Isaiah 33

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXIII. Ver. 1. Wo unto thee.—These words are supposed to be said to Sennacherib, remonstrating with him on the injustice of his con-
Ver. 2. Their arm.—[Or rather, as Lowth reads, on the authority of the Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate, instead of zeroam, “their arm,” zeroenoo, “our arm;” as otherwise the prophet, who is here praying ‘against the enemies of God’s people, would appear as if praying in their behalf}— Bagster. - Ver. 4. And your spoil, &c.—is also addressed to the haughty enemy of Judah, whose very name was a terror to the nations, and implies, that the spoil of his army should be gathered with the same avidity as the locust and the caterpillar plunder the fields of grain, or the trees of fruit.

m—Shall he run upon them.— Lowth, “Shall they run and seize it.” ¢ Ver. 6. Strength, &c.—Rather, “The strength of (thy) salvation.”"——His treasure.—Some of the ancient versions read in the second person, “thy treasure,” and the sense seems to require it. Ver. 7. Their valiant ones.—See margin.—Heb. “Heroes,” and some few copies read, “their lions of God,” or strong lions; a term still in use among the Arabians. ne Ver. 11. Your breath, as fire, &c.—The sense seems to be, that their schemes of ambition should be worthless as stubble, and destroyed by their own breath. See (Job 4:8); (Psalms 7:14). ‘ Ver. 12. As the burnings of lime.—Lowth, “The people shall be burned, as the lime is burned.”

Ver. 14. Devouring fire—referring, in the first instance, to the burnings just mentioned, and probably to the burnings in the valley of Tophet, (Isaiah 30:33).——Everlasting burnings.—Lowth and Boothroyd, “Perpetual burnings.” Ver. 15. Walketh righteously.—See margin—so also “uprightness, bloods,” &c. all plural, for emphasis. Ver. 17. The king in his beauty—That is, Hezekiah, in his royal robes, instead of sackcloth…… The land that is very far off—see margin—i.e. says Dr. Boothroyd, “the siege being ended, and the enemy destroyed, any part of the land may be visited at pleasure; or any foreign land.” Ver. 18. Thy heart shall meditate terror—That is, according to Lowth, “Shall reflect on the past terror.”…..

Where is the scribe, &c.—The scribe who took down the names of those who were to pay tribute. The receiver—See margin—i.e. of tribute, who received the money. He that counted the towers—he that directed the siege. See Boothroyd. These were all now done away with. Ver. 19. Of a stammering—See margin—“Tongue;” i.e. foreigners, whose language they could not understand. _ Ver. 21. A place of broad rivers, &c.—the Lord shall protect them, like an impassable sea. Ver. 23. Thy tacklings are loosed.—The prophet compares the enemy to a ship, worn out and laid by; for to the enemy this must be addressed.—Booth- Ver. 24. I am sick.—Lowth, “Disabled with sickness;” i.e. pestilence as well as war are now removed, and the nation pardoned.