God's discreet providence.

Before

CHRIST

Or, the wheat in the principal place, and barley in the appointed place?

Or, spelt.

+ Heb. border?

1 Or. And he bindeth it in #uch sort as his God doth teach him.

25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the || rie in their + place?

26 | For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.

29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wondertimes and seasons; and, when he has gathered in his harvest, employs methods as various in separating the corn from the straw and the chaff by different instruments, according to the nature of the different sorts of grain: so God, with unerring wisdom, instructs, admonishes, and corrects His people; chastises and punishes them in various ways, as the exigence of the case requires; now more moderately, now more severely; always tempering justice with mercy; in order to reclaim the wicked, to improve the good, and finally to separate the one from the other. Bp. Lowth.

25.—the fitches,] A colloquial corruption of "vetches:" a small kind of pea. Dr. Johnson.

26. For his God doth instruct him] "The most High hath ordained husbandry," saith the Son of Sirach, Ecclus. vii. 15. All nations have agreed in attributing agriculture, the most useful of all sciences, to the invention and to the suggestions of their deities; together with all the arts and helps attendant upon it. Passages to this effect are very frequent in profane writers. Bp. Lowth, Vitringa.

27, 28. In these verses four methods of threshing are mentioned by different instruments; the flail, the drag, the wain, and the treading of the cattle. The staff or flail was used for the grain that was too tender to be treated in the other methods. The drag consisted of a sort of frame of strong planks, made rough at the bottom with hard stones or iron; it was drawn by horses or oxen over the corn sheaves spread on the floor, the driver sitting upon it The wain was much like the former, but had wheels with iron teeth or edges like a saw. The last method of treading out the_corn by oxen, is well known from the law of Moses, Deut. XXV. 4. For "horsemen," ver. 28, we should read, with the Syriack, Vulgate and others, "hoofs." Bp. Lowth.

29. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, &c.] Since the Lord of hosts hath given this wit and understanding to plain men, for the management of their affairs, in due times and fit ways; how much more shall He, who is infinite in wisdom, contrive His own works, both of mercy and judgment, with men? Bp. Hall.

ing.

1

CHAP. XXIX.

God's heavy judgment upon Jerusalem. 7 The unsatiableness of her enemies. 9 The senselessness, 13 and deep hypocrisy of the Jews. 18 A promise of sanctification to the godly.

W

Before

CHRIST

about 725.

about 712. that is, the

|| Or, O Ariel,

OE to Ariel, to Ariel, || the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them + kill sacri- + Or, of the fices.

2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.

3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.

4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of

tion of God.

city. + Heb. cut of the heads.

Chap. XXIX. This and the four following chapters have an immediate aspect to Sennacherib's invasion: in the beginning of this chapter the Prophet describes the distress during the siege, and the enemy's sudden disappointment; he then proceeds to upbraid the Jews for their hypocrisy and stupidity in "not discerning the signs of the times," as our Saviour speaks, Matt. xvi. 3; nor observing the hand of Providence, evidently shewing itself both in mercies and judgments; which circumstances are very applicable to the times of our Saviour's preaching: he then foretells better times for those who are piously disposed, and concludes with such promises of grace and favour to the meek and humble, as plainly relate to the times of the Gospel. W. Lowth. Ver. 1. Woe to Ariel,· the city where David dwelt !] "Ariel" signifies "the lion of God," and was a name given to the altar, (see Ezek. xliii. 15, and the margin there,) because it devoured the sacrifices: it is here put for the city of Jerusalem itself, which may be considered as the seat of the fire of God, which should issue from thence to consume His enemies; compare chap. xxxi. 9.

This may be meant by what follows, ver. 2, "it shall be unto me as Ariel," or "as the hearth of the great altar;" or an intimation of distant events may be given in this obscure passage, and the city said to resemble the altar, as being all on flame or covered with blood and carcases, as it was to be in aftertimes, when taken by the Chaldeans and by the Romans. Some according to the common derivation of the word, “the lion of God," or the "strong lion," suppose it to signify the strength of the place. W. Lowth, Bp. Lowth.

add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.] Ironically, Go on year after year; keep your solemn feasts; yet know, that God will punish you for your hypocritical worship, consisting of mere form, destitute of true piety. This might perhaps be delivered at the time of some great feast, when they were thus employed. Bp. Lowth.

4. And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, &c.] In prophetick language, speaking with a faint voice out of the dust, stands for being in a weak and low condition. Sir I. Newton. Hezekiah sends ambassadors to bespeak the favour of the king

The senselessness, and

Before CHRIST

the ground, and thy speech shall about 712. whisper out of the dust.

+ Heb. peep, or, chirp.

|| Or, take your plea

5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

9¶Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are sure, and riot. drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the pro+ Heb. heads. phets and your + rulers, the seers hath he covered.

of Assyria in very submissive terms, (2 Kings xviii. 14,) and is much humbled by the threats of Rabshakeh, &c. 2 Kings xix. 1; Is. xxxvii. 1. W. Lowth, Bp. Wilson. 8. as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; &c.] The Assyrians had swallowed up Jerusalem in imagination; but God intended suddenly to disappoint their hopes, and send them away empty and confounded. W. Lowth.

9. Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; &c.] The Prophet upbraids the Jews for their carelessness and stupidity, and compares them to men intoxicated. W. Lowth. Their drunkenness is that drunkenness of intellect, which makes them blind to the prophecies relating to the Messiah, and to themselves, and keeps them to this hour in expectation of a different Messiah from Him whom they crucified. Bp. Horsley. See note on chap. li. 21.

11. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, &c.] Rabbies of great antiquity and authority have observed from this text, that the knowledge of their prophecies shall be taken from them, and be lost with the Hebrew, their native language: but the Messiah shall restore to them the under

deep hypocrisy of the Jews.

Before CHRIST

that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, about 712. I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

13 Wherefore the LORD said, a Forasmuch as this people draw near a Matt. 15. 8. me with their mouth, and with their Mark 7.6. lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

add.

14 Therefore, behold, I will pro- + Heb. I will ceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of b Jer. 49. 7. their wise men shall perish, and the ver. s. understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Obadiah,

1 Cor. 1. 19.

16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say d Chap. 45. 9. of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

18 And in that day shall the

standing of hoth, and open the sealed book. Compare ver. 18. with what is said ver. 10, 11, &c. Bp. Chandler. See note on chap. viii. 16.

14.- the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,] Since this people have trusted to their own wisdom, the very wisest of them shall be blinded; they shall bring down destruction upon themselves by their very wisdom. Bp. Wilson.

How remarkably was this verified, when the rabbies and elders of the Jews, fatally mistaking, applied to their ceremonies and traditions, and rejected the Gospel! and ever since have the same orders minded little else than fabulous stories, and vented trifles for profound mysteries. W. Lowth.

17.-Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?] A proverbial saying, expressing a great revolution of things, and explained with great probability to have its principal view, beyond the events then near at hand, to the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles. The first were the vineyard of God cultivated and watered by Him in vain, afterwards to be given up and become a wilderness; (see chap. v. 1-7;) the last had been

A promise of sanctification.

Before CHRIST

deaf hear the words of the book, and about 712. the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

are cut off:

21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

24 They also that erred in spirit +Heb. shall shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doc

know understanding.

trine.

CHAP. XXX.

1 The prophet threateneth the people for their confidence in Egypt, 8 and contempt of God's word. 18 God's mercies towards

originally barren, but were by the grace of God to become fruitful. See Matth. xxi. 43; Rom. xi. 30, 31. Bp. Lowth.

19. The meek also shall increase their joy] See notes on chap. xi. 4; xxvi. 6.

21.-

lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate,] Who plot mischief against those that sit at the city gates to distribute justice; (W. Lowth. See notes on Gen. xxiii. 10; Esth. ii. 19;) who try to bring authority into contempt, that they may have their own ends without controul. Bp. Wilson.

Chap. XXX. See the introductory note to the preceding chapter.

Ver. 1.— that cover with a covering, &c.] This "covering" may mean their seeking refuge and protection from Egypt without any direction from God; (see ver.2;) or, in general, forming schemes to secure themselves, by ungodly methods, called a " covering" or " hidingplace of falsehood:" see chap. xxviii. 15, 17; xxix. 15. W. Lowth.

66

4. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.] These are principal cities of Egypt. "Hanes" is called, Jer. ii. 16; xliii. 7; Ezek. xxx. 18, "Tahapanes," Tahpanhes," and "Tehaphnehes." "Zoan" is mentioned, chap. xix. 11, 13. W. Lowth. See the note on the latter place. So fond were the Jews of their Egyptian allies, that even the good Hezekiah sent ambassadors to treat with them for succours against Sennacherib. Thus the best of men are too apt, on the first appearance of danger or surprise, to have recourse

his church.

WOE

Before CHRIST

27 God's wrath, and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria. about 713. OE to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore

to means not warranted by the laws of God; to seek to other aids than those which the grace of God has provided. Wogan.

This confederacy might perhaps be owing to the prevalent sway of the "princes" and great men, a chief of whom was in all likelihood Shebna, against whom is denounced that severe prophecy, chap. xxii. 15. Dr. Wells.

5. They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, &c.] The Egyptians in alliance with the Ethiopians did assist the Jews against Sennacherib, but they were both entirely routed. See chap. xx. 5. W. Lowth.

6. The burden of the beasts of the south:] The word "burden" here seems to be used in its proper sense; the load, not the oracle. Bp. Lowth.

from whence come· the viper and the fiery flying serpent,] The wilderness that lies between Egypt and Judea is thus described by Moses, Deut. viii. 15. W. Lowth. This was designed to be a kind of barrier between the Israelites and Egypt, of which the Lord says, Deut. xvii. 16, "Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.' Bp. Lowth.

Concerning the " fiery flying serpent," see note on Numb. xxi. 6. Niebuhr mentions a sort of serpents, as does Pliny also, that twirl themselves by the tail to a branch of one date tree, and so spring to the branches of another; hence the modern Arabs call them "flying serpents :"Anson speaks of flying serpents at the island of Quibo; they "darted themselves" from the boughs of trees upon man and beast, but were without wings.

|| Or, to her.

+ Heb. the latter day.

8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it be for the time to come for may ever and ever:

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise || Or, fraud. this word, and trust in || oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

+ Heb. the bottle of pollers.

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an in

stant.

14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

Before CHRIST

for their contempt of God's word. flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pur- about 713. sue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as || a Or, a tree beacon upon the top of a mountain, branches, or, and as an ensign on an hill.

bereft of

boughs: or, a mast.

18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: a blessed are all they that wait for a Ps. 2. 12. & him.

34. 8.

Prov. 16. 20.

19 For the people shall dwell in Jer. 17. 7. Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

20 And though the LORD give you the bread of adversity, and the water of || affliction, yet shall not thy teach- Or, ers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

22 Ye shall defile also the cover

oppression.

graven images

ye

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall Probably these mentioned by Isaiah here, and chap. xiv. 29, were of this species. Parkhurst. They are called flying serpents" from their springing up like a dart. W. Lowth.

10. Prophesy not unto us right things, &c.] These were not the very words they spake, but this was the true meaning of what they said: see their behaviour to Jeremiah, Jer. xx. 1; xxxviii. 4, 6; to Amos, Amos vii. 10; and to Micaiah, 1 Kings xxii. 8, 27. W. Lowth. They conferred all their favours upon such prophets as took care to say nothing that was displeasing or contrary to the politicks of the times, but represented God as favourable to their designs, when He was utterly against them but the plain-dealing preachers, who spoke to them the word of the Lord without reserve or disguise, were the objects of their hatred and aversion. Reading.

13. - as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall,] The buildings in Asia in general consist of little

scaller.

better than what we call mud-walls; see Sir J. Chardin's note on chap. ix. 10. Thevenot says much the same of the houses in Persia. This shews how obvious and expressive the image is. The Psalmist uses the same, to imply sudden and utter destruction, Ps. lxii. 3. Bp. Lowth.

18. 1

therefore will the Lord wait, &c.] The seeming incoherence of the prophetick style would be avoided in many places by regarding the various sense of the Hebrew particles more carefully than interpreters have generally done. The particle rendered therefore may be more clearly here, and in some other places, translated nevertheless; (W. Lowth;) or, in this place perhaps, after this. Dr. Blayney.

19. For the people shall dwell in Zion &c.] From this verse to the twenty-seventh, follow many gracious promises of mercy, several of which cannot with propriety be applied to the prosperous times of Hezekiah's reign, which succeeded to the great deliverance; but we are rather to suppose the Prophet taking a hint from them, and carried on to the better days that were to be under the Gospel. W. Lowth.

22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images &c.] See note on chap. ii. 18.

Before 23 Then shall he give the rain of about 713. thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

| Or, savoury. ↑ Heb. leatened.

+ Heb.

lifted up.

24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every thigh hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

27 ¶ Behold, the name of the LORD Or, and the cometh from far, burning with his anger, || and the burden thereof is +heavy his lips are full of indigna

grievousness

of fame. ↑ Heb.

beariness.

"Ear," that is, plough. Concerning winnowing,

24. that ear the ground] See the note on Gen. xlv. 6. see note at Ruth iii. 2; Ps. i. 4. From this passage it appears, that asses as well as oxen were anciently employed in Judea for ploughing, and so they are in the East to this day. Dr. Russell says, that after the camel, the ass may be reckoned the next in importance among the Syrian beasts of burden. Large caravans of them are employed in bringing provisions from the villages: they serve also for the plough. And Niebuhr tells us, that near Bagdad he twice saw an ass harnessed to a plough together with oxen. Parkhurst. 25.-there shall be rivers and streams of waters] Rain, and dew, and living water, are put in prophetick language for the graces and doctrines of the Spirit, and the defect of rain for spiritual barrenness. Sir Ï. Newton.

See ver. 23.

in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.] This must refer to the great and terrible destruction of God's enemies, which shall be hereafter, when the strong fortifications, or perhaps the great ones of the earth, denoted here by the towers, shall fall. See Rev. xiv. 20; xix. 21. W. Lowth.

26. the light of the moon &c.] The Hebrew poets, to express happiness, prosperity, advancement of kingdoms, &c. make use of images taken from the most striking parts of nature, from the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars, shining with increased splendour, ånd never setting; new heavens and a new earth are created, and a brighter age commences: calamity, the overthrow and destruction of kingdoms, are represented by opposite images. See notes on chap. xiii. 10, 13. Bp. Lowth.

in the destruction of Assyria.

tion, and his tongue as a devouring fire :

28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

Before CHRIST about 713.

29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the † migh- + Heb. Rock. ty One of Israel.

glory of his

30 And the LORD shall cause this + Heb. the glorious voice to be heard, and shall voice. shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall † lay upon him, it

+ Heb. every

passing of the Heb. cause him.

rod founded.

to rest upon

28.to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity :] The sieve or van of the ancients was a large instrument somewhat like a shovel, with a long handle, with which they tossed the corn mixed with the chaff and chopped straw into the air, that the wind might separate them. "But the van," Kimchi observes, "with which God will winnow the nations, will be the van of emptiness or perdition: for nothing useful shall remain behind, but all shall come to nothing and perish. In like manner, a bridle is designed to guide the horse in the right way; but the bridle which God will here put into the jaws of the people, shall not direct them aright, but shall, in His judgment on their stubbornness, make them err, and lead them into destruction." This latter image the Prophet applies to the same subject, chap. xxxvii. 29. Bps. Lowth and Hall.

29. Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept ;] The Jewish festivals were kept from even to even, Levit. xxiii. 32. The feast of the Passover is chiefly alluded to here, which was kept in the evening, and the supper concluded with a hymn, Matt. xxvi. 30. W. Lowth.

32. And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, &c.] In an old English translation it is much plainer, "Whithersoever he goes, the rod shall cleave unto him, which the Lord shall lay upon him." The words translated "the grounded staff," signify such a rod or stroke as sinks deep, and makes lasting marks in the flesh. W. Lowth.

;

The verse may be thus paraphrased: So shall the Lord smite him again, and smite him soundly and deep, so that the prints of His staff shall be seen upon him and, wheresoever the Lord shall lay His heavy hand upon him, the judgment shall be entertained with the joy and acclamation of all his oppressed neighbours, as benefit to themselves; and in all his terrifying battles will the Lord, with His staff of vengeance, fight against him. Bp. Hall.