Isaiah 10

Isaiah 10:5-34

5. And the staff in their hand] RV ’the staff in whose hand’: Jehovah speaks, declaring the Assyrian the minister of His wrath.
6. Hypocritical] RV ‘profane.’ Nation.. people] not merely referring to Judah, but to be understood generally: the Assyrian has been commissioned in the divine providence to punish godless nations. Similarly in later history Christians recognised Attila as ’the scourge of God.’ 7-11. The spirit of the Assyrian is represented; he has no idea of his mission, but is fired by ambition and pride of conquest.
7. Altogether] RV ‘all of them.’
8. The places named were all captured by the Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, or Sargon; Calno (a Chaldean city, cp. Genesis 10:10) in 738 b.c., Carchemish (on the W. bank of the Euphrates) in 717; Hamath (on the Orontes, in early times the Hivite capital) in 720; Arpad (near Hamath, with which it is always coupled in OT.) in 740; Samaria (capital of Israel) in 722; Damascus (capital of Syria) in 732. The mention of the last two cities amongst the Assyrian conquests shows that at this time Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 8:4 had been fulfilled. 10, 11 The Assyrian’s argument is—how can Jerusalem, with fewer gods to protect it, hope to hold out successfully?
9. Work] i.e. of judgment, or punishment.
10. People] RV ‘peoples.’ I have put down] RV ‘I have brought down as a valiant man them that sit on thrones.’
11. The helplessness of the world before the Assyrians is vividly imaged. Left] RV ‘forsaken.’ Peeped] RV ‘chirped’: cp. Isaiah 8:19.
12. The prophet now speaks in indignant retort to the vainglorious boasting of the Assyrian; how can he, being but an instrument of providence, exalt himself against Jehovah? As if the rod, etc.] RV ‘as if a rod should shake them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood.’
13. The two figures of famine and fire are used to express the destruction of the Assyrian host.
14. The light of Israel] i.e. Jehovah, who, while He gives light to His own people, at the same time consumes their enemies (Isaiah 29:6-7; Isaiah 30:27; Isaiah 33:14). In one day] Isaiah anticipates a sudden catastrophe for the Assyrians (Isaiah 10:32-34).
15. A standardbearer fainteth] RV ‘a sick man pineth away.’
16. Rest] RV ‘remnant’ (of the Assyrian armies). 20-23. The divine judgment will have a purifying effect on Judah; a remnant shall escape (Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 6:13) who shall be truly devoted to Jehovah.
17. Upon him that smote them] i.e. the Assyrian, on whose help Ahaz relied (Isaiah 7:20).
18. Characteristic teaching of Isaiah, which he had embodied in the symbolic name Shear-jashub (‘a remnant shall return’), given to his son (Isaiah 7:3). It is noteworthy that in this same verse there occurs also the divine title ‘Mighty God,’ which the prophet had ascribed to the Messianic king (Isaiah 9:6).
19. Yet a remnant] RV ‘only a remnant.’ The consumption, etc.] RV ‘a consumption’ (i.e. judgment) ‘is determined, overflowing with righteousness.’
20. He shall smite, etc.] RV ’though he smite,’ etc. After the manner, etc.] alluding to the oppressive cruelty of Pharaoh.
21. Cease] RV ‘be accomplished.’ God’s indignation against His people will be appeased after their punishment, and His anger will then turn to the destruction of their enemies.
22. Scourge for him] i.e. for the Assyrian. According to] RV ‘as in.’ The slaughter of Midian is also referred to as a typical deliverance in Isaiah 9:4. His rod] i.e. Jehovah’s, contrasted with the Assyrian oppressor’s rod (Isaiah 10:24). As the Egyptian oppression was followed by the exodus, so the Assyrian oppression is to be succeeded by a similarly striking deliverance.
23. Because of the anointing] i.e. because of the anointed king of David’s house to which God has promised a lasting kingdom. But RV ‘by reason of fatness.’ A new metaphor. Judah is compared to a bullock which grows so fat and strong that a yoke can no longer be imposed upon it. A conjectural emendation by Robertson Smith makes the last sentence of this v. read, ‘There cometh up from the north the destroyer.’ 28-32. The prophet reverts to the present. The Assyrian advance and consequent panic vividly portrayed.
24. The towns mentioned are all to the N. of Jerusalem. Passed to] RV ‘passed through.’ Hath laid up, etc.] RV ’layeth up his bag-gage’: cp. 1 Samuel 17:20. Carriage is used in AV for ’things carried.’
25. Passage] RV ‘pass.’
26. Cause it to be heard, etc.] RV ‘hearken, O Laishah,’ viz. to the noise of the approaching armies. O poor Anathoth] RM ‘Answer her, O Anathoth.’
27. Is removed] RV ‘is a fugitive.’ Gather themselves to flee] rather, ‘save their households by flight’: cp. Exodus 9:19. 32-34. Arrived within sight of Jerusalem, and threatening the city, the Assyrian meets with sudden disaster.
28. RV ‘This very day shall he halt at Nob, he shaketh his hand at the mount,’ etc.
29. Haughty, etc.] RV ’lofty shall be brought low.’
30. The figure is the same as in Isaiah 10:17-19. The Assyrians are to fall like a forest that is hewn down. Note close connexion with Isaiah 11.