INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 2 This chapter contains a vision or prophecy of the enlargement of Christ's kingdom and interest, and of the glory of his church in the latter day, by the calling of the Gentiles, and the numerous conversions of them to it, and of the abolition of idolatry, and the destructio... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD THAT ISAIAH THE SON OF AMOZ SAW,.... That is, the vision which he saw, for a new one here begins, though agreeable to what goes before; or the prophecy of future things, which he had given to him in a visionary way. The Targum paraphrases it, "the word of prophecy, which Isaiah, the son of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS,.... The days of the Messiah, as Aben Ezra rightly interprets it; and it is a rule laid down by Kimchi and Ben Melech, that wherever the last days are mentioned, the days of the Messiah are intended. The days of the Messiah commenced in the latter part of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY PEOPLE SHALL GO AND SAY,.... This is a prophecy of the numerous conversions among the Gentiles in the latter day, and agrees with Zechariah 8:20 and even the author of the old Nizzachon p interprets it of the gathering of the people to the Messiah. COME YE, AND LET US GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL JUDGE AMONG THE NATIONS,.... Or, "it shall judge"; either the mountain of the Lord's house, as Abarbinel thinks, that is, the church; for in the spiritual reign of Christ, in the latter day, the judgment shall be given to the saints of the most High, and they shall possess the kingdom;... [ Continue Reading ]
O HOUSE OF JACOB,.... This is either an exhortation of the prophet to the men of his generation, to attend to the light of the law, which the Lord had given them, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; or rather, as the Targum and Jarchi suggest, an exhortation of the nations to the people of Israel, and are inde... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THOU HAST FORSAKEN THY PEOPLE, THE HOUSE OF JACOB,.... These words contain a reason of the divine conduct, in calling the Gentiles, and rejecting the Jews, because of the sins of the latter hereafter mentioned; though some, as the Targum and R. Moses, refer this to the Israelites; and read... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LAND ALSO IS FULL OF SILVER AND GOLD,.... Procured by pardons, indulgences, masses, praying souls out of purgatory, tithes, annates, Peter's pence, c. NEITHER [IS THERE ANY] END OF THEIR TREASURES laid up in the pope's coffers, in their churches, monasteries, and convents: THEIR LAND IS ALSO... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LAND ALSO IS FULL OF IDOLS,.... Of the Virgin Mary, and of saints departed, whose images are set up to be worshipped in all their churches, and had in private houses: AND THEY WORSHIP THE WORK OF THEIR OWN HANDS, THAT WHICH THEIR OWN FINGERS HAVE MADE; namely, idols of gold, silver, brass, wo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEAN MAN BOWETH DOWN, AND THE GREAT MAN HUMBLETH HIMSELF,.... Both high and low, rich and poor, bow down unto, humble themselves before, and worship idols made by the hands of men: the words for the "mean man" and "the great man" are אדם and איש, "Adam" and "Ish"; and which are also interpr... [ Continue Reading ]
ENTER INTO THE ROCK, AND HIDE THEE IN THE DUST,.... As it was when Rome Pagan was destroyed, the kings, princes, and freemen called to the rocks to fall on them and hide them, Revelation 6:15 so it will be at the downfall of Rome Papal, when the kings and merchants of the earth, who have been concer... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOFTY LOOKS OF MAN SHALL BE HUMBLED,.... Particularly of the man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, assuming that to himself which belongs to God; looking down with contempt upon, and behaving haughtily and insolently to all below him; b... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD OF HOSTS,.... Which is peculiarly his, which he has fixed and appointed, and in which there will be a great display of the glory of his power and grace: this [SHALL BE] UPON EVERY [ONE THAT IS] PROUD AND LOFTY, AND UPON EVERY [ONE THAT IS] LIFTED UP, AND HE SHALL BE BROUGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON ALL THE CEDARS OF LEBANON [THAT ARE] HIGH AND LIFTED UP,.... That is, upon the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication with Babylon, and will join with the beast and false prophet in making war with the Lamb. So the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it of the kings of the nat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON ALL THE HIGH MOUNTAINS, AND UPON ALL THE HILLS [THAT ARE] LIFTED UP. By which may be meant either kingdoms and cities belonging to the Roman jurisdiction, or churches and monasteries, and such like religious houses, and the dissolution of them. See Revelation 16:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON EVERY HIGH TOWER, AND UPON EVERY FENCED WALL. Which may signify everything that serves to support and defend the antichristian hierarchy, particularly the secular powers. The Targum paraphrases it, "and upon all that dwell in a high tower, and upon all that reside by a fortified wall.''... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON ALL THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH,.... Upon all the merchants and merchandises of Rome. The Targum is, "and upon all that dwell in the islands of the sea.'' See Revelation 16:20. Tarshish, as Vitringa observes, designs Tartessus or Gades in Spain, which must bring to mind the memorable destructio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LOFTINESS OF MAN SHALL BE BOWED DOWN,.... This, with what follows in this verse, is repeated for the confirmation and certainty of it; and also for the further explanation of what is before figuratively and metaphorically expressed. Isaiah 2:11. Jarchi interprets "that day", here spoken of,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE IDOLS HE SHALL UTTERLY ABOLISH. The images of saints worshipped by the Papists: after the destruction of antichrist, and when the spiritual reign of Christ takes place, there will be no idolatry or worshipping of images any more, see Zechariah 13:2. The word אלילים, used for "idols", signif... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL GO INTO THE HOLES OF THE ROCKS, AND INTO THE CAVES OF THE EARTH,.... That is, the worshippers of idols, as they are bid to do, Isaiah 2:10 FOR FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FOR THE GLORY OF HIS MAJESTY, Isaiah 2:10 WHEN BE ARISETH; out of his place; Jarchi says, at the day of judgment; but... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY A MAN SHALL CAST HIS IDOLS OF SILVER, AND HIS IDOLS O[GOLD,.... Being frightened at the terrible shaking of the earth, and at the glory and majesty of Christ, which will be seen in his witnesses and people, at the time of his spiritual coming, and the destruction of antichrist; insomuch... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GO INTO THE CLIFTS OF THE ROCKS, AND INTO THE TOPS OF THE RAGGED ROCKS,.... That is, the idolaters shall either go there themselves; or they shall cause their idols to go there, thither they shall cast them; though the former sense seems the best, because of what follows, FOR FEAR OF THE LORD, c... [ Continue Reading ]
CEASE YE FROM MAN, WHOSE BREATH [IS] IN HIS NOSTRILS,.... "From that man" y, meaning antichrist, the man of sin; who is but a mere man, a poor, frail, mortal man; though he sits in the temple of God, as if he was God, showing himself to be God, by taking that to himself which belongs to the Deity. T... [ Continue Reading ]