Isaiah 34

Isaiah 34:1-17

4. Cp. 1 Isa 3:10.
5. Shall be bathed] RV ‘hath drunk its fill.’ Idumea] RV ‘Edom.’
6. Bozrah] a strongly fortified city of Edom (Isaiah 63:1; Amos 1:12; Jeremiah 49:13). See the same imagery Jeremiah 46:10. The men slain by divine vengeance are compared to beasts offered in sacrifice.
7. Unicorns] RV ‘wild-oxen.’ Come down] i.e. to the shambles.
8. Controversy] ‘quarrel.’ The calamity of Edom is a punishment from Jehovah for its hostility to Zion. 9, 10. Imagery suggested by the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jeremiah 49:18), and by the volcanic character of the land of Edom. 11-15. A graphic picture of a desolate land haunted by wild and uncanny creatures.
9. Cormorant.. bittern] RV ‘pelican.. porcupine.’ Stones] RV ‘plummet,’ implying that the work of destruction will be as thorough as that of building generally is. Confusion.. emptiness] The words are those of Gen 1:2, and suggest a return to primeval chaos.
10. Dragons.. owls] RV ‘jackals.. ostriches’: cp. Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 13:22.;
11. wild.. islands] RV ‘wolves’ (Isaiah 13:22). Satyr] see on Isaiah 13:21. Screech owl] Heb. Lilith, the name of a night-demon or vampire RV’night-monster.’
12. Great owl] RV ‘arrowsnake.’
13. Seek, etc.] An invitation to future generations to compare the event with the prediction, and note its precise fulfilment. Fail] RV ‘be missing.’
14. God, who assigns to nations their territories (Acts 17:26), has allotted Edom to the desert creatures for ever.