Isaiah 2

The Prophet speaketh in Rhetorical terms, of the coming of Christ’s Kingdom, and of the calling of the Gentiles v.2. as also of the rejection of the Jews, because of their abominable sins, 6. Especially because of their idolatry and pride, 8. And he exhorteth all men to fear God, because of his great Majesty, and power over all things, 10. A prophecy concerning the great terror, that should come upon Idolaters, 19.

1. The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw, [That is, the Prophecy which was revealed unto him by God in a vision] concerning Juda and Jerusalem. [Or, of, &c. That is, how it should fare with the people of the Jews by reason of their sins and impenitency.]

2. And it shall come to pass in the last of days, [To wit, at the time of Christ’s apparition, when the Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world. Compare Mich.4.1. and the annotate.] that the mountain of the LORDS house shall be established upon the top [Or, height. Hebr. Head] of the mountains, [that is, it shall be exalted above all other mountains. This is immediately repeated in other words. Oth. For an head of the mountains] and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all the heathen, [That is, some out of all heathenish nations, as appeareth vers.3.] shall flow unto it. [By the mountain of the LORDS house, is meant here the mountain upon which the House of the Lord, or temple was built; to wit, mount Zion or Morija. And this is to be meant of the Christian Church, which was first gathered at Jerusalem in the time of Christ and his Apostles: But afterwards it was greatly increased and enlarged by the access or addition of the heathen, or Gentiles, which is here signified and exprest by the word flowing to, See Acts 2:41,47.]

3. And many nations shall go, and say, come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us of his ways, [To wit, the manner how we ought to honour and serve him for to be saved. This is immediately repeated in other words] and that we may walk in his paths: for the Law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [These latter words of the verse are the words of the Prophet, not of the people, or nations.] (The Law) [So the Doctrine of the Gospel is called in this place.] shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [See the fulfilling of this Prophecy, Act.8,1,14. And 11.20, etc. And 12.2, etc. See also the annotate. Psal.1.on vers.2. Compare Psal.110.2.]

4. And he shall judge among the heathen, [He; To wit, the Lord Christ. Oth. It; to wit, the word of God: It is all one; for God ruleth or governeth in Christ by his word] and rebuke many nations, [to wit, by the preaching of his word: That is, he shall convince them, that they have deserved eternal death by their sins, and that they cannot be delivered from it by any other means, then by him alone] and they shall beat their swords into spades, and their spears into sickles: [And they shall, &c. Or then, or that is, hereby they shall be moved to beat their swords, etc. (into spades) Or, mattocks; an instrument which gardeners do use for to pluck up and destroy tares or roots out of the ground. (and their spears into sickles) Or, sithes; or, pruning-books] (one) people shall not lift up a sword against (another) people, [The Prophet doth intimate, that all nations that are truly converted unto Christ, shall be of one judgement, in point of faith, Act.4.32. and shall live together in love and unity: for from faith floweth love. Compare Isai.11.vers.6.] neither shall they learn war any more. [They shall live in Christian peace and unity together, without strife and dissension, therefore they shall not have need to learn war.]

5. Come ye house of Jacob, [That is, ye Israelites, that are descended from Jacob] and let us walk in the light of the LORD. [That is, in the saving knowledge of God, which proceedeth from his word. The Prophet exhorteth the Jews, to embrace likewise the Doctrine of God, or, of the Gospel, according to the example of the converted heathen or Gentiles, which he propounded, or set before them]

6. But thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, [The Prophet here turneth himself to God, and maketh a lamentation concerning the Jews, that were rejected and cast off by God. The meaning is, but why do I exhort my country-men to embrace the faith in Christ, seeing it is but in vain? For, O Lord, thou hast decreed to reject, or cast them off. (Thou hast forsaken thy people;) To wit, a part of thy people: for blindness hath in part happened unto Israel, saith the Apostle, Rom.11.25.] for they are filled (with wickedness) more then the East, [Or, of the East; that is, with the wickedness of the nations, that dwell East-ward, or toward the Sun-rising: meaning the Chaldeans, Syrians, Mesopotamians, and other Eastern-Nations, who were very prone to superstition, which craft, and sooth-saying] and they are jugglers, [See the annotate. Levit.19.26. and 2 Kings 21:6.] like the Philistines, and they shew their delight [the Hebrew word signifieth as much as to shew or manifest, delight or pleasure, by or with hand-gesture, or (as it were) by or with clapping of the hands] in the children of strangers. [That is, in strangers, in their manners and course of life. Some conceive this to be spoken of the marriages of their daughters with strange Nations, which were forbidden, Deut.7.1,2,3.]

7. And their land [To wit, the people of Jacobs land: so again in this verse, and likewise in the next] is filled with silver and gold, (there) is no end of their treasures: their land is also filled with horses, and (there) is no end of their charets.

8. Their land is also filled with Idols, [Hebr. With vanities, or, nothings. So are Idols called, 1 Cor.8.4. See Isai.44.10. and the annotate. Levit.19.4.] they bow themselves down before the work of their (own) hands, [That is, before the Idols, which they themselves have made.] before that which their (own) fingers have made.

9. There [To wit, before the Idols] the common (or, mean) man boweth himself, and the honourable man, [Of the great and honourable man, set the annotate. Psal.4.vers.3. and 49.3.] humbleth himself, therefore thou shalt not forgiven it them. [Oth. Forgive it them not: and so they are words of the Prophet, speaking unto God, and beseeching him to punish Idolaters for their Idolatry.]

10. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, [That is, in dens and caves under the ground] by reason of the terror of the LORD, and for the glory of his Majesty. [Here the Prophet turneth himself to the stupid and hardened Jews, and he denounceth Gods judgement against them: as if he had said, the Lord shall send enemies against you, which shall so terrify and affrighten you, that you will be fain to hide yourselves in caves and rocks. See below vers.19. and 21.]

11. The lofty eyes of men, [In Psal.101.5. David calleth a proud man, one that is lofty of eyes, or of lofty eyes. See also Prov.21.4.] shall be humbled, and the loftiness of men shall he bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted [To wit, when God shall smite and humble the Jews by the Chaldeans. See further on vers.12.]

12. For the day of the LORD of Hosts [That is, the judgement or punishment of the LORD in the Old and New Testament. See Job chap.23. on vers.1. and Isai.13.6.] shall be against all (or, every) proud one, and lofty one, and against all (or, every) one that is lifted up, that he [That is, every one among them] may be abased.

13. And against all high and exalted Cedars of Libanon, [That is, which grow upon mount Libanon in great number and quantity] and against all oaks of Basan [A Land beyond the Jordan. The meaning is against all highness, power, might, and glory, whereon men do rely.]

14. And against all the high mountains, and against all the hills that are lifted up.

15. And against all (or, every) high flower, [See the annotate. Isai.chap.4 1.on vers.15.] and against all (or, every) fenced wall.

16. And against all the ships of Tharsis, [Understand here not onely the ships, but also the riches and costly wares that by ships are transported over the sea and waters] and against all desired pictures. [Or, images and other adornings, which they had in their ships, and in their houses.]

17. And the loftiness of men shall be bowed (down:) and the haughtiness of men shall be abased, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. [To wit, after that the proud shall be destroyed]

18. And every one of the Idols shall utterly perish.

19. Then they, [To wit, the Idolaters] shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes [To wits, into the hollow places, clefts, and chinks or crannies] of the earth, by reason of the terror of the Lord; and by reason of the glory of his Majesty, [To wit, hiding themselves for fear and terror from the face of the Lord. See Hos.10.8. Luke 23:30. Revel.6.16. and 9.6.] when he shall get him to terrify the earth. [Or, to break the land in pieces; To wit, the earth it self, as also the inhabitants thereof. And understand this first of the land of Juda, and the inhabitants thereof, and likewise of the judgements of the Messiah throughout the whole world. And so vers.21.]

20. In that day shall a man cast away his silver Idols, and his golden Idols, which they had made themselves to bow themselves down (before them,) for the moles, and the bats: [Heb. Of the digger of pits, or, holes. It is a description of the mole. And the Prophet doth intimate in these words, that they should cast away their Idols into unclean and contemptible corners.]

21. Going into the chinks of the rocks, and into the clefts [Hebr. Branches, or, sprigs] of the ragged rocks, because of the terror of the LORD, and because of the glory of his Majesty, when he shall him up, to terrify the earth mightily.

22. Cease ye (then) from man, whose breath is in his nose, [The meaning is, Seeing ye hear that great ones cannot help, therefore put not your trust in men, whose breath and life is in their nostrils; stop but their nose and mouth, and die they must immediately. Compare Job chap.32.v.22.] for wherein [or, wherefore] is he to be accounted of? [The meaning is, what is there (I pray) in man, for which we should put our trust and confidence in him? He is nothing at all. See Psal.39.12.]