Isaiah 33
PATWe may call this chapter an epinikion, or a triumphant ode upon (he destruction of Sennacherib’s army before’ Jerusalem. The prophet sets forth the several scenes of that transaction with all (he beauties Of a poetical description. At the beginning of (he. chapter he foresees the overthrow of the common enemy and oppressor. At the second verse he represents the humble addresses of God’s people for deliverance: together. with his. gracious. promises of protection by way of answer to their prayers, at the fifth and sixth verses. Then he describes the dis-r appointment of Hezekiah’s ambassadors, who humbly sued for peace, the damp that struck upon the spirits of, the whole nation, (ver. 9.) and God’s immediate interposition, when matters seemed to be desperate. AfterwanJ the prophet severely reproves the hypocrites, and sets forth the security of those that put their trust in God, and hold fast their integrity, in such expressions as arp a just pattern of the true sublime. From the seventeenth verse he describes how the drooping spirits both of king and people revived upon the raising of the siege, and congratulates Jerusalem as being under the immediatp protection of the Almighty, and thereby secured from receiving the least damage in the midst of so many daggers. I have given so particular an account of the contents of this chapter, because I am persuaded, that if a translation could be made of it that should come up to the original, it would appear to be as noble a piece of poetry as is to be found among the most admired writings of the ancients. stroys the locusts and caterpillars; but I do not think that ] sense so proper, because locusts and caterpillars are else-. where described like a formidable army, which nothing can withstand. (See Joel ii. 2, 3, &c.) Ver. G. And ivisdom and knowledge shall be the stability J of the times, and the strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.] The prophet applies himself to Hezekiah, of whom he speaks, in the third person, at the end of the chapter: and tells him, that those Divine graces of wisdom, knowledge, and the fear of God, (see xi.2, 3.) will be the support of his time and government, and stand him in more stead, than all the forces and treasure in which other princes place their confidence.
Isaiah 33:1
rrOE to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled. It is the practice of the great oppressors of th"p world to make war upon their neighbours without any just provocation, or having received any real injury from them; this is very fitly expressed in the known fable of the Lion and the Lamb, and it is against such practices that this woe is denounced. > And dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee!] We read, indeed, (2 Kings xviii. 7.) th$t Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria: but the meaning of that text is no more but that he would nqt stand to those dishonourable terms of slavery to which his father Ahaz had submitted, when he professed himself the servant of the king of Assyria, (2 Kings xvi. 7.) When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled.] See xxi. 2.
Isaiah 33:2
Be thou their arm every morning. TJieir arm, i.e. pur arm: it is usual in the prophetsto change their style from the first to the second or third person, in speaking upon the same subject. (See ver, G. of this’ebapter, and the note upon lxiii. 1.) Every morning, or, in the morning^ i.e. speedily; see the like expression, Psal. xlvi. £>. God shall help her, and that right early; the Hebrew reads, AJt theappearing of the morning: (so Psal. xc.14. and cxliii. 8:) Some suppose that the phrase alludes to God’s overthrowing the Egyptians when the morning appeared, Exod. xiv. 27.
Isaiah 33:3
At the noise of the tumult the people fled;, at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. At the confusion and outcry which was in the Assyrian army upon, that sudden stroke, whereby a hundred and eighty-fivje thousand men were struck dead upon the place, the remaining part of. those forces got away as fast as they could; this execution is called God’s lifting up himself, ox exerting his power. (Compare ver. 10.)
Isaiah 33:4
Your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar. The Jews shall plunder the Assyrians’ camp, till they leave it as bare as the locusts or caterpil-. lars leave the trees, when they have eat up the leaves. (Compare Nahum iii. 15.) Some explain the verse thus; Ye shall be as easily overcome, as the husbandman d§- 3Y2
Isaiah 33:7
Behold, their valiant ones [or messengers. shall cry without, &c] Or, shall cry in the streets. The words describe the ambassadors, or messengers, which Hezekiah sent out to Rab-shakeh, (2 Kings xviii. 18.) returning sadly disappointed, with tears in their eyes, and their clothes rent, (ibid. ver. 37.)
Isaiah 33:8
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth. There is no travelling the public roads for fear of the enemy. (Compare Judg. v. G.) He hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no mail.] Hezekiah bought peace of Sennacherib, (2 Kings xviii. 14 — 16.) but he would not stand to his agreement: such a haughty conqueror as he, will not be obliged by his treaties any longer than he pleases, and glories in the destruction that he makes both of men and cities. (See x. ]0, 11.)
Isaiah 33:9
TJtc earth [or land. mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down, &c] The whole land is under -a consternation, and the most beautiful parts of the country seem to languish and wither at the approach of the enemy, and look upon themselves as already destroyed. Lebanon was beautiful for its cedars: Sharon for its flowers and gardens: (see Cant. ii. 1.) Bashan.and Carmel, for their rich ground and fat pastures. (Compare xxxv. 2. Micah vii. 14.) *
Isaiah 33:10
Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted. When things are come to this extremity, and the case seems desperate, then is the time for God to interpose, andmake his strength more eminently conspicuous in the midst of man’s weakness.
Isaiah 33:11
Ye shall conceive chaff; ye shall bring forth stubble. Your designs shall all prove abortive. (Compare lix; 4. Psal. vii, 14. xvii. 13. xxix. 5.) Your breath, as fire’, shall devour you.] Or rather, your -•ivrath, or indignation against God’s people, shall turn to your own destruction.
Isaiah 33:12
And the people shall be as the burnings of lime. -They shall be perfectly consumed, as when chalk-stones are reduced to lime: calcining, or reducing to ashes, being •one of the last effects of fire. (Compare Amos ii. 1.) As thorns cut vp shall they be burnt in the fire.] Sinners are.often compared to thorns, which the fire catches presently; so do God’s judgments lay hold on such who have made themselves vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction. (See note on ix. 18.)
Isaiah 33:13
Hear, ye afar off, ivhat I have done; and, ye that • are near, acknowledge my might. So remarkable a judgment as this deserves to be known and laid to heart by all men, both far and nigh.. Vor. 14. Tlte siiiners in Zion are afraid;fearfulness hath seized the hypocrites: who among zts shall dwell with the devouring fire?] This and the two following verses describe the different apprehensions of the good and bad under their present circumstances. They that did not rely upon God for help, were ready to cry out, Who can bear the approach of the Assyrian, who devours all things like fire? These words may, in a secondary sense, be applied to the tenor of hell torments, which, when the consciences of sinners begin to be awakened, give them just cause for having dreadful apprehensions of the Divine vengeance. And they that could not bear the thoughts of a mortal enemy’s falling upon them with all his force; how will they bear the weight of God’s wrath, when he shall declare himself their enemy, and set his terror in array against them?
Isaiah 33:15
That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood. That will not give ear to any bloody designs formed against the life of the innocent. To stop the ears at the mention of a thing, is to shew the utmost detestation of it. (See Acts vii. 57.) *. That shutteth his eyes from seeing of evil.] As persons turn away their face from any sight they loathe, and have an aversion for. So God is described as of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, (Habak. i. 13.)
Isaiah 33:16
He shall dwell on high; his jrface of defence shall be the munitions of rocks. God shall place him out of the reach of danger, and shall be unto him a rock and a fortress. (Gompare Psal. lxi. 2.) Bread shall be given unto him, his waters shall be sure.] He shall not want any of the necessariesof life, even in the midst of a siege.
Isaiah 33:17
Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty. The •king will appear in public, dressed in his royal robes, and with his usual state and splendour, after the defeat of the Assyrian; not covered with sackcloth, as when he went to the temple in the time of his distress, (xxxvii. 1.) They shall behold the land that is very far off.] The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall no longer be confined by their enemies within the city, but shall have liberty to look abroad, and visit the distant parts of the country.
Isaiah 33:18
Thy heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers?. Every one shall with pleasure reflect upon the dafigers they have escaped, and shall ask, in a triumphant manner, Where is the scribe, or muster-master? Where is the collector of the taxes? Where is the master of the artillery or ammunition? How are they of a sudden vanished, and disappear?
Isaiah 33:19
Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive, &c. The very looks and habit of a foreign and insulting enemy carry something of terror in them.. (Compare Deut. xxviii. 49.) Their language is perfect gibberish, and unintelligible, and this makes it a vain thing to try to soften them with good words. (See the notes on xxviii. 11.) The Hebrew expresses a foreign language by a deep lip, or speech: our translators render it a strange speech, Ezek. iii. 5, G.
Isaiah 33:20
Lookupou Zion, the city of our solemnities, &c. You may now view Zion in perfect peace, and freed from all fears of hostile invasion. God hath chosen it to be the place set apart for his solemn worship, and the temple of his own residence, and riot a stake of it shall be removed, or