Isaiah 3
DOYLYChap. III. ver. 1. — the whole stay of bread, &c.] Bread is commonly called the “staff of life.” Levit. xxvi. 26; Ezek. xiv. 13. This judgment seems to relate to the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. See Jer. xxxvii. 21; Ezek. iv. 16. The following verses, 2, 3, are very clearly explained by the sacred historian’s account of the captivity of Jehoiachin by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings xxiv. 14. W. Lowth, Bp. Lowth.
— making a tinkling] Dr. Hunt well explains the word thus translated to mean, “skipping, bounding, dancing along;” and the same word used as a noun, (which occurs at ver. 18,) to signify those ornaments of the feet, chains or rings, which the Eastern ladies wore, and which make a tinkling sound as they moved nimbly in walking. Eugene Roger, and other travellers, speaking of Arabian women, mention them. Bp. Lowth. Rauwolf tells us, that the Arab women, whom he saw in going down the Euphrates, wore rings about their legs and hands, and sometimes a good many together, which in their stepping slipped up and down, and so made a great noise. Sir J. Chardin says, that in Persia and Arabia they wear rings about their ancles, which are full of little bells. Children and young girls take pleasure in giving them motion, and with this view walk quick. Harmer.
Isaiah 3:4
- — I will give children to be their princes.] This also was fully accomplished in the succession of weak and wicked princes, from the death of Josiah to the destruction of the city and temple, and the taking of Zedekiah, the last of them. Bp. Lowth.
Isaiah 3:5
- — the people shall be oppressed, &c.] The character of a weak government, where faction gets the better of authority, and every one does what is right in his own eyes. Bp. Wilson.
Isaiah 3:7
- — I will not be on healer:] The expression seems
to apply to repairing what is destroyed in a kingdom or state. Parkhurst.
— in my house is neither bread nor clothing: &c.] He alleges that he has not wherewithal to support the dignity of the station, by such liberality and hospitality as the custom required of persons of superior rank. See 1 Kings iv. 22, 23; Neh. v. 17, 18. The Eastern treasures anciently consisted very much in large quantities of clothing; and princes and great men now are obliged to have a large stock in readiness, for presents on all occasions. Bp. Lowth, Sir J. Chardin.
10, 11. Say ye to the righteous, &c. Thus do the Scriptures represent to us the different condition of good and bad men, which is often true in this world; and, however that happen, will most certainly and remarkably be made good in the next. Abp. Tillotson.
Isaiah 3:12
- — they which lead thee] Thy weak governours, called metaphorically, (as before, ver. 4,) “children, and women.” The margin reads, “they which call thee blessed;” which may mean, the false prophets, who soothe thee in thy sins, and foretel nothing but peace and prosperity. Compare chap. ix. 15, 16. W. Lowth.
Isaiah 3:15
- — grind the faces] The expression and the image is strong, to denote grievous oppression; but is exceeded by the prophet Mirah, iii. 1—3. Bp. Lowth.
Isaiah 3:16
- — wanton eyes,] The original gives, as the mar- The judgments which shall be for the pride of the women. Before CHRIST about 760. Or, stepping nicely. naked. Or, networks. Or, sweet balls. Or, spangled ornaments. of the soul. ing and || mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
Isaiah 3:17
- — the Lord will discover] It was the barbarous custom of the conquerors of those times, to strip their captives naked, and to make them travel in that condition, exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and to the intolerable heat of the sun. This to the women was the height of cruelty and indignity, especially to such as are here described, who had indulged themselves in all manner of delicacies of living, and all the superfluities of ornamental dress. This is always mentioned as the hardest part of the lot of the captives. Compare chap. xx. 4; xlvii. 3; Jer. xiii. 22; Nahum iii. 5. The words, which describe the ornaments in the following inventory, as one may call it, of the wardrobe of a Hebrew lady, must, from its antiquity, and from the nature of the subject, be very obscure. W. Lowth, Bp. Lowth.
Isaiah 3:20
- — tablets.] In the original, as the margin gives it, instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
Isaiah 3:21
- — nose jewels.] See Sir J. Chardin’s note on Gen. xxiv. 22. His account is confirmed by other Oriental travellers.
Isaiah 3:24
- — instead of sweet smell] Or “perfume.” A principal part of the delicacy of the Asiatick ladies consists in the use of baths, and of the richest oils and perfumes: an attention to which is in some degree necessary in those hot countries. See Cant. iv. 10, 11; Esther ii. 12. Bp. Lowth. — instead of a girdle a rent;] “Instead of wellgirt raiment, rags.” Bp. Lowth. — and burning] The old English translation reads, “sunburning,” by way of explication, namely, They shall be exposed to the heat of the sun, in slavery or transportation into foreign parts. W. Lowth. “A sunburnt skin.” Bp. Lowth.
Isaiah 3:26
- — shall sit upon the ground.] This was a posture that denoted the deepest mourning and lamentation, chap. xlvii. 1; Job ii. 13; Lam. ii. 10. The passage seems to relate in its more immediate view, to the destruction of the city by Nebuchadnezzar: however, Judea is thus represented on a medal coined by Vespasian, after the destruction by the Romans. They might have an eye to the customs of the Jewish nation. The Psalinist describes the Jews lamenting their fortune in the same pensive posture, Ps. cxxxvii. 1. Bp. Lowth, W. Lowth, Addison. Chap. IV. The division of the chapters has broken off the Prophet’s discourse almost in the middle of the sentence. The meaning is, “The numbers slain in battle shall be so great, that seven women shall be left to one man.” The Prophet has described the greatness of this distress, by images and adjuncts the most expressive and forcible. Bp. Lowth. Ver. 2. In that day] This phrase often denotes, not the same time which was last mentioned, but an extraordinary season, remarkable for some signal events of