Isaiah 30

Chap. Ver. 1—33. The Jews threatened for their reliance on Egypt, and the great destruction of Assyria again predicted.—The folly of the former, in their sending ambassadors with enormous presents into Egypt, through the wilderness of wild beasts and peril, is exposed and ridiculed. For this foolish and rebellious conduct they are severely threatened; and it is predicted that Egypt, in which they trusted, should not only afford them no protection; but, like a tottering wall, should fall suddenly on them, and overwhelm them with destruction. of mercy and deliverance; which, though long delayed, shall not fail; “Blessed are all they that wait for him.” A holy people shall yet be restored to Zion, to be dispersed and weep no more.

Divine instruction shall be afforded them; idolatry shall be utterly suppressed, and temporal prosperity shall be restored. That these promises have reference to the new dispensation of the Messiah there can be no doubt, for to that only can be applied the promises of increasing light and glory in verse 26, when the day of knowledge and of grace is to be increased to a sevenfold degree of splendour. The latter part of the chapter relates evidently to the terrible overthrow of Sennacherib and his army, which were to be utterly destroy- “psa the sacrifices in the valley of Hinnom, here called

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXX. Ver. 1. That cover with a covering.— Who pour out a libation,” to ratify their covenant with Egypt, “but not of my spirit.” The anointed libations had a reference to God’s spirit, (see exposition of (Isaiah 12)) but this alludes, probably, to some heathen rite. Ver. 4. Hanes.—{The Chaldee, paraphrast and others, by Hanes understand Tahpanhes, or Daphnes, but it is probably the same as Anysés, the royal city of a king of the same name, mentioned by Herodotus. The learned Forster is of opinion that it is the same city as the Thenneswm of Cassianus, situated on the Mendesian lake. |}—Bagster. Ver. 6, The burden of the beasts of the south.—Lowth, “Going southward;” i. e. with presents to Egypt, to secure their alliance.—The land trouble—(Or, as Bishop Lowth renders, “through a land of distress and difficulty:” the same deserts are here spoken of which the Israelites passed through. (Deuteronomy 8:15).; xvii. 16.)—Bagster. Ver. 7. Their strength is to sit still.—Applying this to Israel, it may mean they had better sit still and not go to seek help in Egypt. Or to Egypt, it means, that all they could do would be in vain, and amount to nothing. See Gataker. Ver. 15 inclines us to the former. Ver. 8. In a table—or on a tablet.— That it may be for the time to come.—See margin. Even for ever and ever; referring to Messiah’s kingdom. Ver. 11. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.—Lowth, “Remove from our sight the Holy One of Israel.” See (Job 21:14-15). Ver. 14. He shall break.—Lowth, “It shall be broken, as one breaketh a potter’s vessel.”

Ver. 15. In returning.—That is, in returning to put their confidence in God. Ver. 16. Ride upon the swift.— Boothroyd, “Horses;” Lowth, “Coursers.” Ver. 17. At the rebuke of five.—Something is evidently to be here understood; Gataker supplies the word all; “Ye shall all flee,” and the LXX. the word many; but Lowth, from a comparison of this text with (Leviticus 26:8). and (Deuteronomy 32:30), supplies “10,000,” which, in the Hebrew, is expressed nearly the same as “many.” So Boothroyd. Ver. 19. For the people.—LXX. “A holy people;” which is followed by Lowth and Boothroyd. Ver. 22. Ye shall defile.—That is, treat it as an abomination.—Cast them away, as a polluted garment.—This is the version of Lowth.