Isaiah 10:1

CHAPTER X

God's judgments against oppressive rulers, 1-4.

The prophet foretells the invasion of Sennacherib, and the

destruction of his army. That mighty monarch is represented as

a rod in the hand of God to correct his people for their sins;

and his ambitious purposes, contrary to his own intentions, are

made subservient to the great desires of Providence, 5-11.

Having accomplished this work, the Almighty takes account of

his impious vauntings, 12-14;

and threatens utter destruction to the small and great of his

army, represented by the thorns, and the glory of the forest,

15-19.

This leads the prophet to comfort his countrymen with the

promise of the signal interposition of God in their favour,

24-27.

Brief description of the march of Sennarherib towards

Jerusalem, and of the alarm and terror which he spread every

where as he hastened forward, 28-32.

The spirit and rapidity of the description is admirably suited

to the subject. The affrighted people are seen fleeing, and

the eager invader pursuing; the cries of one city are heard by

those of another; and groan swiftly succeeds to groan, till at

length the rod is lifted over the last citadel. In this

critical situation, however, the promise of a Divine

interposition is seasonably renewed. The scene instantly

changes; the uplifted arm of this mighty conqueror is at once

arrested and laid low by the hand of heaven; the forest of

Lebanon, (a figure by which the immense Assyrian host is

elegantly pointed out, is hewn down by the axe of the Divine

vengeance; and the mind is equally pleased with the equity of

the judgment, and the beauty and majesty of the description,

33, 34.

NOTES ON CHAP. X