denunciation, wherein the punishment to be inflicted upon
the disobedient and badly advised, is distinctly compared with the
crime; for the Almighty, wonderful in all his ways, generally puts
carnal men to shame by those ve... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL— The consolatory part of this discourse
begins here, which is connected with the preceding part by the last
clause of the former verse, _Blessed are all they that wait for him:_
here follows, therefore, a series of excellent blessings, to be
conferred by God upon his churc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH THE LORD GIVE YOU, &C.— The prophet here, setting forth
the second benefit, tells them, that though at the time of the
restoration of their state they should by no means be free from
various afflictions, (as Daniel also foretels, Daniel 9:25.) yet these
temporal afflictions should be comp... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL DEFILE ALSO THE COVERING, &C.— The meaning of these words
is, that the people, at the period of time here marked out, should
refrain from idolatry; not public only, but private and domestic also,
which seems here particularly to be described; for the Jews, prone to
idolatry even when it was... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HE GIVE THE RAIN OF THY SEED— _And he shall give rain for
thy seed._ Lowth. It appears very plainly from the latter end of the
25th verse, and from the 26th, that the prophet here is not to be
understood literally, but figuratively, and that the words contain a
splendid promise of pure an... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, &C.— The images of light and
darkness are made use of in almost all languages, to represent
prosperity and adversity; but the Hebrews make use of them more
frequently than any other nation, insomuch that they scarce ever omit
them when the subject will bear them. The... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE NAME OF THE LORD COMETH— _Lo! the name of_ JEHOVAH
_cometh from afar; his wrath burneth, and the shame rageth violently:
his lips are filled with indignation; and his tongue is as a consuming
fire. His spirit is like a torrent overflowing; it shall reach to the
middle of the neck: he com... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL HAVE A SONG, &C.— The consequence of God's judgment upon
the Assyrian, the prophet here declares, should be great rejoicing in
the Jewish church, celebrated with hymns and songs on that night in
which their haughty enemy should be destroyed: such songs as the
Israelites used when delivered... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL CAUSE, &C.— The prophet resumes the thread of his
narration from Isaiah 30:28 and having hinted, not obscurely, in the
preceding verse, the time of the execution of the judgment, he
describes in the present verse the manner of it; which, from this and
the parallel passage, ch. Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN EVERY PLACE— The prophet here again, as in the 29th verse,
subjoins the consequence of the fall of the Assyrian. The sum of the
passage is, that in every place which the Assyrian, passing with his
formidable army, had left desolate, or where he had rested with his
army, his overthrow should b... [ Continue Reading ]