and his prosperous reign. B. C. 725. 5 The vile person shall be no more A. M. 3279. called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. 6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry; and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 7 The instruments also of the churl are evil : he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. 8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; xxxv. 5, 6.— -2 Heb. hasty.—3 Or, elegantly.——————1 Or, when he speaketh against the poor in judgment. and ears against the good counsels and examples of their religious king and rulers, as they have done formerly; both princes and people shall be reformed. The heart also of the rash-Who were hasty in judging of things; which is an argument of ignorance and folly; shall understand knowledge-Shall become more knowing and considerate in their judgments and actions. And the tongue of the stammerers-Who used to speak of the things of God darkly, doubtfully, and unwillingly; shall be ready to speak plainly-As men's understandings shall be enlightened, so their speech shall be reformed: which, though it was in part fulfilled in Hezekiah, yet was truly and fully accomplished only by Christ, who wrought this wonderful change in an innumer Verse 1. Behold, a king-Hezekiah, a type of Christ, and Christ typified by him, shall reign in righteousness-Therefore Hezekiah was not king when this prophecy was delivered. And whereas some say that he speaks of the good government of Hezekiah, after the destruction of Sennacherib, it is easy to observe, that his government was as good before that time as afterward; and that in the very beginning of his reign he ruled with righteousness and the fear of God. And princes-The ministers of state, judges, and magistrates under the king, shall rule in judgment-Shall execute their offices with integrity and faithfulness. "Ahaz and his princes had ruled very wickedly, but a king was about to mount the throne who would reign in right-able company, both of Jews and Gentiles. eousness, employ upright magistrates, and protect the people, both from internal oppression, by his equitable administration, and from external invaders, by his faith and prayers."-Scott. But although these expressions are, in some sort, applicable to Hezekiah and his good reign, they are much more true of Christ and his reign, as are also several other expressions here used, especially those in the third and fourth verses, which evidently relate to happier times than Hezekiah lived to see. And therefore we may justly say, "That the reformation which Hezekiah made was but a shadow of those greater improvements in grace and holiness, which properly belong to the times of the gospel.-Lowth. Verses 2-4. And a man--Either the man or king spoken of, or each of his princes, shall be a hiding-things, though with a pretence of religion and justice. place-A protection to the people under their government, especially to such as are oppressed or injured by those that are more powerful than they ; || from the wind-From the rage and violence of evil || As rivers of water in a dry place-Not less refreshing and acceptable shall this king and his princes be to their subjects. And as the shadow of a great rock-In a dry and scorched country, which is called weary, because it makes travellers weary; as death is called pale in other authors, because it makes men's faces pale. And the eyes of them that see--Of the people, who shall not shut their eyes men. Verses 5, 6. The vile person--Base and worthless men; shall be no more called liberal-Shall no longer be reputed honourable, because of their high and honourable places, but wickedness shall be discovered wherever it is, and virtue manifested and rewarded. Nor the churl said to be bountiful-The sordid and covetous man; but under this one vice all vices are understood, as under the opposite virtue of bountifulness all virtues are comprehended. For the vile person will speak villany--Men shall no longer be miscalled; for every one will discover what he is by his words and actions. And will work iniquity-He will, from time to time, be devising wickedness, that he may execute it when he hath opportunity. To practise hypocrisy-To do bad To utter error-To pass unjust sentences, directly contrary to the command of God. To cause the drink, &c.--Whereby they take away the bread and drink of the poor. Verses 7, 8. The instruments also of the churl are evil-Hebrew, ', the vessels. It is a word of a very general signification among the Hebrews, and signifies any person or thing which is employed in a man's service. The sense is, that such covetous or wicked princes most willingly choose and employ wicked men in their affairs, because such men will, without any regard to conscience or Calamities of the Jews CHAPTER XXXII. in the times of the gospel. A. M. 3279. and by liberal things shall he 5 stand. B. C. 725. 12 They shall lament for the teats, A. M. 3279. 9 Rise up, ye women that are for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; || vine. give ear unto my speech. e 8 B. C. 725. 13 Upon the land of my people shall come 106 Many days and years shall ye be trou-up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses bled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall of joy in the joyous city: fail, the gathering shall not come. 14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the || 9 forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; ix. 6. -8 Or, burning upon, &c.—f Chap. xxii. 2.- -g Chap. xxvii. 10.- -9 Or, clefts and watch-towers. departure, God promised and added to him fifteen years more, 2 Kings xx. 6. For the vintage shall fail-During the time of the Assyrian invasion. The gathering shall not come-Namely, of the other fruits of the earth; as that feast which was observed after the gathering of all the fruits was called the feast of ingathering, Ex. xxiii. 16. Tremble, ye women, &c.—It seems probable, from these repeated addresses to the women, that those of Jerusalem especially, and, perhaps, also of many of the other towns in Judea, were, at that time, peculiarly vain, luxurious, dissipated, and wanton, and regardless of all religion. The prophet, therefore, especially addresses them, and warns them that a time of trouble awaited them. Strip ye and make ye justice, serve all their exorbitant desires. It includes, however, his counsels, practices, and arts, which are here declared to be generally evil. He deviseth wicked devices--He uses all his understanding and art to do injuries to others; to destroy the poor with lying words—With false and unrighteous decrees. When the needy speaketh right-- || When their cause is just and good. But the liberal || deviseth liberal things-He who is truly liberal and virtuous, will show it by designing and practising liberal or virtuous actions. And by liberal things shall he stand-He who does so will not destroy himself thereby, as wicked men falsely suppose, but establish and advance himself. "The Christian reader need not be told how exactly the particulars, expressed in these verses, belong to Christ's king-bare-Put off your ornaments, as God commanded dom, who is a hiding-place from the storm of sin and the world, John xvi. 33; whose kingdom is a kingdom of light, of faith, of love; all whose subjects| are enlightened by the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ; who gave eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, tongues to the dumb, and, by his divine grace, changed the most churlish and illiberal dispositions into generosity and love." || Vitringa. Verses 9-12. Rise up, &c.—The prophet, to show the sinners and hypocrites in Zion, (ch. xxxiii. 14,) that they must not expect to receive blessings from God, such as he had just now predicted, while they remained in a state of impenitence, denounces against them the calamities which should come upon them; 1st, By the Assyrian, and then by the Babylonish destruction. Ye women that are at ease-That indulge yourselves in idleness and luxury; shake off your carelessness and sloth, and prepare yourselves to hear the sentence pronounced by God concerning you. Hear my voice, ye careless daughters-Hebrew, nino, ye confident and secure, who are insensible of your sin and danger. Many days and years-Hebrew, ny by on, days above a year; that is, a year and some days: which, it seems, expresses the time of the continuance of the judgment by the Assyrians; that it should last some days above one year, as indeed it did, and no longer; for Hezekiah reigned in all but twenty-nine years, 2 Kings xviii. 2. And Sennacherib invaded the country in his fourteenth year; and, after his defeat and upon a like occasion, (Ex. xxxiii. 5,) that you may put on sackcloth instead of them, as mourners and penitents used to do. They shall lament for the teats-For the pleasant and fruitful fields which, like teats, yielded you plentiful and excellent nourish||ment. Verses 13, 14. Upon the land, &c., shall come up thorns and briers-If any of you think there is no great cause for such trembling and lamentation, on account of a calamity which shall last but for a year and some days, know that this affliction by the Assyrians is but an earnest of further and sorer judgments. For the time is coming when this land shall be laid desolate; and, instead of vines and other fruits, it shall yield nothing but briers and thorns. Yea, upon all the houses of joy-Upon that ground where now your houses stand, in which you take your fill of mirth and pleasure. Because the palaces -Hebrew, , the palace, the king's house, and other magnificent buildings in the city, shall be forsaken--Shall be destitute of inhabitants. multitude of the city shall be left-Shall be forsaken of God and given up into their enemies' hands. The forts, &c., shall be for dens for ever-For a long time; a joy of wild asses--Desolate places, in which wild asses delight to be. "This description," says Bishop Lowth, "of impending distresses belongs to other times than that of Sennacherib's invasion, from which they were so soon delivered. It must, at least, extend to the ruin of the country and city by the Chaldeans. And the promise of blessings The Prosperity of the church A. M. 3279. B. C. 725. 15 Until the Spirit be poured 18 And my people shall dwell in a A. M. 3279. upon us from on high, and the wil-peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field ings, and in quiet resting-places. be counted for a forest. k James iii. 18. which follows was not fulfilled under the Mosaic dispensation; they belong to the kingdom of Messiah." || 19 When it shall hail, coming down mon the forest; 10 and the city shall be low in a low place. 20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of " the ox and the ass. under the peculiar protection and care of God. dependance on him for the fulfilment of his promises; from whence will arise a holy serenity and security of mind, with a lively and joyful expectation of eterVerse 15. Until the Spirit be poured upon us, &c. nal felicity, of which no external circumstances of --And this calamity shall, in a manner, continue prosperity or adversity can deprive the possessors. until the time come in which God will pour, or, as And my people-The converted Gentiles, who shall П, properly signifies, reveal, that is, evidently || then be my people; or the Jews upon their converand plentifully confer his Spirit upon his people. sion to Christianity in the latter days; shall dwell Which was done, in some sort, upon their return || in a peaceable habitation—Shall be safe and happy from Babylon, when God, by his Spirit, moved Cyrus to give them liberty of returning to Jerusalem, and the people to return and build the city and temple. But it was far more clearly and fully accomplished in the days of the Messiah, when God's Spirit was in a most evident and glorious manner poured forth upon the apostles and other believing Jews, to the astonishment of their very adversaries; and when the following promises were, in a good measure, fulfilled, and are more fully to be accomplished in God's due time. And the wilderness be a fruitful field-Which expressions are to be understood allegorically of the conversion of the Gentile nations, which had been long barren, and of the rejection of the Jews in the time of the Messiah. See on chap. xxix. 17. || Verse 19. When—Or, rather, And it shall hail—– As my blessings shall be poured down upon my people, who, from a wilderness, are turned into a fruitful field, so my judgments (which are signified by hail, chap. xxviii. 2, 17, and elsewhere) shall fall upon them who were a fruitful field, but are turned into a forest, as was said verse 15; that is, upon the unbelieving and rebellious Jews. And the city--Jerusalem, which, though now it was the seat of God's worship and people, yet he foresaw would be the great enemy of the Messiah; shall be low in a low place--Hebrew, how how, shall be humbled with humiliation; that is, shall be greatly humbled, or brought very low. Verse 20. Blessed are ye that sow, &c.-As the barren forest shall be destroyed, so the fruitful field shall be improved and bring forth much fruit, which is signified by a declaration of the blessedness of them that sow in it; beside all waters—In all moist and flat grounds which are likely to yield good fruit; or, in every well-watered place, as Bishop Lowth renders it, who quotes Sir John Chardin as observ Verses 16-18. Then judgment--Just judgment, as the next clause explains it, shall dwell in the wilderness-In what had formerly been a wilderness, namely, among the Gentiles, now supposed to be converted to Christianity; by whom righteousness also shall be practised, and among whom it shall remain. And the work of righteousness shall be peace-The effect of this righteousness shall being, that the place exactly answers the manner of peace of conscience, possessed by all that practise it, and tranquillity, of mind, as well as peace with God. Or, perhaps, outward prosperity may be chiefly intended. And the effect-Hebrew, y, the service, of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever - open, rest and confidence. The being truly righteous before God, and walking in his ordinances and commandments blameless, (Luke i. 6,) shall be attended with an assurance of God's favour, and a planting rice in the East; concerning which, see the note on Eccles. xi. 1. But this passage, as well as that in the foregoing verses, is to be understood mystically of the times of the gospel, and of the great and happy success of the ministers of it, whose spiritual sowing of the word, accompanied with the influences of the Holy Ghost, produced much fruit in the Gentile nations, to the glory of God and their own comfort. CHAPTER XXXIII. In this chapter, which is a triumphant ode upon the destruction of Sennacherib's army before Jerusalem, the prophet sets forth the several scenes of that transaction with all the beauties of a poetical description. (1,) He addresses himself to Prophecy concerning CHAPTER XXXIII. Sennacherib. Sennacherib, briefly, but strongly and elegantly, expressing the injustice of his designs, and the sudden disappointment of them, 1. (2,) He introduces the Jews, with himself, offering up earnest supplications to God in their present distressful condition, 2. (3,) Foretels, as an answer to their prayers, the discomfiture and dispersion of the Assyrians, and that they should become an easy prey to those whom they intended to subdue, 3, 4. (4,) Introduces a chorus of Jews, acknowledging the mercy and power of God, who had undertaken to protect them, and extolling the wisdom and piety of their King Hezekiah, who had placed his confidence in God, 5, 6. (5,) He describes the distress and despair of the Jews upon Sennacherib's marching against Jerusalem, and sending his summons to them to surrender, 7-9. (6,) God is introduced, declaring that he will interpose in this critical situation of affairs, and disappoint the vain hopes of the enemies of his veople, by utterly consuming them, 10-13. (7) We have a description of the dreadful apprehensions of the wicked in those times of distress and danger, finely contrasted with the confidence and security of the righteous, 14-22. The ode concludes with a description of the security of the Jews, under the protection of God, and of the wretched state of Sennacherib and his army, wholly discomfited, and exposed to be plundered, even by the weakest of the Jews, 23, 24. "Could a translation," says Lowth, “be made of this chapter, that should come up to the original, it would appear to be as noble a piece of poetry as is to be found in the most admired writings of the ancients." A. M. 3279. B. C. 725. B. C. 725. O to thee a that spoilest, and || waited for thee: be thou their arm A. M. 3279. est treacherously, and they dealt not treacher- 3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. 4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the 2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to a Chap. xxi. 2; Hab. ii. 8. с NOTES ON CHAPTER XXXIII. Verse 1. Wo to thee that spoilest-To Sennacherib, who wasted the land of Judah. The prophet speaks "as if he had found this great spoiler," to whom he addresses himself, "in the very act of spoiling, and was face to face denouncing the divine judgment upon him." And thou wast not spoiled-Hadst not received the like injuries. "It is the practice of the great oppressors of the world to make war upon their neighbours without any just provocation, or having received any real injury from them; and it is against such practices that this wo is denounced." -Lowth. And dealest treacherously-So Sennacherib dealt with Hezekiah, 2 Kings xviii. 14, 17. And, or when, they dealt not treacherously with thee || -Hezekiah and the Jews did not. "We read, indeed, (2 Kings xviii. 7,) that Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria; but the meaning is no more than that he would not stand to those dishonourable terms of slavery, to which his father Ahaz had submitted, when he professed himself the servant of the king of Assyria," (2 Kings xvi. 7,) begging his assistance against the Syrians and Ephraimites, for which he paid him well; but the king of Assyria did not keep his agreement with him, for he distressed him, but strengthened him not, 2 Chron. xxviii. 20. When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled-When thou hast performed the work of chastising my people, to which I have sent thee, thou also shalt be spoiled by thine enemies. The further meaning of this prediction may be, that when the Assyrians, glutted, as it were, with their conquests, should cease to make any further conquests, and give themselves up to luxury and pleasure, then other nations, either mindful of the injuries which they had received from them, or out of rapacity, would attack them in their turn, and spoil them, as they had spoiled others: which came to pass accordingly. Their calamities seem to have begun from the times that Dejoces, king of the Medes, shook off their yoke, about seven hundred years before Christ: for other nations soon followed his example. Verse 2. O Lord, be gracious unto us--The prophet and the pious Jews, contemplating the calamity coming upon their country, here direct their prayer unto God for themselves and their people. Be thou their arm-That is, their strength, namely, the strength of all that trust in thee, and wait for thee, Psa. xxv. 3; every morning--Hebrew, pah, in the mornings; that is, every day seasonably and speedily; on all occasions as they need. In mentioning the mornings, the prophet is thought to refer to the time of the morning sacrifice, which was the morning hour of prayer with the pious Jews; but he includes all other times of prayer, in all which he desires God to hear and answer his people, and to be their salvation all the day long, and especially to support them in the time of trouble. Verses 3, 4. At the noise of the tumult--Which shall be made upon the angel's destroying the army; the people fled-Namely, those of the army who escaped that stroke. At the lifting up of thyself--Toexecute judgment; the nations were scattered―The people of divers nations which made up Sennacherib's army. And your spoil-That treasure which you have raked together by spoiling divers people; shall be gathered-By the Jews at Jerusalem, when you shall be forced to flee away with all possible speed, leaving your spoils behind you; like the gathering of the caterpillar--As caterpillars gather and devour all the fruits of the earth, which was a The Lord will be exalted B. C. 725. ISAIAH. B. C. 725. against his enemies. A. M. 3279. and fro of locusts shall he run upon || Lebanon is ashamed and 3 hewn A. M. 3279. them. down: Sharon is like a wilderness: and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. 5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation the fear of the LORD is his treasure. i 10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. 11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall de 7 Behold, their 2 valiant ones shall cry with-vour you. out the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. 8 f The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. 9 h The earth mourneth and languisheth: 1 12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime; as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire. 13 Hear, mye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. h Chapter xxiv. 4.- -3 Or, withered away. i Psalm xii. 5. m Chapter common plague in those countries; as the running || he gives a lively representation of the great danger to and fro of locusts, &c.-As locusts, especially and distress in which it found them. Their valiant when they are armed by commission from God,|| ones--"Three MSS.," says Bishop Lowth, "read come with great force, and run hither and thither, lions of God, or strong tions; so they devouring every thing before them; shall he run called valiant men, heroes; which appellation the upon them-Namely, Hezekiah, with his people, Arabians and Persians still use." The Hebrew docshall thus eagerly run to the spoil of the Assyrian tors, however, understand by the word, their heralds, camp, and shall take it. or messengers, namely, those whom Hezekiah sent to treat with the Assyrian commissioners, 2 Kings xviii. 18. Shall cry without-Through grief and fear: the ambassadors of peace-Whom Hezekiah sent to beg peace of the Assyrian ; shall weep bitterly-Because they cannot obtain their desire. The wayfaring man ceaseth--Because the Assyrian soldiers possessed and filled the land. He hath broken the covenant-Sennacherib broke his faith given to Hezekiah, of departing for a sum of money, 2 Kings xviii. 14, 17. He hath despised the cities--The defenced cities of Judah, which he contemned and easily took. He regardeth no man--Either to spare, or to fear, or keep faith with him. He neither feareth God nor reverenceth man. The earth mourneth, &c.-Being desolate and neglected. Lebanon is hewn down-By the Assyrians. Or, as op rather signifies, and is here rendered by some, withereth, or languisheth, because its trees are spoiled and destroyed by the Assyrians. Sharon is like a wilder|| ness-Although before it was a pleasant and fruitful place. Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits Verses 5, 6. The Lord is exalted-By the destruction of so potent an army, and by the defence of his people. For he dwelleth on high--He is, and|| will appear to be, superior to his enemies, both in place and power. He dwelleth in heaven, whence he can easily and irresistibly pour down judgments upon his enemies. He hath fulfilled-Or, he will fill Zion-Or Jerusalem; with judgment and right- || eousness-That is, either, 1st, With a glorious instance of his just judgment against the Assyrians; or, 2d, With the execution of justice by good Hezekiah, and the practice of righteousness among the people, as before the same city was filled with impiety and injustice under Ahaz. The city shall not only be delivered from that wicked enemy, but shall also be established and blessed with true religion and righteousness; which was a great addition to that mercy. And wisdom and knowledge-To govern thyself and the people well. The words seem to be addressed to Hezekiah, either by the prophet, or, as Bishop Lowth thinks, by a chorus of the Jews. Shall be the stability of thy times--Of thy reign; times being often put for the things done in those times. The sense is, thy throne shall be established upon the sure foundations of wisdom and justice; and strength of salvation--Thy saving strength, or thy strong and mighty salvation. The fear of the Lord is his treasure-Thy chief treasure and delight shall be in promoting the fear and worship of God, which shall be a great honour and safeguard to thyself and people. Verses 7-9. Behold, &c.-That the mercy here promised might be duly appreciated and magnified, 1 Are spoiled of them. These two places, eminent for fertility, and especially for good pastures, are here put for all such places. Verses 10-13. Now will I rise-In this extremity I will appear on the behalf of my people and land. Ye shall bring forth stubble-Instead of solid corn. Your great hopes and designs, O ye Assyrians, shall be utterly disappointed. Your breath, as fire, shall devour you-Your rage against my people shall bring ruin upon yourselves. Or, the arrogance, pride, wrath, and blasphemies which you vent against God shall be your destruction. Dr. Waterland renders |