CHAP. XXXIII.
The doom of Sennacherib, 1. The prayers of the pious Jews, 2. The haughty invader, when scattering the nations, becomes a spoil to the invaded, 3, 4. God exalted, and Jerusalem reformed and established, by means of Hezekiah's wisdom and piety, 5, 6. The Jews dismayed and distressed, by the
ravages and menaces of the invaders; whom God determines
to destroy, that all men may know his might, 7-13. The ter
ror of the hypocrites, contrasted with the confidence of believ14-16. The happy event of these dangers and terrors; and the security of Zion, under the protection of God, 17-24.
OE to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest
treacherously, and they dealt not treacher
ously with thee: when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
arm
2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: d be thou their every morning, e our salvation also in the time of trouble.
a 10:5,6. 17:14. 24:16, 2 Kings | c 25:9. 26:8.30:18,19. 18:13-17. 2 Chr. 28:16-21. Hab. 2:5-8.
b 10:12. 21:2.37:36-38. Judg. 1:7. Jer. 25:12-14. Ob. 10- 16. Zech. 14:1-3. Matt. 7: 2. Rev. 13:10. 16:6. 17:12- 14,17.
Ps. 27:
13,14. 62:1,5,8. 123:2. 130:4-8. Lam. 3:25,26. Hos. 14:2.
d 25:4. Ex. 14:27. Ps. 25:3. 143:8. Lam. 3:23.
e 26:16. Ps. 37:39. 46:1,5. 50:15.
60:11.90:15.91:15. Jer. 2:27,28. 14:8. 2 Cor. 1:3,4.
7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry
f 10:13,14,32-34.17:12-14.37:62:1,2. 2 Chr. 31:20,21. Rom. 11-18,29-36. Ps. 46:6.
g 23. 2 Kings 7:15,16. 2 Chr. 14:13. 20:25.
h Joel 2:9,25.
i 10. 2:11,17. 12:4. 37:20. Ex. 9:16,17. 15:1,6. 18:11. Job 40: 9-14. Ps. 21:11-13.46:9,10. 97:8,9, 115:1,2. 118:16. Dan. 4:37. Rev. 19:1-6.
k 57:15, 66:1. Ps. 113:5,6. 123: 1. Eph. 1:20,21.
11:26.
m 11:2-5.38:5,6. 2 Chr. 32:27 -29. Ps. 45:4. Prov. 24:3- 7. 28:2,15,16. 29:4. Ec. 7:12, 19. 9:14-18. Jer. 22:15-17. n Ps. 27:1,2. 28:8. 140:7. Heb. salvations.
o 2 Chr. 32:20,21, Ps. 112:1- 3. Prov. 15:16. 19:23. Matt. 6:33. 2 Cor. 6:10. 1 Tim. 4: 8.6:6.
11:26,27, 4:2-4. 32:1,15-18. ↑ Or, messengers. 52:1.54:11-14.60:21. 61:3,11.
to spoil or to deceive; and then his camp would be plundered by the Jews; and he would be most treacherously dealt with by his sons, who would murder him in the temple of his idol. ( Notes , 23,24. 10:12-14. 2 Kings 19:35-37.) The prophet addresses himself to Sennache'rib, briefly, but strongly and elegantly, ex'pressing the injustice of his ambitious designs, 'and the sudden disappointment of them.' Вр. Lowth .
pected promises pected help from him according to his
vail in the world; nor can any effectual method be adopted of very greatly meliorating the state of men in society, or remedying the mischiefs resulting from human depravity; except as the gospel is faithfully "preached, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven," to render it effectual by his regenerating and new creating power; as on the day of Pentecost in the conversion of three thousand Jews.
And whatever either the uninformed yet admired demagogue, or the most sagacious and well informed politician may expect, or teach others to expect; all reformation will prove at best superficial and transient, apart from a new creation of the heart, inducing a new and holy life. In praying for this blessing, we cannot go beyond the extent of the promises and predictions; an and when all Christians shall be excited to abound in such fervent supplications, we may be confident that the glorious period approaches.
Happy are they, who "sow the good seed of the kingdom" in places well watered with these sacred influences; where a large increase may surely be expected. We therefore, who are called "to labor in the word and doctrine," especially should remember, that success as much depends on the fervency of our prayers, as on the faithfulness of our preaching; and far more than it does on our learning, or eloquence, or ingenuity. Let us then pray without ceasing for the blessing; and we shall find that "our labor is not in vain in the Lord."
NOTES.
supplica
CHAP. XXXIII. V. 1. This chapter forms a distinct prophecy, relating chiefly to the Assyrian invasion.-'And could a translation be 'made of it, that should come up to the original, 'it would appear to be as noble a piece of poe'try, as is to be found in the most admired 'writings of the ancients. Lowth . Sennacherib, not having received any provocation, and urged on entirely by rapacity and ambition, had plundered the neighboring nations; and he had treacherously violated his treaty with Hezekiah, after having taken all his treasures as the price of peace. ( Notes , 2 Kings 18:717.) But he would soon be deprived of power
V. 2. The prophet, for himself and other believers in Judah, interrupted his predictions, by this expressive ejaculation; intimating that prayer would be the most effectual weapon against the Assyrian invader. He entreated the Lord to be gracious to his people, who expromise; and that he would continually strengthen those who managed their affairs; and thus save the nation in the approaching hour of trouble. -Or the change of pers person, (" their arm,”) may mean, 'the arm of all who trust in thee, and 'wait for thee.' ( Note , Ps. 25:2,3.) - "Every morning," or speedily, "God shall help her and that right early," or 'at the appearing of the 'morning.' (Notes, Ps. 46: 47:)
V. 3, 4. The Lord himself seems here to address the Assyrian king. At the rumor of his tumultuous invasion, and his proud and boasting menaces, the nations whom he attacked were put to flight and scattered. But Hezekiah and his subjects would gather all the spoil of his army, as caterpillars strip plants of their verdure; or as locusts, running to and fro, destroy all the produce of the earth. ( Note , Joel 2:18-20.) This aptly represents the eagerness of the Jews, each for himself, to seize some part of the spoil left in the deserted camp, till the whole was carried off. ( Notes , 2 Kings 7:17-20. 2 Chr . 20:22-25. Ps . 68:11,12.)
V. 5, 6. Sennacherib exalted himself, and was for a time very great and prosperous: but JEHOVAH was exalted above him, and above all, upon the lofty throne of his universal kingdom. He had chosen Zion for his earthly residence: and, by prospering Hezekiah's attempts for reformation, and raising up many to concur with him, he had "filled Zion with judgment and righteousness;" so that, compared with
without: the ambassadors of peace shall have done, and, iye that are near, acweep bitterly.
r 2 Kings 18:14-17.
s 10:9-11.36:1. 2 Kings 18:13. 1 10:13,14. 1 Sam. 17:10,26. Kings 18:20,21. Ps. 10:5. Luke 18:2-4.
น 1:7,8. 24:1,4-6,19,20. Jer. 4: 20-26.
x 14:8. 37:24. Zech. 11:1-3.
* Or, withered away.
y 35:2. 65:10. Cant. 2:1.
z Deut. 3:4. Jer. 50:19. Mic. 7:14. Nah. 1:4.
a 10:16,33. 42:13:14. 59:16,17. Deut. 32:36-43. Ps. 12:5. 78: 65. 102:13-18. Zeph. 3:8.
12. Ps. 46:10.
c Ps. 7:6.
d 8:9,10. 10:7-14.17:13. 29:5 8.59:4. Job 15:35. Ps. 2:1. 7:14.33:5-18. Acts 5:4. Jam.
21:15.
other cities, it was "a holy city." The wisdom and knowledge, which God had conferred on ezekiah and his his princes, were the stability of
those perilous times, and tended more to secure Jerusalem, than than the strongest bulwarks: and after Hezekiah had been deprived of his gold and silver, his piety proved a far more valuable treasure, and caused him and his people to be enriched with the spoils of the enemy.
V. 7-9. These verses beautifully describe
knowledge my might.
[Practical Observations.]
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15 He that walketh trighteously, and speaketh ‡ uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, 9 that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of "blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
16 He shall dwell on high: this place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
k 7:2. 28:14,15,17-22. 29:13. 30: 8-11. Num. 17:12,13. Job 15:21,22. 18:11. Ps. 53:5. Prov. 28:1. Rev. 6:15-17. 1 9:17. 10:6. Matt. 24:51.
m 5:24. 29:6. 30:27-33. Deut. 5:24,25. 32:21-24. Ps. 11:6. 21:9. 50:3. Nah. 1:6, Heb. 12:29.
n 34:9,10. 66:24. Matt. 18:8. 25:41,46. Mark 9:43-49. Luke 16:23-26. 2 Thes. 1:8,9. Rev. 14:10,11. 20:10.
o 56:1,2. Ps. 1:1-3.15:1,2. 24: 4,5, 26:1,2,11. 106:3. Ez. 18: 15-17. Mal. 2:6. Luke 1:6. Rom. 2:7. Tit. 2:11,12. John 3:7.
† Heb. in righteousnesses.
|| Heb. in uprightness.
p Neh. 5:7-19. Job 31:13-25. Luke 3:12-14.19:8. Jam. 5:4. Or, deceits.
q Ex. 23:6-9. Num. 16:15. Deut. 16:19. 1 Sam. 12:3. Jer. 5:26-28. Mic. 3:4. Matt. 26: 15. Acts 8:18-23. 2 Pet, 2: 14-16.
r1 Sam. 24:4-7. 26:8-11. Job 31:29-31. Ps. 26:4-6.9 -11. Jer. 40:15,16. Eph. 5: 11-13.
to ashes. Thus the event would be so remarkable, that all nations, far and near, might properly, and ought to be, called upon to notice it, as an undeniable proof of the almighty power of Israel's God. ( Notes , 10:15-19. 14:24-27. 29:5-8. 2 Kings 19:7,22-37. 19:7,22 Dan . 4:1-3. Nah . 1:7-15.)
the terror and distress, which preceded the de-ocritical persons in Jerusalem, who were ex
liverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians. Their most valiant captains and soldiers cried out with dismay and deep concern; the ambassadors, who went to solicit peace, wept bitterly at finding the invader inexorable; no one ventured to travel; so that the highways were like a desert. ( Note , Judg . 5:6,7.) Sennacherib had broken his covenant with Hezekiah, and he despised the feeble opposition made to him by the defenced cities, which he ravaged without mercy, regarding no man: and the most populous and fruitful regions resembled what Lebanon would be, if all its cedars were hewn down, and its glory torn from it; and Sharon and Carmel, if made a desert, and their spontaneous productions left to shake without any to gather them. ( Notes , 10:7-11,28-34. 2 Kings 18:19-37. 19:1-4,23,24.)
V. 14. After all the pious labors of Hezekiah and the prophets and princes, who cordially helped him, there were many any profane and hyptremely alarmed with the prospect of impending destruction: and they seem, not only to have dreaded the fire, which they supposed would burn the city and their habitations; but those everlasting burnings, which they had heard of as the punishment of the wicked hereafter.-Or rather, the tremendous slaughter of the Assyrians, in answer to the prayers of the king and the prophet, would make those, who had despised the authority of the one, and the word of the other, fear similar, or even more dreadful vengeance. They, that could not 'bear the thoughts of a mortal enemy 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? Lowth . ( Notes , Matt . 10:27,28. Mark 9:43-50.)
V. 10-13. In this extremity the Lord declared in a most solemn and sublime manner, that he would arise and exalt himself. He would render all the designs and expectations of the invaders abortive; their transient success would only fit them as fuel for the fire, and their own breath, or their blasphemies against him, would kindle the fire, which would burn them as stones are burned to lime, or, thorns || despises the largest gain of fraud or oppres
V. 15, 16. The prophet seems here to avail himself of the terror of the ungodly Jews, that he might excite them to seek the privileges of the righteous: and he describes the character and the safety of the consistent believer. He habitually acts with integrity, in his whole conduct towards God and his neighbor: his words are sincere, punctual, and faithful: he
17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the treceiver? a where is he that counted the towers?
19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; & not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
32:1,2. 37:1. 2 Chr. 32:23. Ps. 45:2. Cant. 5:10. Zech. 9:17. Matt. 17:2. John 1:14. 14:21. 1 John 3:2.
Heb. of far distances.
Ps.
31:8. 2 Cor. 4.18. Heb. 11: 13-15.
y 38:9,&c. 1 Sam. 22:33-36. 30:6. Ps. 31:7,8,22. 71:20. 2 Cor. 1:8-10. 2 Tim. 3:11. z 1 Cor. 1:20.
† Heb. weigher. Gen. 23:16. 2 Kings 15:19,20. 18:14,15,31.
a 10:16-19.
sion: instead of grasping the bribe which might be offered him, to induce his connivance at injustice, he shakes his hands from it, and dreads and shuns it as a viper: he stops his ear from every proposal of violence and bloodshed, and closes his eyes from beholding wickedness, as one who detests it. ( Hab . 1:13.)-This was the character of Hezekiah in private and public. Tiris placed him and his helpers on high out of the reach of the invaders, and secured them, as in natural fastnesses and impregnable strong holds; and this preserved them likewise from the famine which had threatened them. ( Marg . Ref . Notes, 2 Chr . 31:20,21. Ps . 15: 24:3-6.)
dispensed their pro- dispensed their
V. 17-19. The pious Jews had deeply grieved to see their king in sackcloth and greatly abased: but they would speedily behold him in his royal robes, and honored by God and all the people. They were shut up in Jerusalem as in a prison; ( Note , 7-9.) but they would soon be allowed to visit the most remote corners of the land, in entire security. And then they would meditate with satisfaction on those events, which had so greatly alarmed them.
The officers of the Assyrian monarch, who mustered the troops, dispensed t visions, raised contributions, or weighed the gold and silver which they had taken, or made observations on the towers of Jerusalem, in order to form the plan of assault, would suddenly disappear and be no more.
Or the secretaries, tax-gatherers, and engineers, (as we say,) of Hezekiah, may be intended, who had bestowed much pains to provide against a siege, but would soon appear to have been totally useless; as the Lord had not employed them, but an angel, to destroy the Assyrian army. ( Notes , 1 Cor . 1:20-31.) And the Jews would no longer see their fierce enemies, whose very language, not being understood, had rendered them the more formidable and implacable. ( Notes , 28:9-11. Deut . 28:49-57, v. 49. Jer. 5:15-18.)- Stammering . (19) "Ridic
21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22 For the LORD is our Judge, 1 the LORD is our || Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us.
23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Ps. 29:3. Acts 7:2. 2 Cor. | Acts 5:31. Tit. 3:4-6. Heb.
4:4-6.
i Ps. 46:4,5.
Heb. broad of spaces, or hands.
k Gen. 18:25. Ps. 50:6. 75:7. 94:2.98:9. 2 Cor. 510.
11 Deut. 33:2. Neh. 9:14. Ps. 147:19,20. Jam. 4:12. ||Heb. Statute -maker.
m Ps. 44:4. 74:12. 89:18. Jer. 23:5,6. Zech. 9:9. Matt. 21: 5. 25:34. Rev. 19:16.
n 12:2. 25:9. Zeph. 3:15-17. Matt. 1:21-23. Luke 2:11.
5 : 9.
Or, They have forsaken thy tacklings. 21. Ez. 27:26-34 Acts 27:19,30-32,40,41. 01-4. 2 Chr. 20:25.
p 1 Sam. 30:10,22-24. 2 Kings 7:8. Ps. 68:12.
q 58:8. Ex. 15:26. Deut. 7:15. 28:27. 2 Chr. 30:20. Jer. 33: 6-8. Jam. 5:14,15. Rev. 21:
4. 22:2.
r44:22. Jer. 50:20. Mic. 7:18, 19. 1 John 1:7-9
Jews had for ages observed all their solemnities, was, it is probable, when this prophecy was delivered, threatened with an immediate siege: but it would soon become "a quiet habitation." The Assyrians thought they could as easily take and destroy it, as a man removes a tent: but it would not suffer the least injury.
For the glorious JEHOVAH, the acknowledged Judge, Lawgiver, and King of Israel, would be the almighty Protector of his temple and his worshippers; surrounding them by his powerful presence, as with large rivers and winding streams, into which no galley, or ship of war, belonging to their enemies, should enter. ( Notes , Ps . 46:4,5.) - 'He shall give Jerusalem 'protection without danger. In other cities 'and countries, where they have the commod'ity of large rivers and inlets from the sea, 'there may be some peril of advantage to an enemy; but here shall be no such matter.' Bp . Hall .
The security and privileges of the Christian church, especially in those those glorious times predicted; ed; and a future period, when Israel and Judah shall be converted, verted, and reinstated in their own land; seem here principally intended: for Jerusalem was never, after Isaiah's days, long together preserved from hostile invasions, and it has been repeatedly taken down as a tent. ( Note , Ez . 48:35.)
V. 23, 24. 'The mention of gallant ships led the prophet to consider the ruin of the Assyrian army, as a vessel wrecked in a storm. Their tacklings were all driven away, the mast was blown down, and could not be properly strengthened; their efforts were vain, their ruin unavoidable; and, being cast upon the hostile strand, their cargo became plunder for the inhabitants. ( Note , Ez . 27:26-36.) On this occasion even the lame would appropriate something of the spoil: and sickness would not prevent the people in general from coming to share the booty. In short God had pardoned the sin of his people, and all blessings were consequent upon it. ( Notes , Ps . 32:1,2. 103:3 ulous." Marg . -Notes , 1 Cor . 14:6-12,20-25. 4. Matt . 9:2-8. Р. О. 1-8.) This last verse V. 20-22. The city, which God had chosen leads our thoughts, not only to the most glorifor the centre of his worship, and in which thelous state of the church on earth; but to heav