(Pp. 46-55.) the contemporary of Hezekiah. In 701 he conquered Egypt at El-Tekeh, but fled from before Jerusalem. Two kings reigned after him in Nineveh, Esar-Haddon, and Asur-Bani-Pal: and 607 saw the fall of the Assyrian Empire before the Median Power. Millo, a rampart, strongly fortified, on the west of Mount Zion. Rabshakeh or Rab-Sak, the chief cup-bearer, or general staff-officer in the Assyrian service, entrusted with diplomatic business. It is the title of an office, and not the name of a person. The Tartan was the supreme military officer, or commander-in-chief, while the Rab Saris was the Chief of the Eunuchs, and a confidential officer. Rab=Chief. Eliakim, became Treasurer or Chief Officer of State under King Hezekiah, in succession to Shebna, whose removal from office Isaiah announced. Shebna, a foreigner and an upstart. His pro-Egyptian policy marked him out for severe condemnation at the hands of the prophet. He had purchased a burial-place prematurely, thinking that his tenure of office was sure. Here he appears already in a secondary position. Hamath, at the north border of the Holy Land, a large town on the Orontes, depopulated by the Assyrian in 720. Arpad = Aradus, a town on the coast, now a heap of ruins. Sepharvaim, or Sipar, a town to the north of Babylon; built on both sides of the Euphrates, and hence in dual form here. Conquered by Sargon. Gozan, a river, or a district in Media. Haran, a province in Assyria. Perhaps part of Media. Rezeph, a town beyond the Euphrates, reduced by Assyria. Several places so called. Eden, a district along the banks of the Euphrates. Telassar, or Tel-Ashur, a town in Media. Henah, a town in Media, to which Israel was carried captive. My hook. Assyrian sculptures show how the custom prevailed in Assyria of taking prisoners away with a hook in the nose. Nisroch, not identified. Perhaps a modification of Ashur, the god of Nineveh the sr having been taken from a descriptive title, and the och being an augumentative. Asarach is the form in the LXX. Esar-haddon, King in Nineveh, reigned 681 to 668, successor of Sennacherib. Calno, a strong town=Ctesiphon or Zerghish, south of Babylon, on Tigris. Carchemish, a place of military importance on the Euphrates, and the capital of the ancient Hittite kingdom. Taken in 717 by Sargon. A decisive battle was fought here between Egypt and Babylon in 606. (Pp. 55-62.) Remover of Boundaries, a title assumed by the Assyrian kings. They claimed to be king of kings, and lord paramount or superior. They certainly robbed the nations, like bird-nests. The Light of Israel, a name of Jehovah, who was represented by the Shekinah glory. Rock of Oreb, the place of Gideon's signal victory over Midian. This victory became in prophecy a type of other and greater deliver ances. Aiath, &c. Here is given a graphic account of an invasion of Judah from the north and town after town is mentioned in due order. That this refers to an actual invasion of Sargon in 710 seems probable. The later invasion of Sennacherib was from the west by way of Lachish. Although no definite statement is on record as to this invasion, yet the inscriptions tell us that 'Judah and other lands were at the time of the invasion of Philistia speaking treason.' The emended reading, "The destroyer is come up from the north," removes an ambiguous clause from the text, and affords a good introduction to what follows. The geographical peculiarities are here marked; and the actions attributed to each place correspond strikingly to their names. In this passage, and in that concerning Moab, this play on words, so characteristic of Isaiah, is abundantly seen. The Valley of Vision, a name for Jerusalem as the home of prophetic vision. Elam, a province near Babylon. In Sargon's time, in alliance with Assyria Kir and Elam fight against Assyria's enemies. The Forest House, a house of cedars, a royal armoury (1 Kings vii. 2; x. 17). Lower Pool. There were several pools at Jerusalem. Ethiopia, addressed here as a land full of insects, of which there are so many in Eastern lands. It corresponds to Cush, or the southern division of Egypt. A powerful Ethiopian king, Piankhi-Mer Amon, had united Egypt and Ethiopia under one sceptre about 726: and was succeeded by a line of brave monarchs, who sustained the fame of the Pharaohs. The Prophet's message is complimentary. describes the Ethiopians as the tallest and finest of men. does not express woe, but interest, and calls for attention. Tartan, the supreme military general of Assyria. Herodotus The Ho! Ashdod, a strong fortress of the Philistines, was besieged for about three years by Sargon's generals; and had to be reduced before Assyria could advance against Egypt. The story of the siege is fully given on the inscriptions on the wall of Sargon's palace at Khorsabad. The Nile was the source of Egypt's wealth: anything affecting the former would reduce the latter. (Pp. 62-79.) Zoan, the chief town of Lower Egypt, on a branch of the Nile deltaalso called Tanis. Hanes, another important town of Lower Egypt. A Cruel Lord, probably the Assyrian king: or Psammetichus (660 to 610.) Ir Ha-Heres, the city of destruction, or of the sun-perhaps Heliopolis. But the meaning is obscure. The LXX. read the city of righteousness, and on account of this Onias obtained permission, in 160 B.C., to build a Jewish temple in Egypt, which stood till 72 A.D.: this, however, was not for converted Egypt, but for Jews residing there. The City of the Sun worship might well be termed the City of Destruction by a worshipper of Jehovah (Jer. xliii. 13). Heliopolis was near Thebes, i.e., No-Ammon; while Noph - Memphis or Minoph. The Beasts of the South, i.e., an embassy with caravans carrying gifts, going South, even to Egypt. The Braggart, i.e., Rahab, the poetic name for Egypt. The inability of Egypt to fulfil her promises is here set forth. Tophet, a funeral pyre, such as was erected in the valley of Hinnom for Moloch, the king of Heaven. Ephraim's capital was on a hill, the side of which was covered with vines, and beneath were fat, or fertile, valleys. Mount Perazim, where a victory was obtained by David over the Philistines. (2 Sam. v. 20.) Valley of Gibeon, where Joshua obtained a signal triumph over the five kings. (Josh. x. 10.) Ariel, i.e., Jerusalem : thus poetically described as the Hearth or the Lion of God-it being both the place where the fire of His holiness burned, and the place where His strength was revealed. Sodom and Gomorrha, signal instances of the divine wrath against sin, referred to here by way of warning. Tyre, on a narrow coast land, and adjoining isle. Centre of great maritime enterprise. Besieged by Shalmaneser in 724. Captured by Nebuchadnezzar in 572. Finally overthrown by Alexander the Great, 332. Tarshish = Tartessus, on south coast of Spain : an important trading town. Kittim, the isle of Cyprus in the Levant. The Desert of the Sea, or district of rivers, as Mesopotamia, which means between the seas, is really the country between the great rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Babylon is thus described. Its revolt against Assyria quelled 710, but it fell in 539, and by 60 was indeed a desert. Media and Elam are here enemies of Babylon, and allies of Assyria. The Medes became an independent power about 710. When Isaiah was prophesying they established themselves in Ecbatana, and this (Pp. 80-90.) must have been known in Jerusalem. That there was a future before the Medes the prophet saw. The Median Empire lasted from 710 to 559, when Cyrus founded the Persian Power: but his first generals were Medes. In the text we have Sargon's address to Media and Elam. Merodach Baladan, a powerful king of Babylon, who rebelled against Assyria, and stood a siege for ten years, thus forecasting Babylon's independence. He was dethroned by Sargon, but again established himself on that king's death in 705. Nineveh fell before Babylon in 609 to 607, and Nebuchadnezzar had a brilliant reign. Merodach is a title of one of the gods of Babylon. The Medes were being stirred up about this time against Babylon. The Mount of Congregation, a mythical dwelling-place of the gods, the Olympus of Assyria, on the hills of Aralu, at the supposed entrance to the lower world, Sheol or Hades. Bozrah, the capital of Edom, and the scene of Jehovah's vengeance upon his enemies. Isles of the Sea, or coastlands of the countries washed by the sea. Carmel, a well-known mountain, etymologically a fruitful place. Sharon, a beautiful and fertile plain, extending from Joppa to Cæsarea. The River, i.e., the Euphrates. Egypt or Matzor. There are two Egypts, hence the dual form Mitzraim. Cush is Higher Egypt: Pathros is Thebaid or Middle Egypt. Lower Egypt in the N. Higher Egypt is called Ethiopia. Shinar, a province of Babylon or South Babylonia. The Tongue of Egypt. As the Red Sea was smitten in the day of Exodus: so again any sea or stream of Egypt that stands in the way of the people of God shall be smitten. The Stock of Jesse David's house and family, out of which a true king would yet arise. |