Commentary on Isaiah Part 4 (No. F023iv)

Chapter 13

¹The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. ²On a bare hill raise a signal, cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles. ³I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, my proudly exulting ones. ⁴Hark, a tumult on the mountains as of a great multitude! Hark, an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle. ⁵They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth. ⁶Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! ⁷Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every man's heart will melt, ⁸and they will be dismayed. Pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in travail. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame. ⁹Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. ¹⁰For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising and the moon will not shed its light. ¹¹I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless. ¹²I will make men more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. ¹³Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger. ¹⁴And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, every man will turn to his own people, and every man will flee to his own land. ¹⁵Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. ¹⁶Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished. ¹⁷Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold. ¹⁸Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children. ¹⁹And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chalde'ans, will be like Sodom and Gomor'rah when God overthrew them. ²⁰It will never be inhabited or dwelt in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there. ²¹But wild beasts will lie down there, and its houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there satyrs will dance. ²²Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.

Intent of Chapter 13

13:1-23:18 Oracles Against Foreign Nations.

(comp. Jer. Chs. 46-51; Ezek. Chs. 25-32; each is in intro to 32; each has the world “Oracle”

13:1-22 Oracle Against Babylon

The prophecy here looks forward to the time when Babylon superseded Assyria and was the dominant power in the region. Revisionist scholars place the text of vv. 17-22 as being sometime after the death of Nebuchadrezzar in 562 BCE rather than God prophesying through Isaiah. (see OARSV n).

v. 2 Gate of the Nobles – Thought to be the name of one of the city gates (e.g. see Jer. 19:2).

v. 3 Perhaps these were the Persian soldiers serving God's purpose (10:5-6; 45:1-4). However, this text looks forward to the time of the end when God sets about summoning the consecrated ones of the loyal host to join the mighty of the Army of God to execute the Wrath of God as His proudly exulting ones.

13:4-5 This text speaks of the End of Days when the Lord of Hosts musters a host for battle. They come from the distant lands of the earth and from the end of the heavens. These are the weapons of heaven to destroy the whole earth. The text here refers to Daniel chapter 2 in which the false religious system of the Babylonians is completely destroyed and wiped from the face of the earth at the return of Messiah to crush the final empire of the Ten Toes of the Beast system and to restore the Laws of God and the Temple system (see F024, xiv; F026xi, xii; F027ii, xi, xii, xiii; F066iii, iv, v).

13:6-16 The Day of the Lord

13:6-9 This text is not simply regarding the fall of the Babylonians after the death of Nebuchadrezzar. The time frame was detailed in Daniel to cover the Seven Times (7 x 360 = 2520 years) from the battle of Carchemish (605 BCE) to the end of the world systems in 2027 (1916 + 80 + 30 years) (see F027xiii) and then coupled with Ezekiel we see texts coupled with the period of two forty year periods come to the time of the end (see Nos. 036 and 036_2).

13:10-22 The destruction of Babylon from the Medes into the last days. Babylon is now an uninhabited city which serves only as monument to its past. However the Empire of the Beast serves as the king of the north (F027xi) in the last days (F066v) and will act as the army of the beast system (see Nos. 299A; and 299B).

The Fall of Egypt:.....(No. 036)

v. 10 “God is specifically detailing the day of the Lord here. The build up to the prophecy in Isaiah 14 is thus for the end of the age and Messianic. Isaiah 14 has direct application to Ezekiel 28. The sequence in Ezekiel 29 to 32 relates to the period between the times of the Gentiles and the days of the Watchmen in Ezekiel 33. These chapter groupings are not without significance. The periods of these prophecies are the same periods dealt with in Daniel 2 which shows beyond question that the sequence commences with Nebuchadnezzar but ends with the destruction of the ten king system of the empire of iron and clay in the last days, thus beginning the millennial reign of Messiah.

vv. 11-22 Shows that God will punish the world for its evil and he will make men more rare than the “golden wedge of Ophir” and mankind rarer than fine gold. (v. 12). Also Joel 2:10 states of the day of the Lord at this end time:

Joel 2:10 The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. (RSV)

Also Zephaniah 1:15 states:

Zephaniah 1:15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, (RSV)”

13:17-19 Medes The people Northwest of Persia who earlier were Babylon’s allies against Assyria.

13:20-22 Busy Babylon was to become a wasteland inhabited only by animals (Jer. 50:35-40. Satyr, (a goat demon 34:14; Lev. 17:7).

Chapter 14

¹The LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and aliens will join them and will cleave to the house of Jacob. ²And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD's land as male and female slaves; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them. ³When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, ⁴you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! ⁵The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, ⁶that smote the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. ⁷The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. ⁸The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Since you were laid low, no hewer comes up against us.' ⁹Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come, it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. ¹⁰All of them will speak and say to you: 'You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!' ¹¹Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are the bed beneath you, and worms are your covering. ¹²"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! ¹³You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.' ¹⁵But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. ¹⁶Those who see you will stare at you, and ponder over you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, ¹⁷who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?' ¹⁸All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; ¹⁹but you are cast out, away from your sepulchre, like a loathed untimely birth, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the Pit, like a dead body trodden under foot. ²⁰You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. "May the descendants of evildoers nevermore be named! ²¹Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities." ²²"I will rise up against them," says the LORD of hosts, "and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the LORD. ²³And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts." ²⁴The LORD of hosts has sworn: "As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, ²⁵that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains trample him under foot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder." ²⁶This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. ²⁷For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? ²⁸In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle: ²⁹"Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, that the rod which smote you is broken, for from the serpent's root will come forth an adder, and its fruit will be a flying serpent. ³⁰And the first-born of the poor will feed, and the needy lie down in safety; but I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant I will slay. ³¹Wail, O gate; cry, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks." ³²What will one answer the messengers of the nation? "The LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge."

Intent of Chapter 14

The Return of Israel and Judah from Exile

(Chs. 65-66; see also Zech 8:20-22)

The Fall of Egypt:.....(No. 036)

“This prophecy in Isaiah 14 is the well-known prophecy that relates not only to Babylon but also to the destruction of Satan, the current Morning Star or Lightbringer, in the Messianic advent (Isa. 14:8-21). The city referred to in Josephus, Acts of the Jews XV, II, 2, was another city on the Tigris adjoining Baghdad, both of which were also later referred to as Babylon. When Revelation 18:2 was written Babylon had been long destroyed yet it was referred to in latter-day prophecy. Similarly, Peter wrote from Babylon (1Pet. 5:13) where Satan's seat was. Thus the prophecies connect the entire structure of Daniel's statue of Daniel Ch. 2 as extensions of the Babylonian system. Revelation could hardly be referring as a future event to something that had happened some 600 years beforehand. That is hardly prophecy. Moreover, we are talking about world religious systems, which are conjoint with the civil empires. There is no doubt whatsoever that the empires referred to in Daniel 7:3-8 are explanatory to the structure in Daniel 2 and that they embrace the Roman system as the empire of iron and that the empire of iron and clay was its successor. That empire can only have been the Holy Roman Empire. Moreover, Daniel 7:9 shows that these systems proceed into the last days and the casting down of the thrones before the Ancient of Days and the subsequent judgment.”

14:1-6 “From the text in Isaiah 14 Satan is grouped as King of Babylon, Ruler of Assyria, and also Philistia is prophesied as being destroyed by this smoke from the North. The City of Zion is established with all the nations surrounding it as being subject to it, and that includes the angelic being that sought to make himself as the Most High God, who is brought down to the sides of the pit. In other words he is killed but not buried. He is then made into a man and he is seen as being a man and made as weak as they.

vv. 3-4a Prose Introduction

4b-8 After the fall of Lucifer the people rejoice. His religious system is smashed and the Sun and Mystery Cults abolished (F066v).

v. 7 Note that once the King of Babylon is laid low and his system is destroyed the world is at peace under the Messiah.

vv. 8-9 Thus this being is laid low. The cedars of Lebanon are spirit beings and Lebanon is incorporated into the body of Israel under Messiah. Then note that the grave, Sheol or Hades, is stirred up to meet this angelic being, who is Lucifer the Light Bearer or Satan, when he is brought down to the grave.

14:10-12 Then the human leaders say to Satan the following text when he is brought down to the grave to death. They note he has become as weak as they and his pomp or rulership and his system is brought down with him. He is identified specifically in verses 12f. as the Lucifer (KJV) and Day Star, Son of the Dawn (RSV). He is the God of this Earth of 2Cor. 4:4. He is here consigned to the Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment (see Judgment of the Demons (No. 080)) and Messiah and the elect rule the world (see also 5:14-17 n.; Ezek. 17:22).

vv. 12-17 “What we see about Satan is developed from Isaiah 14:12-17 where he is the Lucifer or Light Bearer.

The stars of God here are the sons of God. Star is a rank. Hell is the grave. We are going to have a morning star that is going into the grave. (v. 16)

v. 17 We have a change in status here to man.

It is also important to study Ezek. 28 for the fate of Satan as King of Tyre (F026vii); and for the fate of restored Israel at 28:24-26.

The Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment (No. 143B)

¹⁰and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

“This text [Rev. 20:10] makes it appear as though Satan is cast into the lake of fire. The comment is that the Diabolos or the devil is cast into the lake of fire. That would indicate that God had a vengeful streak and was to punish Satan forever and ever but that is not what the Bible says in the Old Testament in both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. In Isaiah 14:4-20 we read the prophecy made against Satan, the King of Babylon, who sought to make himself as the Most High God.

vv. 13-15 This can be no other being but Satan who was the then Day Star or Morning Star of the Earth. This being had to be one of the fallen Host as we see from the text. Day star Heb. Helal; Dawn Heb. Shahar – Names of Canaanite deities. Mount of Assembly of the gods located at Jebel 'Aqra north of Ugarit. Most High a title applied to Baal Shamaim as Lord of Heaven: The One True God over the Heavenly Council.

The Names of God (No. 116)

vv. 16-20 Note that this being dies and lies with the maggots beneath him. He is thus rendered as a human body. Note also the question: “Is this the man etc.” He is human; he is not buried like the kings of the earth who lay in glory. He and the fallen Host are not buried. They lie with the stones of the earth. He is cast out and is now dead awaiting the mercy of The One True God Eloah as Ha Elohim (Jn. 17:3; 1Tim. 6:16; (see also above) who made him and all the elohim, as sons of God (No. 199).

vv. 21-23 Then the Lord pronounces the judgment of the system and the rest of the Host with them. His followers are to be destroyed completely (v. 21). In the prose conclusion (vv. 22-23), note that the entire remnant of Babylon is cut off. Its system of the Sun and Mystery Cults and its entire religious system are destroyed along with Satan, the Lucifer.

vv. 24-27 Against Assyria (17:12-14; 30:27-33; 37:22-29). God cannot be prevented from accomplishing his purpose. Also, the Assyrian system is destroyed but we know that Assyria is brought from out of the north with Israel in the beginning of the Millennium (Isa. 11:16; 19:23) and so it is the Babylonian religious system that is described as “fallen” in Revelation chapter 18. Note that the system is throughout the nations and it is God that destroys it. This is the Sun and Mystery cults that had penetrated the nations through the Trinitarian and other Cults of the nations, including Hadithic Islam.

vv. 28-32 Against Philistia Then the prophecy concerning Philistia or the Palestinians follows. They were to be reduced to nothing and then made part of the Kingdom of Zion under Messiah at the beginning of the Millennium.” (see Jer. Ch. 47; Am. 1:6-8). Although it may appear Philistia is secure, the foe from the north (Jer. 1:13-15) will destroy her also and Gaza of the Philistines will be occupied by the armies of the king of the North in the wars of the end (Dan. 11:45); and then come to his end with none to help him; killed by the Host. The message to the nations that are required to send representatvies to Zion each year at Tabernacles, for instruction under Messiah (Zech. 14:16-21), is that the Lord has founded Zion and in her the afflicted of God's People find refuge (v. 32).

Chapter 15

¹An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar is laid waste in a night Moab is undone; because Kir is laid waste in a night Moab is undone. ²The daughter of Dibon has gone up to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Med'eba Moab wails. On every head is baldness, every beard is shorn; ³in the streets they gird on sackcloth; on the housetops and in the squares every one wails and melts in tears. ⁴Heshbon and Ele-a'leh cry out, their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles. ⁵My heart cries out for Moab; his fugitives flee to Zo'ar, to Eg'lath-shelish'iyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horona'im they raise a cry of destruction; ⁶the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the new growth fails, the verdure is no more. ⁷Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Brook of the Willows. ⁸For a cry has gone round the land of Moab; the wailing reaches to Egla'im, the wailing reaches to Beer-e'lim. ⁹For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; yet I will bring upon Dibon even more, a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.

Intent of Chapter 15

Against Moab 15:1-16:14 (Ezek. 25:8; Am.: 2:1-3).

This oracle and Jer. Ch. 48 are two recensions of the same elegy over once despised Moab (Gen. 19:30-37) lying prostrate under the invader's (probably Assyria's) heel (vv. 1-9) (see OARSV n.).

This text explains how Moab is punished in the last days until the coming of the Messiah and the banishment of the oppressors into their own lands (see 16:5).

Chapter 16

¹They have sent lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. ²Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. ³"Give counsel, grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; hide the outcasts, betray not the fugitive;

⁴let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a refuge to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples under foot has vanished from the land, ⁵then a throne will be established in steadfast love and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness." ⁶We have heard of the pride of Moab, how proud he was; of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence--his boasts are false. ⁷Therefore let Moab wail, let every one wail for Moab. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin-cakes of Kir-har'eseth. ⁸For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea. ⁹Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Ele-a'leh; for upon your fruit and your harvest the battle shout has fallen. ¹⁰And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field; and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no shouts are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; the vintage shout is hushed. ¹¹Therefore my soul moans like a lyre for Moab, and my heart for Kir-he'res. ¹²And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail. ¹³This is the word which the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past. ¹⁴But now the LORD says, "In three years, like the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who survive will be very few and feeble."

Intent of Chapter 16

The Place of Safety (No. 194)

16:1-5 “This section deals with the reduction of Moab so that it is small and feeble and deals with their captivity. This period is taken as being within three years. The lambs being sent to the ruler are taken to have spiritual significance. The area deals with Sela and the fords of Arnon. The lambs are held to refer to the Church. This is also seen as the tribute lamb of the ruler and perhaps refers to the event in 2Kings 3:4 where Mesha king of Moab did the same. Sela here is identified as Petra being in Mt Seir near Mt Hor (see also Companion Bible noting 2Kings 14:7).”

The Moabite refugees will seek sanctuary under Messiah in Judah as we see from this chapter. Lambs. A gift for the Messiah as the lambs of the church; comp. The tribute paid to Judah by Moab (2Kgs 3:4).

16:5 deals with the coming of the Messiah to establish the throne at Zion and mete out Justice to Moab.

16:6-12 A description of the disaster

16:6-7 is a prophecy concerning the reduction of Moab in the last days when they are saved by Messiah at his return.

16:8-12 Destruction continues on with the forces of the kings of the Ten Toes of the last days. A parallel is in Jer. 48:29-33. Kir-hareseh and Kir-heres, the same as Kir, 15:1.

16:13-14 Despite previous success Moab will again be devastated. It will be absorbed into the kingdom of Israel under Messiah as we see from the other texts. It will then be at peace under Messiah.

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 13-16 (for KVJ)

Chapter 13

Verse 1

burden = a prophetic oracle or warning. This begins the fourth great division of the book. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:3 ), App-92 .

Babylon. This takes precedence, and stands for Chaldea generally. It reached its height about 100 years later, under Nahopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar. A generation later it was captured by Cyrus and Darius the Mede (see App-57 ). Babylon was of little importance at this time.

Isaiah. His name given in Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 2:1 ; Isaiah 7:3 ; Isaiah 13:1 ; Isaiah 20:2 , Isaiah 20:3 ; Isaiah 37:2 , Isaiah 37:5 , Isaiah 37:6 , Isaiah 37:21 ; Isaiah 39:3 , Isaiah 39:5 , Isaiah 39:8 .

Verse 3

sanctified ones = separated ones. Here = the armies of the Medes and Persians. Compare Isaiah 44:28 ; Isaiah 45:1 .

mighty ones = heroes. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

them that rejoice in My highness = my proudly exulting ones.

Verse 5

the end of heaven: i.e. from afar.

the whole land = all the land [of Chaldea].

Verse 6

the day. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the events (or judgments) which shall take place in it.

day of the Lord. . See note on Isaiah 2:12 . Occurs in fifteen other places in O.T. : (Isaiah 13:9 . Ezekiel 13:5 .Joel 1:15 ; Joel 2:1 , Joel 2:11 , Joel 2:31 ; Amos 5:18 , Amos 5:18 , Amos 5:20 . Obadiah 1:15 .Zephaniah 1:7 , Zephaniah 1:14 , Zephaniah 1:14 .Malachi 4:5 (total 4x4, App-10 ).

destruction . . . ALMIGHTY. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. keshod .. mishshaddai .

the ALMIGHTY = the All-bountiful One. Hebrew. Shaddai ( App-4 ).

Verse 7

man's = mortal's. Hebrew. enosh.

App-14 .

Verse 8

as flames = as [faces of] flames darkened.

Verse 9

cruel = stern.

Verse 10

shall not give their light. Quoted in Matthew 24:29 . Shall not celebrate [Thee]. Compare Psalms 19:1-3 ; Psalms 145:10 . Hebrew. halel.

Occurs twice in "former" portion (here and in Isaiah 38:18 "celebrate") and four times in "latter" portion (Isaiah 41:16 ; Isaiah 45:25 , "glory"; Isaiah 62:9 ; Isaiah 64:11 , "praise") See App-79 .

Verse 11

the world = the habitable world. Hebrew tebel.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha .

iniquity. Hebrew. avah .

Verse 12

man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .

Verse 14

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 16

children = babes.

Verse 17

Medes. Here only "Medes". in Isaiah 21:2 , "Persians and Medes. "In Isaiah 45:1 Cyrus named. The order is chronological.

Verse 18

their. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and their".

children = sons.

Verse 19

as when God, &c. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Isaiah 1:9 .

Verse 20

never. See note on Isaiah 25:8 .

Verse 21

doleful creatures. Probably hyenas.

satyrs = goat-shaped demons worshipped by the Seirites (Edom). Compare Leviticus 17:7 . 2Ch 11:15; 2 Chronicles 25:14 .

Verse 22

the wild beasts = jackals.

dragons , or wild dogs.

Chapter 14

Verse 1

choose. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .

set them = make them rest. Compare Isaiah 14:3 .

land = soil

strangers = sojourners, foreign proselytes. Isaiah sees far beyond the Captivity. Hebrew. gur. See note on Isaiah 5:17 . Thus, the mention of strangers is not confined to latter part of Isaiah as alleged by some. See App-79 .

the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 .

Verse 2

the people = peoples.

their place = their own place. See Isaiah 49:22 ; Isaiah 60:9 ; Isaiah 66:20 .

the house of Israel. See note on Isaiah 5:7 .

possess them. For servants and handmaids. This is to be fulfilled at a later day: still future (Isaiah 49:23 ; Isaiah 60:9-14 ; Isaiah 61:5 ).

oppressors. Compare Isaiah 60:14 .

Verse 4

take up this proverb. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:7 , Numbers 23:24 ; Numbers 24:3 , Numbers 24:15 , Numbers 24:20 , Numbers 24:21 , Numbers 24:23 ). Elsewhere only in Micah 2:4 .Habakkuk 2:6 , and Job 27:1 ; Job 29:1 .

proverb = triumph-song.

king of Babylon. Figure of speech Polyonymia . One of the names for the Antichrist. See note on Daniel 7:8 .

How. ! Figure of speech Chleuasmos. App-6 .

golden city: or exactress of gold. Some, by reading (= R) for (= D) read "oppression".

Verse 5

wicked = lawless ones (plural) Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

Verse 6

continual = unremitting.

ruled the nations = trod down nations.

is persecuted, and none hindereth = with an unsparing persecution.

Verse 7

break forth into singing. This word (Hebrew. pazah) occurs once in the "former" portion (here), and five times in the "latter" portion (Isaiah 44:23 ; Isaiah 49:13 ; Isaiah 52:9 ; Isaiah 54:1 ; Isaiah 55:12 ). See App-92 .

Verse 8

fir trees. Compare Isaiah 37:24 ; Isaiah 41:19 ; Isaiah 55:13 ; Isaiah 60:13 .

the cedars of Lebanon, Baying, &c. It refers to Nebuchadnezzar's and Esar-haddon's cutting down, as recorded in their Inscriptions, p. 58 (published by Oppert, Paris, 1865). They tell how they "brought the greatest trees from the summits of Lebanon to Babylon". Nebuchadnezzar moreover boasts that he will do it in his message to Hezekiah (Isaiah 37:28 . See App-67 .).

laid down = laid low.

Verse 9

Hell = the grave. Hebrew Sheol. App-85 .

dead = Rephaim. See App-23 and App-25 . Compare Isaiah 26:14 , Isaiah 26:19 .

Verse 10

speak. say. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia , by which the dead are represented as speaking.

Verse 11

the grave. Hebrew Sheol. App-35 . Same word as "hell", Isaiah 14:9 and Isaiah 14:15 .

worm. This shows the meaning to be given to Hebrew "Sheol" in verses: Isaiah 14:9 , Isaiah 14:15 ; as worms are material, not spirit. Compare Isaiah 66:24 .Mark 9:44 , Mark 9:46 , Mark 9:48 .

cover thee = are thy coverlet.

Verse 12

Lucifer = Morning-star. Worshipped by the Assyrians as male at sunrise, female at sunset. A name of Satan.

weaken = subdue.

Verse 13

For = And.

hast said = saidst.

ascend = mount up.

heaven = the heavens.

mount of the congregation. Not Zion, but the Divine assembly of judgment. Compare Psalms 75:2 ; Psalms 82:1 .Ezekiel 28:12-14 .

sides = recesses. Same word as in Isaiah 14:16 ; Isaiah 37:24 , and 1 Samuel 24:3 .Ezekiel 32:23 .

the north. This helps us to localize the dwelling place of God. No "Semitic conception", but Divine revelation of Him Who knows what Satan "said in his heart". Compare Psalms 75:6 . Job 26:7 .

Verse 14

of = that is to say. Genitive of Apposition. App-17 .

the MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .

Verse 16

Is this the man. ? Figure of speech Dialogismos .

tremble = quake, forming the Figure of speech Paronomasia , with "shake. "

Verse 17

world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel.

opened not the house of = loosed not.

Verse 18

lie = sleep. Hebrew. shakab. So rendered twelve times in O.T.

glory = state or honour.

house = burial-house, or mausoleum. 1 Kings 2:10 , 1Ki 2:34 ; 1 Samuel 25:1 ; 1 Samuel 28:3 Ecclesiastes 12:5 .

Verse 19

cast out = flung out: out, or far away.

grave = sepulchre. Heb keber. See App-35 .

abominable branch = a detested or despised scion.

that go down, &c. As those that go down . . . as, &c.

to. One school of Massorites reads "upon", another reads "up to".

stones. Cast upon those who were buried. No word has "evidently dropped out" of Isaiah 14:20 ; for Isaiah 14:19 does state that they were buried, but he was not.

pit = a rock-hewn burying place, as in Psalms 28:1 ; Psalms 30:3 ; Psalms 88:5 . Hebrew. bor. See note on Genesis 21:19 , showing the sense in which we are to understand Sheol in verses: Isaiah 11:15 . Compare English word "bore. "Hebrew. bor rendered cistern, four times; dungeon, thirteen; fountain, one; well, nine; pit, thirty-nine times.

Verse 21

slaughter = a slaughter-house, or, instruments of slaughter. Hebrew. matbeah. Occurs only here.

children = sons.

for the iniquity of their fathers. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:5 ). App-92 .

face = surface.

cities. The triumph-song which began in Isaiah 14:4 ends here.

Verse 22

name and remnant. Note the Figure of speech Homoeopropheron in this sentence and the next: "renown and remnant, scion and seed".

and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, omit this "and".

son, and nephew = scion and seed, or, son and son's son.

Verse 24

as = according as.

thought = intended.

Verse 25

break. yoke. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 27:40 ).

the Assyrian. Another name for the Antichrist, See note on Daniel 7:8 .

Verse 26

purpose. hand. Note the Alternation of these two words in Isaiah 14:26 and Isaiah 14:27 .

stretched out: i.e. in judgment.

Verse 28

king Ahaz died. Compare Isaiah 6:1 .

burden = rod: i.e. Babylon.

Verse 29

Rejoice not thou: i.e. at the death of Ahaz, and because the Davidic dominion was broken by the Syro- Ephraimitic war.

Palestina = Philistia.

him = the Davidic power.

for out of the serpent's root, &c. That was how Philistia regarded Judah and Ahaz.

cocktrice = viper (see note on Isaiah 11:8 ), which they would find in his son Hezekiah in the immediate future (2 Kings 18:8 ).

Verse 30

firstborn of the poor = the poorest of the poor. Hebrew idiom. Hebrew. dal , impoverished, reduced. See Isaiah 11:4 . This looks forward to the fulfilment by Messiah (Isaiah 14:32 ).

Verse 31

gate. city. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the people in them.

none shall be alone = there shall be no stragglers.

in = at.

Verse 32

one then answer = what report shall the messengers or ambassadors of the nations take back?

the nation = a nation.

That, &c. This is the report.

the poor = oppressed ones. Hebrew. 'ani.

trust in it = flee for refuge to it. Hebrew. hasah.

Chapter 15

Verse 1

burden. The first of the seven burdens.

Because = Surely.

Moab. Had been subdued by Saul (1 Samuel 14:47 ) and David (2 Samuel 8:2 ); and paid tribute to Ahab ( 2Ki 1:1 ; 2 Kings 3:4 , 2 Kings 3:5 ). Ar = Rabbah (Numbers 21:28 ; Deuteronomy 2:9 , Deuteronomy 2:18 , Deuteronomy 2:29 ).

brought to silence = cut off or destroyed.

Verse 2

He: i.e. Moab.

Dibon. Now Dhiban. Numbers 21:30 ; Numbers 32:3 , Numbers 32:34 , Numbers 33:46 , Numbers 33:46 . Joshua 13:9 , Joshua 13:17 .

Nebo. Now Jebel Neba in Moab, overlooking the Jordan Valley.

Medeba. Same name to-day. Compare Numbers 21:30 . Joshua 13:9 , Joshua 13:16 ; 1 Chronicles 19:7 .

Verse 3

their streets = his (i.e. Moab's) open streets.

weeping abundantly = coming down with weeping.

Verse 4

Heshbon. Now Heshoan. The capital of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Reuben (Numbers 32:37 ).

cry = cry in pain.

Elealeh. Nowel' Al, near Heshbon. Compare Isaiah 16:9 . Numbers 32:3 , Numbers 32:37 . Jeremiah 48:34 .

Jahaz. Not identified. Numbers 21:23 .Deuteronomy 2:32 .Judges 11:20 .

armed soldiers = light-armed troopers.

cry out = shout for joy.

ife = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

grievous unto him = vexed within him.

Verse 5

Zoar . Now (probably) Tell esh Shaghur. not him that wandereth. Deuteronomy 34:3 .Jeremiah 48:34 .

an heifer = [flee] like an heifer , &c. Compare Jeremiah 48:34 .

mounting up = ascent.

Luhith. Now Tel'at el Heith ; one mile west of Mount Nebo. Compare Jeremiah 48:5

Horonaim. Not identified; probably Wady Ghueir .

Verse 6

Nimrim. Probably Wady Nimrim , near south end of Dead Sea.

desolate = desolations.

Verse 7

brook of the willows: or valley of the Arabians. Probably the Wady-el-Ahsy separating Kerek from Djebal, or the brook Zered of Deuteronomy 2:13 , Deuteronomy 2:14 .

Verse 8

Eglaim. Not identified; probably the En-eglaim of Ezekiel 47:10 .

Verse 9

Dimon. Probably Umm Deineh , east of the Dead Sea.

Dimon. blood. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. Dimon . dam .

more = more [howlings].

lions = a lion. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all wild beasts.

Chapter 16

Verse 1

lamb = tribute lamb.

to the ruler = of the ruler: i.e. Judah, as Mesha king of Moab had done (2 Kings 3:4 ).

Sela. Now Petra (so called by the Romans) in Mount Seir, near Mount Hor (2 Kings 14:7 ).

Verse 2

cast out, &c. = a forsaken nest.

be = become.

Verse 3

Take counsel = Bring advice. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Bring thou counsel".

execute judgment = perform an arbitrator's duty. Hebrew. pelilah . Occurs only here. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate, read "execute thou".

Verse 4

Let Mine outcasts, &c. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "Let the outcasts", &c.

dwell = sojourn. Compare 1 Samuel 22:3 , 1 Samuel 22:4 .

the spoiler: i.e. Sennacherib.

extortioner. Hebrew. muz. Occurs only here.

oppressors = treaders down. Hebrew. ramas. Occurs only here.

Verse 5

in mercy. The burden goes beyond the immediate future to the ultimate future.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

in truth. See note on Isaiah 10:20 .

hasting righteousness = prompt in equity. Compare Isaiah 46:13 .

Verse 6

We. Compare Isaiah 6:8 . Genesis 1:26 .

his lies shall not be so = his resources do not correspond.

Verse 7

Kir-hareseth. Some codices read "Kir-harasheth".

stricken = worn away. Hebrew. naka'. Occurs only here.

Verse 8

the fields = [as to] the fields. Compare Deuteronomy 32:32 . 2 Kings 23:4 .Jeremiah 31:40 (feminine).

Heshbon. Compare Isaiah 15:4 .

languish = he [Moab] hath enfeebled.

and = supply [as to] and omit the colon.

the vine of Sibmah = Sibmah's vine.

lords. Probably plural of Majesty for "great lord of the nations", a title claimed by the kings of Assyria.

heathen = nations.

Jazer. Probably Beit Zer'ah, on the east of Jordan (Numbers 32:1 .Joshua 13:25 ; Jos 21:39 . 2 Samuel 24:5 . 1 Chronicles 6:81 ; 1 Chronicles 26:31 .Jeremiah 48:32; Jeremiah 48:32 ).

wandered through: or, strayed into.

Verse 9

water thee = make thee drunk.

Elealeh. See note on Isaiah 15:4 .

the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen = on thy summer fruits and thy harvest a war-cry hath fallen,

Verse 10

plentiful = fruitful.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

presses = wine-vat. Hebrew. yekeb, not gaih. See note on Isaiah 5:2 .

Verse 11

sound = make a plaintive sound. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew v'kirbi Kir.

Kir-haresh. See note on Isaiah 15:1 .

Verse 12

on. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "unto": weary with climbing up to. Compare Isaiah 15:2 .

prevail = obtain anything.

Verse 14

Within. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "about".

three years. From the death of Ahaz.

contemned = brought low.

small = few.

feeble = small.

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