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Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees
Verse 1. Injustice. These great ones excite God’s indignation. Calmet.—Jeroboam forbidding any to go to Jerusalem; and the Pharisees establishing their wicked traditions, ruined all. Worthington.
to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
Verse 3. Afar. When Salmanasar shall come from Ninive to destroy Samaria, to punish the people for their idolatry ( Calmet.) and oppressions. Bible.—Glory. Golden calves, (Ose. 8:5 and 10:5) or possessions. Calmet. 9:8.
They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
Verse 5. Woe. Or come on, Heus, though ( Calmet.) ho is ordinarily rendered, alas! It here indicates that God makes use of this scourge with regret, and will afterwards consign it to the flames. Bible.—The prophet speaks of Salmanasar, or of Sennacherib. Saint Cyril Saint Jerome
I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Verse 6. Deceitful. Hebrew “hypocritical,” joining my worship with that of idols. Calmet.—They had solemnly promised to serve the Lord. Exodus 19:8. Worthington.
However, he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.
Verse 7. So. He will not think that he is executing my vengeance, supposing that he conquers by his own power.
For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?
Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?”
Verse 9. As. Lit. “altogether kings.” Bible.—Thus Nabuchodonosor kept the conquered princes for derision. Habakkuk 1:10. Judges 1:7.—Arphad, Arad, or rather Raphanæ. Jeremiah 49:23.—Damascus. These two cities were not yet subdued.
As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,
Verse 10. Idols. He looks upon the true God as no better than any idols, (4 Kennicott. 18:32) and falsely supposes that the latter were adored in Jerusalem. Calmet.
shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
Therefore it will happen that when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his arrogant looks.
Verse 12. Works. Humbling and terrifying Ezechias and his subjects, who were reduced to great distress, in order to avert the impending war. Bible.—Eyes. The Assyrians were punished in their turn.
For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.
My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, I have gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”
Verse 14. Nest. Some put these words in the mouth of God. Tert. Abdias 4.—But they shew the insolence of Sennacherib.
Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
Verse 15. Axe. The Assyrian has no right to boast. What can man do without God’s assistance? Calmet.—Gratiæ tuæ deputo et quæcumque non feci mala. Saint Augustine Conf. ii. 7.—Sennacherib persecuted the Jews of his own free will, though he was God’s instrument. Worthington.
Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.
Verse 16. Fire. The Jews assert, that 185,000 perished by an inward burning, so that only ten men were left. verse 19. Saint Jerome
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.
Verse 17. Light. God. Bible.—Thorns. Private soldiers. Calmet.
He will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.
Verse 18. Glory. Officers.—Flesh. Or body. All shall perish. Bible.—Fear. Sennacherib escaped alone, and fell by the sword of his own sons.
The remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.
It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
Verse 20. Israel now submitted to Ezechias, as their kingdom was overturned in the sixth year of his reign, eight years before Sennacherib’s arrival. Isaias speaks of this time, and therefore makes no distinction of the kingdoms. Striketh the Assyrian.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.
Verse 22. Converted. This was partly verified in the children of Israel who remained after the devastations of the Assyrians, in the time of king Ezechias: and partly in the conversion of a remnant of the Jews to the faith of Christ. Challoner.—4 Kennicott. 18:3. Romans 9:27. The apostle follows the Septuagint ( Calmet.) “and if the people of Israel be.”—Converted. Septuagint “saved, for perfecting the word and abridging in justice. Because God, the Lord of hosts, will make an abridged word in the universe.” Bible.—As the apostle has explained this passage, “every other interpretation must cease.” Saint Jerome—The few who were converted under Ezechias were a figure of those who should embrace the faith of Christ. Calmet.—Consumption. That is, the number of them cut short, and reduced to few, shall flourish in the abundance of justice. Challoner.—Hebrew “the desolation is decreed, justice shall overflow.” God will treat all with rigour. Nahum 1:8. The incredulous Jews shall be rejected. verse 23. Romans 9.
For the Lord, GOD of Armies, will make a full end, and that determined, throughout all the earth.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, says, “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.
Verse 24. Egypt. He sent Rabsaces from Lachis, when he set out to meet Tharaca. 4 Kennicott. 19.
For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.”
Verse 25. Little. Twenty-eight years, (Psalms 89:4) or he alludes to the destruction which took place in a single night, ( Calmet.) or in a moment. verse 16. Bible.
The LORD of Armies will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt.
Verse 26. Oreb. Judges 7:25.—And his. Moses thus let loose the waters of the Red Sea on the Egyptians, by stretching forth his rod. Calmet.
It will happen in that day that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
Verse 27. Oil. That is, by the sweet unction of divine mercy. Challoner.—Chal. “before the anointed,” in consideration of Ezechias and Isaias. In the higher sense, it denotes the victory of Christ over the devil. Calmet.
He has come to Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage.
Verse 28. Into Aiath, and so forth Here the prophet describes the march of the Assyrians under Sennacherib; and the terror they should carry with them; and how they should suddenly be destroyed. Challoner.
They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
Verse 29. Lodging. Here, say the Assyrians, we will encamp.
Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!
Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
Verse 31. Take. Prot. “gather themselves to flee.” Bible.
This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Verse 32. Nobe. He may arrive thither shortly, in the environs of Jerusalem. Calmet.—Septuagint “exhort to-day, that they may continue on the road. Comfort with the hand the daughter of Sion, thou rock and hills within Jerusalem.” Bible.—Hand. As Nicanor did against the temple. 2 Maccabees 15:32. Calmet.
Behold, the Lord, GOD of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
Verse 33. Vessel. Like Gideon, when he attacked Madian. verse 26. Judges 7:19. Septuagint “the nobles.” Bible.—Hebrew “their beauty.” The empire of Assyria shall presently fall. Calmet.
He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.