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“Woe to the rebellious children”, says the LORD, “who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
Verse 1. Of me. Ezechias was guided by human prudence, in making an alliance with Egypt, though he might have just reasons for refusing to pay tribute to the Assyrians. 4 Kennicott. 18:20. Calmet.—And. Septuagint “alliances not by,” and so forth Bible.
who set out to go down into Egypt without asking for my advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
Verse 2. Down, with presents. verse 6. 4 Kennicott. 18:20.
Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Verse 3. Shame. Egypt had been defeated before Sennacherib’s approach.
For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors have come to Hanes.
Verse 4. Hanes. Chal. “Taphanes,” (Jeremiah 2:16) or Daphnæ Pelusiæ. Herod. ii. 30.—In the Arabic, Nome, which formed part of ( Bible.) the dominions of Tharaca. Calmet.
They shall all be ashamed because of a people that can’t profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.”
The burden of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, of the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to an unprofitable people.
Verse 6. Burden. This title seems unnecessary, and may be added by some Jew, (Calmet. 21:13) though the Chal. and others explain it, “They carry on their beasts, presents to the south,” to the nations of Arabia and Egypt, infested with lions, and so forth The rest of the prophecy is against the Jews, who cannot well be styled beasts of the south. Calmet.—Basilisk. The ibis devours many serpents on their flight from Arabia and Egypt. Herod. ii. 5. Solin. xxxii.
For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose; therefore I have called her Rahab who sits still.
Verse 7. Cried. Hebrew “called it Rahab, (or pride) it is rest.” The people are indolent, though they will make great promises. Calmet.
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever.
Verse 8. Box. This word was covered with wax. Propert. iii. 3.—Write, that none may pretend that they were not admonished. Some think that this was addressed to Jeremias: but Isaias spoke to his incredulous countrymen.
For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the LORD’s law;
who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
Verse 10. See not. Such were the dispositions of their heart. Calmet. 28:15.
Get out of the way. Turn away from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”
Verse 11. Us. Mention God no more, or let him not meddle with our affairs. Seek not to reclaim us, we are pleased with our delusion. Calmet.
Therefore the Holy One of Israel says, “Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on it,
Verse 12. Oppression. Lit. “calumny,” ( Bible.) or rebellion against the Assyrians. This was contrary to the respect due to God’s name, used in the ratification of treaties, how wicked soever those princes might be.
therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant.
Verse 13. For. Psalms 61:3. If God had not miraculously cut off the army of Sennacherib, what would have become of the kingdom of Juda?
He will break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there won’t be found among the broken pieces a piece good enough to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.” You refused,
Verse 15. Be. Septuagint “groan,” as Origen, and so forth read. If you be seriously converted, and trust not in Egypt, you need not fear.
but you said, “No, for we will flee on horses;” therefore you will flee; and, “We will ride on the swift;” therefore those who pursue you will be swift.
Verse 16. Ones, or chariots. Calmet.—Egypt was famous for horses. Deuteronomy 17:16. Forcr.—Rebsaces ridicules the Jews for the want of them. 4 Kennicott. 18:23. Bible.
One thousand will flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five, you will flee until you are left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a banner on a hill.
Verse 17. Five. A small number shall put you to flight. Menochius.—Mast, set up after a shipwreck, to warn others, or as a signal. Calmet. 33:23.
Therefore the LORD will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.
Verse 18. Wait for him. Having convinced Ezechias that he ought to trust in on other, the Lord rescues him from the hand of Sennacherib. Calmet.
For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you.
Verse 19. Weep. The citizens expected certain death, ( Bible.) or slavery. Calmet.
Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won’t be hidden any more, but your eyes will see your teachers;
Verse 20. Water. The land will be reduced to a miserable condition by the ravages of Sennacherib. Bible.—The following was a sabbatical year. verse 23. Calmet. 37:30.—Teacher. It seems that Isaias, and so forth had been silent. He spoke after Ezechias had sent for him, and God promises that the people shall not be left without guides. Calmet.—Christ will not abandon his Church. Menochius.
and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”
You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of silver, and the plating of your molten images of gold. You shall cast them away as an unclean thing. You shall tell it, “Go away!”
Verse 22. Garment. Hebrew “ephod,” belonging to the idol, or its priest. Ezechias had prohibited idolatry at first. After his deliverance he was still more zealous, and even those who had formerly retained an affection for idols, saw their vanity, and became sincere.
He will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground will be rich and plentiful. In that day, your livestock will feed in large pastures.
The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that till the ground will eat savory feed, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork.
Verse 24. Floor. They shall not have straw only, but wheat, and so forth to denote abundance.
There will be brooks and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
Verse 25. Towers, or chief officers of Sennacherib. All shall be luxuriant.
Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with.
Verse 26. Sevenfold. Exceedingly great, equal to the light of 49 days. Calmet.—The fame of Ezechias spread widely. His kingdom was a figure of that of Christ, when this was more perfectly realized, the preaching of the gospel having dispelled the darkness of error. Calmet.—He alludes to the day of judgment. Saint Jerome Menochius.
Behold, the LORD’s name comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation. His tongue is as a devouring fire.
Verse 27. Name. Majesty of God, ( Calmet.) in the future ages. Bible.
His breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction. A bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples.
Verse 28. Error. The unjust government of Sennacherib, who endeavoured to engage all in idolatry.
You will have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one goes with a flute to come to the LORD’s mountain, to Israel’s Rock.
Verse 29. Night. When the festivals commenced. Calmet.—He may particularly mean that night, when the destroying angel slew the Egyptians. Vatab.—Pipe. Music. Bible.—This was not prescribed.
The LORD will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the descent of his arm, with the indignation of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, storm, and hailstones.
Verse 30. Stones. The Angel raised the storm, which destroyed many, while the rest in a panic fell upon one another. Calmet. 9:5 and 28:2.
For through the LORD’s voice the Assyrian will be dismayed. He will strike him with his rod.
Verse 31. Rod. Sennacherib is terrified, who a few days before insulted the living God.
Every stroke of the rod of punishment, which the LORD will lay on him, will be with the sound of tambourines and harps. He will fight with them in battles, brandishing weapons.
Verse 32. Harps. The sound of thunder will fill the people of Ezechias with joy, while the enemy shall perish irrecoverably. Calmet.
For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, it is prepared for the king. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. The LORD’s breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
Verse 33. Topheth. ‘Tis the same as Gehenna, and is taken for hell. Challoner.—The Assyrians perish amid horrid cries ( Bible.) and thunders, which resembled the noise made by drums, and by children who were burning in the arms of Moloc. 4 Kennicott. 18:4 and 23:10. and 2 Chronicles 29:16. Some think that the carcasses of the Assyrians were to be burnt in this common sewer of Jerusalem. But they were too far distant. Calmet. 37:33. Calmet.