Isaiah 34

2. He hath utterly destroyed them. Or, “He has devoted them to destruction.”

4 as a scroll. Like an ancient volume or book-roll, which used to be rolled round a stick, as maps often are now.

5 bathed in heaven. That is, saturated, soaked with the wrath of heaven, which it is to execute upon Edom. Compare this prophecy with lxiii. 1-6; Jer. xlix. 7-22; and Obad. 1-21.

6 the Lord hath a sacrifice. Sacrifice being connected with slaughter as an expression of God’s anger against sin, it furnished a significant representation of deserved punishment: comp. Ezek. xxxix. 17-20.

Bozrah. Not the Moabite city in the Haurân, now called Buzra; but another town south-east of the Dead Sea, represented by the modern village El-busaireh.

7 shall come down. That is, shall come down to the slaughter. On “the unicorns” (“wild oxen,” R.V.) see note on Numb. xxiii. 22. These large, strong animals represent the nobles or princes of Edom.

9 the streams thereof. That is, the streams of Edom. The figure is derived from the volcanic nature of the district, as well as from the destruction of the neighbouring cities Sodom and Gomorrah: see Gen. xix. 24-28; and comp. Jer. xlix. 18.

11 the cormorant and the bittern. Rather, as R.V., “the pelican and the porcupine” (or hedgehog). The “owl” is probably the eagle-owl, a large species inhabiting the ruins and caves of the district. These wild animals shall be the sole occupants of the land: see note on xiii. 21.

the stones of emptiness. That is, the plummet-stones of desolation: comp. 2 Kings xxi. 13. The words for “confusion” and “desolation” (tohu and bohu) are the words used to describe chaos, Gen. i. 2.

12. They shall call the nobles, etc. Edom was an elective monarchy. But there shall be no eligible candidates left.

13 dragons . . . owls. Rather, as R.V., “jackals . . . ostriches.”

14. The wild beasts of the island. Heb., “howling creatures,” wolves (R.V.), or hyænas (Cheyne). For “the satyr” see on xiii. 21. The “screech owl,” Heb., the lilith, “night monster,” R.V.

15 the great owl. Probably “the arrow-snake”; so called from the suddenness with which it springs on its prey. It abounds in Arabia, and its wound is deadly.

16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, etc. The prophet calls upon all who should live after the devastation of Idumsea to compare these predictions in “the scroll of Jehovah” with the event.

It hath gathered them. That is, the wild animals previously spoken of.

17 hath divided it unto them by line. By measuring-line and lot. As Canaan was allotted to the Israelites, so is Edom allotted to these creatures, for a perpetual inheritance. “It has never since regained its former state of cultivation, and swarms with serpents; only wild crows and eagles and great crowds of flying-cats give life to the desolate heights and barren plains” (Delitzsch).