CHAP. VII. V. 1. The Syrians and Israelites repeatedly vanquished the Jews, with most terrible slaughter; but they were not able to take Jerusalem, or dethrone the family of David. ( Notes , 5,6. 2 Kings 15:37. 16:5.2 Chr . 28:5-8.)
V. 2. Ahaz, though Ahaz, though a very wicked man, was preserved because he was a descendant of David, avid, and of that family from which the Messiah was to arise. Perhaps his enemies had formed their plan of dethroning him and destroying his race, in contemptuous opposition to the promises and prophecies of God, respecting David and his seed. ( Notes , 6-13. 65:8-10.2 Kings 19:30-34.) It is probable,
And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.
3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller's field;
4 And say unto him, Take heed and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
e 8:12. 37:27. Lev. 26:36,37. Num . 14:1-3. Deut. 28:65,66. 2 Kings 7:6,7. Ps. 11:1. 27:1,2. 112:7,8. Prov. 28:1. Matt. 2:3. f Ex. 7:15. Jer. 19:2,3. 22:1. That is, The remnant shall return. 6:13. 10:21,22. 55.7. Rom. 9:27.
§ 36:2. 2 Kings 18:17. 20:20. Or, causeway.
h 30:7,15. Ex. 14:13,14. 2 Chr. 20:17. Lam. 3:26.
i 8:11-14. 35:4. 41:14. 51:12, 13. Matt. 10:28. 24:6.
Heb. let not thy heart be tender. Deut. 20:3. 1 Sam. 17
32.
k 8. 8:4. 2 Kings 15:29,30. Am
4:11
that this report was brought to him and his people, after the slaughter before referred to; ( Notes , 1. 2 Chr . 28:5-8.) and related to a second assault by the united forces of Syria and Ephraim. The terror, which was excited by this information, in Ahaz, and in the family of David, and in the people of Judah, is illustrated by a most striking simile: ( Marg . Ref . e:) nor can it much be wondered at, when the success of the Syrians, and the dreadful blow already given by Ephraim alone, are considered; and when it is recollected, that Ahaz and most of his subjects were entirely destitute of faith, and well-grounded confidence in God.
V. 3. Isaiah seems to have been very little noticed by Ahaz, if at all, and perhaps could not have access to him in his palace: ( Note , 2 Kings 18:4.) but he was ordered to meet him in a place which was pointed out to him; probably because Ahaz and his nobles assembled there, to concert measures for their defence. ( Marg . Ref . g.) He was also commanded to take Shear-jashub his son with him; but the reason of this command is not mentioned.
Some think it was merely because his name, A remnant shall return , was itself a sign of mercy in reserve for the Jews: others suppose that some reference was had to Isaiah's child in the prophetical sign afterwards given. ( Notes , 14-16.) 'The name probably alludes to the promise made by the prophet, of the 'people's return from the captivity; (6:13.) and 'imports that God will never wholly cut off 'his people; but will still leave a remnant, to 'whom he will make good the promises he 'gave to their fathers. 1:9. 10:21.
Rom . 11:29.' Lowth. (Note, 10:21-23.)-The word translated "conduit," seems to mean an aqueduct , such as was formerly used for conveyance of water for the supply of populous cities. "There were two pools, or lakes, which sup'plied Jerusalem with water: the upper pool, 'mentioned here and 36:2. and called Gihon, (2 Chr . 32:30.) and the lower pool. (22:9.) Lowth .
V. 4. (Notes, 30:6,7,15-17. Ex . 14:13,14.) Rezin and Pekah had been two destructive fire-brands, which made a dreadful conflagration; and the Jews feared still more fatal effects from their confederacy: but their successes were at an end, and they were only the "two tails" of "smoking fire-brands," which were ready to be wholly extinguished
5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the || 10$ Moreover the Lord spake again son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
6 Let us go up against Judah, and * vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
7 Thus saith the Lord God, TM It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin: and • within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. + If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
1 Ps. 2:2. 83:3,4. Nah. 1:11. Heb. from a people. Hos. 1: Zech. 1:15.
* Or, waken.
m 8:10. 10:6-12. 37:29. 46:10, 11. Ps. 2:4-6. S3:11. 76:10. Prov. 21:30. Lam. 3:37. Dan. 4:35. Acts 4:25-28.
n 2 Sam. 8:6.
ο 8:4. 17:1-3. 2 Kings 17:5, &c. Ezra 4:2.
6-10.
unto Ahaz, saying,
11 Ask thee 'a sign of the LORD thy God; "ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I "tempt the Lord.
13 And he said, Hear ye now, * O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men; but will ye weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and ** shall call his name Immanuel.
Heb. And the LORD added
to speak.
r 37:30. 38:7,8,22. Judg. 6:36- 40. 2 Kings 20:8-11. Jer. 19: 1,10. 51:63,64. Matt. 12:38- 40. 16:1-4.
p1 Kings 16:24-29. 2 Kings || Or, make thy petition deep.
15:27.
Or, Do ye not believe? it is because ye are not stable.
q 2 Chr. 20:20. Acts 27:11,25. Rom. 11:20. Heb. 11:6. 1 John 5:10 .
'which are so far from being able to consume 'any thing else, that they are almost consumed 'themselves.' Lowth . (Note, Judg . 15:3-5.)
s 2 Kings 16:15. 2 Chr. 28:22. t Ez. 33:31.
u Deut. 5:16. Mal. 3:15. Acts 5: 9. 1 Cor. 10:9.
x 2. 2 Chr. 21:7. Jer. 21:12. Luke 1:69.
v Gen. 30:15. Num. 16:9,13.
F.z. 16:20,47. 34:18.
z 2 Chr. 36:15,16. Jer. 6:11.
a 1:24. 43:24. 63:10. 65:3-5. Am. 2:13. Mal. 2:17. Acts 7: 51. Heb. 3:10,11.
Or, Nevertheless.
b Gen. 3:15. Jer. 31:22. Matt. 1:23. Luke 1:35.
** Or, thou , O virgin, shalt call. Gen. 4:1,2,25. 16:11. 29:32. 30: 6,8. 1 Sam. 1:20. 4:21.
c 8:8. 9:6. John 1:1,2,14. Rom. 9:5. 1 Tim. 3:16,
Lowth. This rendering supposes that a transposition in the order of the several clauses has taken place, of which the Bishop gives a very
V. 5, 6. Rezin and Pekah intended to sub-probable account. But as the meaning is still
jugate the whole kingdom of Judah, and to divide it between them; and to set over it another king as their vassal. "Let us rend off a part of it for ourselves." Bp. Lowth. It is not known who Tabeal was. The frequent mention of the house of David, and the sign afterwards given, indicate that they designed to destroy that family. ( Note , 2.)
the same, it is not necessary to dwell on it.
V. 10-12. Ahaz did not properly regard the message from God, delivered to him by the prophet; he was therefore by an additional address from God required to ask a sign for the confirmation of it. "A sign wrought is a 'miracle for the confirmation of some message 'or promise delivered from God. See Er . 4:8. ' Judg . 6:17. Is . 38:22. This was usually wrought 'presently: but sometimes a thing future, where 'the event is remarkable, is proposed as the 'sign. See also Ex . 3:12. 1 Sam. 2:34. Jer . 43: '8-10.' Lowth .
And, as a proof that Isaiah spake by divine authority, he was allowed to choose one from the depth beneath, on earth, or in the grave; or, if that would be more satisfactory, (according to the prevailing opinion of the Jews,) he might ask a sign from heaven. ( Note , Matt . 16:1-4.) But he, (probably assenting in a general way to the promise which had been given, and perhaps not desiring any further intercourse with the prophet, lest he should reprove him for his sins;) refused to ask a miraculous sign, avowing that he would not, without necessity, put the power and truth of God to the trial, or presumptuously demand his extraordinary interposition. ( Marg .
Ref . u.) He seems to have made some shew of piety, but to have acted wholly under the influence of unbelief, and alienation from God.
V. 7-9. Damascus was the capital of Syria; and that kingdom had arrived at its height of prosperity under Rezin, and would thenceforth decline: and Ephraim, or the kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital, was more prosperous under Pekah, than it would ever afterwards be; so that in the space of sixty-five years, it would be so ruined, as to be no more a people. It is computed to have been sixty-five years from this prediction, to the time when Esarhaddon carried away captive the last remains of the Israelites, about the twenty-second year of Manasseh's reign.
But the exact time, in which Esarhaddon carried away the remains of Israel, is not easily ascertained: much less can it be satisfactorily shewn in what year of his reign Manasseh was carried to Babylon. ( Notes , 2 Kings 17: 24. 2 Chr . 33:11. Ezra 4:1,2,10.) There can, however, be no doubt, that Ephraim ceased to be a people before, and very little before, the end of the sixty-fifth year after this prophecy was delivered.
It was therefore absolutely determined, that Syria and Israel would never subjugate Judah: yet, unless Ahaz and his family and subjects believed the word of God, and depended on him for protection, they could not be established in prosperity, or secured from perils and terrors, similar to those with which they were at this time agitated. (Notes, 2 Chr . 20:14-19.
Rom . 11:16-21.) "Though the head of Syria ia be Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rezin; and the head of Ephraim be Samaria, and the head of Samaria, Remaliah's son: yet within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall be broken, that V. 14. The Lord 'shall give it unasked, and he be no more a people." Dr. Jubb in Bp . 'such a sign, as could not enter into your
V. 13. (Note, 2.) Ahaz was the representative of the house of David, though utterly unlike his pious ancestor; and his obstinate rebellion and unbelief not only wearied out the prophets and servants of God, which was no light matter, whatever he thought of it; but he was about to weary out the patience of God, to his own ruin; though the house of David would still be pre preserved. Perhaps some others of the royal family were present, with whom the the prophet prop thus remonstrated.-ated.-- We Marg . Ref . - Notes , 43:22-25, v. 24. 63:10. Am . 2:13. Mal . 2:17.
'thoughts to desire. This shews that the prom'ised sign was an extraordinary miracle, the 'immediate work of God, such as a son of a 'virgin is, which therefore must be the genuine 'sense of the ... words. The Hebrew word )עלמה( most properly signifies a virgin, and so 'it is translated here by all the ancient inter'preters; and is never once used in the Scrip'ture in any other sense, as several learned men 'have proved, against the pretensions of the 'modern Jews....
The primary signification of 'the word ... is, hid or concealed : from whence 'it is taken to signify a virgin, because of the 'custom of the eastern countries to keep their 'virgins concealed from the view of men.' Lowth. That the reader may judge of this for himself, I shall point out all the texts in which this word is used in Scripture. ( Gen. 24:43. Ex . 2:8. Ps. 68:26. Prov. 30:19. Cant. 1:3. 6:8. Heb.) 'Christ is called "the Seed of the 'woman," by way of distinction, ( Gen. 3:14.) as 'not to be born in the ordinary way of genera'tion.' Lowth.
"The prophecy is introduced 'in so solemn a manner; the sign is so marked, 'as a sign selected and given by God himself, 'after Ahaz had rejected the offer of any sign 'of his own choosing, out of the whole com'pass of nature; the terms of the prophecy are 'so peculiar, and the name of the child so ex'pressive, containing in them much more than 'the circumstances of the birth of a common
but the reigning king, or the heir-apparent; but Hezekiah was born before his father Abaz came to the throne; so that he cannot be meant: and to whom else can the several particulars be made to accord? We can therefore admit of no interpretation, (or even accommodation,( of the prophecy, except that given by the Evangelist, ( Notes , Matt . 1:22,23.) 'that a virgin 'of the house of David should miraculously 'conceive, and bear a son, who should be 'known to the church in all succeeding ages, 'as, "Immanuel, God with us;", "God manifest in the flesh," and become our Brother and Savior.
This event is predicted as a Sign , a most extraordinary fact, a most signal interposition of Omnipotence. This virgin's Son would be called by this name, as Solomon was called Jedidiah: (Note, 2 Sam. 12:24,25.) not that he should have no other name, or be commonly addressed by that name; but as it would properly belong to him, and he would be what that name signified. This sign was given to faith, and would encourage believers alone; for it would assure them, that no designs formed to destroy the family of David could be successful, as such a Blessing was in it. ( Notes , 65 :8-10. Ex . 3:12.
Jer . 31:21,22, v . 22. Міс . 5: 2.)
V. 15.
Though this child should be miraculously conceived, and be properly called IMMANUEL; yet he would grow up like other chil'child required, or even admitted; that we may dren, by the use of the diet customary in those 'easily suppose, that in minds prepared by the countries, in times of peace especially, till , or 'expectation of a great Deliverer to spring rather when , his faculties were unfolded, and 'from the house of David, they raised hopes he became of age to distinguish between good and evil; and then, unlike other children, 'far beyond what the present occasion sug- would uniformly "refuse the evil and choose 'gested; especially when was found, that in the subsequent prophecy, delivered imme- the good."-I confess that I am singular, or 'diately afterward, this child, called IMMAN- nearly so, in supposing this language to mean 'UEL, is treated as the Lord and Prince of the any thing more, than the capacity of distin'land of Judah.
Who could this be other than guishing between good and evil: but, as all 'the heir of the throne of David? under which other children, when left to themselves, are 'character a great and even a divine person without exception disposed "to choose the evil 'had been promised. ... St.
Matthew, therefore, and refuse the good," decidedly preferring sin 'in applying this prophecy to the birth of to holiness; and as Immanuel, that "holy child," 'Christ ... takes it in its strictest, clearest, and no sooner exercised the rational faculties of 'most important sense; and applies it accord- his human nature, than he, (and he alone,) 'ing to the original design and principal inten
perfectly used them in a holy manner; I must
'tion of the prophet.' Bp . Lowth . ( Notes , 8:6 be of opinion, that this singular case was in
tended by the sacred writer, or rather by the Holy Spirit, who inspired him to use these peculiar expressions. ( Marg . Ref . e.)
-10. Mic . 5:3,4, v . 3.)-Would it not be very 'unnatural to suppose, that the prophets have 'been entirely silent concerning this most re'markable sign of the Messiah, (viz. his being 'born of a virgin,) insomuch that an evange'list should be obliged to accommodate to this 'singular circumstance, a passage, which origi'nally had no reference to the Messiah?" Gran ville Sharp. Thus we are to understand 'the Messiah's being called IMMANUEL; i. e. 'being really what that name imports, ...
Gon 'WITH US; being both properly and truly God, 'and called so, 9:6. and also living or dwelling 'with us men.' Lowth . - GOD WITH US; 'which 'name can agree to none, but to him, who is 'both God and man.' ( Notes , 9:6,7. Jer. 23:5,6.) -The passage cannot be made to accord to any events of those times, as if it meant, 'that 'one, who was at that time a virgin, should be 'married, and bear a son.' The application of the name Immanuel to one who was the governor of the land, (8:8.) can comport with none || Virgin's Son, for his attaining to this capacity
V. 16. There is very great difficulty in making out the connexion between this and the preceding verses; which is the case in some of the most remarkable predictions of Scripture: for the Lord seems purposely to cast an obscurity on them, as a trial of our humility; and to prove, whether we will receive and profit by what is obvious, though we cannot satisfactorily solve every difficulty; or whether we will proudly reject the whole on that account. Some suppose, that by this child , the prophet meant lis own son Shear-jashub, who stood by him: ( Note , 3.) but this is not natural; and it may be questioned, whether the expression, "shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good ," could properly be applied to him. Others think that the prophet meant, that in less time than would be required, after the birth of the
and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt , and for them bee that is in the land of Assyria.
19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns , and upon all * bushes.
20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet : and it shall also consume the beard.
i 1 Kings 12:16-19. 2 Chr. 10: Deut. 1:44. 7:20. Josh. 24:12. n 2:19,21. 2 Chr. 33:11. Jer. 16: 16-19.
k 5:26.
1 30.1,2. 31:1. Ex. 8:21,24.
Ps. 118:12.
m 17. 2 Kings 23:33,34,
(that is, within two or three years,) the dreaded enemies of Judah would perish.
The land of Israel must, on this interpretation, be exclu- sively meant, as the land which Ahaz dreaded and abhorred, for one land alone is spoken of; and "both her kings" must denote Pekah and his ally, Rezin, king of Syria; for the former was soon after cut off by Hoshea, and the latter by Tiglath-pilezer. ( Notes , 8:1-4.2 Kings 15: 29,30. 16:10-16.)-But some have supposed, that the whole of the promised land was in- tended, and that the termination of regal au- thority, both in Israel and Judah, before the time that Immanuel should "know to refuse the evil and choose the good," was predicted. -'Before this child can know good from evil, 'this land, ... which thou art so solicitous about , shall be bereaved of both her kings; by 'which, we think ought to be understood, not 'the kings of Syria and Israel; for the former 'could not be called her (Canaan's) king, and 'the latter had but a share in it at best: but the 'kings of Israel and Judah; as it really was be- 'fore the coming of the Messiah.' Universal History.
The clause may be rendered, "the land by," or concerning, "which thou art dis- quieted:" and both the dread of Israel, and anxiety about Judah, disquieted Ahaz; and were to him as thorns or goads to keep him awake; (which the word may signify:) and no
16. Mic. 7:17.
* Or, commendable trees. o 10:6. 2 Kings 16:7,8. 2 Chr.
28:20,21. Jer. 27:6,7. Ez. 5:1 -4.29:18,20.
p 1:5,6. 9:14-17.24:2.
three years, he should be enabled to eat butter and honey. ( Note , 21-25, ν. 23.)
V. 17-19. The Lord would not permit the Syrians and Israelites entirely to prevail against Ahaz; but he would have him, and his family, and idolatrous subjects to know, that such judgments were coming upon them, as had never been experienced, since the days of Rehoboam, when Jeroboam and the ten tribes revolted from the family of David. These would be brought on them especially by the king of Assyria, on whom Ahaz placed an improper dependence; ( Notes , 2 Kings 15:19,20. 16:7-18. 1 Chr . 5:25,26. 2 Chr . 28:16-18.) but the Egyptians would also concur in them.
Probably, Egypt abounded with troublesome and noisome swarms of flies; and Assyria might be remarkable for bees, which gave great pain by their stings, and collected honey from every quarter. In allusion to these insects, the Lord intimated his design of giving the signal to those nations, to come in great multitudes, and possess every part of the land. ( Marg . Ref . k, 1.)-"The metaphor is taken from 'the practice of those that keep bees; who draw 'them together from their hives into the field, 'and lead them back again, ... by a hiss or 'whistle.' Cyril in Bp. Lowth , on 5:26.
Judea lay between the kingdoms of Egypt and Assyria, and was continually harassed by those
doubt the word king is often used for a succes-contending powers. The Assyrians weakened
sion of kings in prophetical language.
Now it is very remarkable, that Herod the great, the last who could be called "the king" either of Judah or Israel, lived till after Immanuel's birth, but died while he was yet an infant: and then, Shiloh being come, the sceptre departed finally from Judah, as it had long before from Israel. ( Note , Gen. 49:10.)-How far the prophecy may be supposed to have received a primary accomplishment, by the deliverance, within two or three years, of Judah from the two kings which threatened its destruction; and yet afterwards to have had a far more striking and exact completion, when Immanuel was born, and when he was yet an infant, the former being a confirmation and sure pledge of the latter; I shall leave it with the reader to determine: but upon so difficult and so important a subject, I was willing to adduce every hint, which might tend to a fuller elucidation of it.
'Butter and honey shall he eat, when he 'shall know to refuse what is evil, and to 'choose what is good. For before this child 'shall know, to refuse the evil and to choose the good, the land shall become desolate, by 'whose two kings thou art distressed.' Bp . Lowth. As butter and honey were articles of food, plentiful in Judea during peaceable times, but not to be obtained when the country was the seat of war; the Bishop supposes, that the child referred to was born in a time of war; but that before he arrived at the age of two or VOL. IV.
Ahaz, instead of helping him: Sennacherib exceedingly impoverished the land in Hezekiah's reign. The Assyrian king took Manasseh captive, and made the land tributary: and the kings of Babylon, who destroyed Jerusalem and desolated the land, ruled over many of the same countries. Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, slew good Josiah, and carried Jehoahaz prisoner into Egypt, and thus hastened the ruin of Judah. The "uttermost parts of the rivers of Egypt" may mean those parts of the land, which bordered upon the seven mouths of the river Nile; or which lay beyond them.-'Archbishop Usher... supposes that the 'conquest of Egypt (20:) happened before the 'siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib; and that 'a great many Egyptians were his auxiliaries 'in that expedition." Lowth . Sennacherib invaded Judea, and took the fenced cities: but he was not permitted to besiege Jerusalem. (37:33-35. Notes , 8:6-8.)
V. 20. The Lord intended to employ the king of Assyria, (whom Ahaz had hired with the sacred treasures: Note , 2 Kings 16:7-9.) as his servant in executing judgment on the land, and to give him the spoil of it for his wages: ( Note , Ez . 29:17-20.) and he would destroy both p princes and rulers, the priests and most eminent persons, and the poor of the land, in such a manner; that the desolation would resemble the razor clearing away the hair from the head, the feet, and the beard, without any [33
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, it shall even be for briers and thorns.
that a man shall nourish a young cow and two sheep;
22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, that he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the *land.
23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were 'a thousand vines at a thousand silverings,
25. 5:17. 17:2. 37:30. Jer. 39: 10.
r 15. 2 Sam. 17:29. Matt. 3:4.
* Heb. midst of the land. s Cant. 8:11,12. Matt. 21:33.
discrimination. To be shaved was considered either as a deep disgrace, or a token of mourning and distress. This gives an idea of much more terrible depredation and destruction by the Assyrian invasion, than we are apt to receive from a cursory reading of the history. ( Notes , 8:6-8. 10:28-34.33:7-9. 2 Kings 18: 13. 19:3.)
V.21-25. Through the scarcity of inhabitants, and of cattle, after these desolations, the pastures would be so luxuriant, that a young cow and two ewes would plentifully supply a
24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: * but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. t 5:6. 32:12-14. Jer. 4:26. Heb. | x 21,22. 13:20-22, 17:2. Zeph.
6:8.
u Gen. 27:3
2:6.
from him; nay, if left to the bent of their own evil inclinations, they will venture any extremity of danger and misery, rather than submit to it. Our God will, however, proceed with his own plan; and not leave sinners any excuse, either through want of warning or encouragement, for continuance in sin.
Whilst he has work for the fire-brands of the earth to perform, they continue to consume all before them: but when they have fulfilled their commission, they will be extinguished in smoke and stench: and they are often on the summit its continuance and increase, when ruin suddenly overtakes them. (Notes, Nah . 1:9-13. 1 Thes . 5:1-3.) We should then take heed to the word of God, and quietly wait its accomplishment; and committing our cause to him, we need not be faint-hearted because of any enemies.
But, whatever unmerited and unexpected deliverances the Lord may vouchsafe; except we believe and obey his word, and trust in his protection, we cannot be established, either in outward prosperity, or in serenity of mind.
man's family with milk and butter, which, ich, of prosperity, and most confidently expecting
with honey, would be almost the only remaining productions of the land. ( Notes , 15,16.) Vineyards, which had been let at high rents, (as a thousand vines for a thousand pieces pieces of silver yearly, Note , Cant . 8:11,12.) would then be overgrown with briers and thorns; and would become the coverts of wild beasts, or the resort of robbers, which the inhabitants should come with bows and arrows to destroy. Nay, the mattock and plow would be generally disused, of which the thorns and briers are figuratively represented as afraid ; or the expression may mean, that those places, which when the prophet wrote, were so well cultivated, that no one would have feared their being covered by briers and thorns, would then be over-run with them: in short, agriculture would cease, and the whole land would either become a forest, or a pasture for cattle. The promise made to Hezekiah, just before
V. 10-25.
The Lord is ever ready to satisfy the humble inquirer, who desires to know and believe his truth, yet is perplexed with difficulties and objections; but no evidence can convince such as "hate the light," because they are enemies to God through pride of heart and love of sin: and infidelity is equally provoking, whether the destruction of Sennacherib's army, may it haughtily despise the evidence which the intimate, that the land had, during the preced- Lord vouchsafes, or whether it presuniptuousing desolations, been generally left unculti- ly demand such proof as the case does not revated, and would require some time to bring quire or admit. But ungodly men always varit into the former state of cultivation. (37:30. nish over their crimes with some specious
Note, 2 Kings 19:29.) Yet, probably, subsequent more entire and long-continued desolations of Judah, by the inhabitants of the same regions, are intended. ( Notes , 17-19. 27:711, ν . 10. 32:9-14, ν . 14.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-9.
Ungodly men are often punished by others as wicked as themselves. - "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:" but those who despise him, not only meet with great afflictions, but are destitute of support and comfort under them: and the most daring rebels against God are frequently most terrified by perils from their fellow creatures; so that their "hearts are moved, as the trees of the wood are shaken by the wind." But, whatever men devise, "the counsel of the LORD shall stand:" and regard to his own glory, and to his faithful word, frequently induces him to interpose in our favor, when there is nothing else to move him to it. When ungodly men are in distress or terror, they devise many expedients for safety: but they seldom think of humbling themselves before God, and seeking help
coloring, even when their rebellion is most daring: and many pretend a fear of tempting God, when in fact they are determined not to trust or serve him. It is, though in itself a heinous crime, yet comparatively but a small thing, for men to grieve and weary the faithful and pious servants of God, who honestly seek their good: alas! sinners also weary the Lord himself, and daily urge him to execute vengeance upon them.
But he will encourage humble believers, whilst he leaves hardened infidels to their own delusions: and the recollection of those promises, which will surely be fulfilled in their season, tends greatly to invigorate true faith, in the most trying circumstances.
If the prospect of the coming of the divine Savior was a never-failing support to the hopes of ancient believers: what cause have we to rejoice and be thankful, that "the virgin hath conceived and born a Son, and called his name Immanuel!" that "the Word was made flesh;" and that in our nature he passed through the several stages of childhood, youth, and manhood, to "fulfil all righteousness," as our Surety, and to set us an example through all, of "refusing the evil and
said the LORD to me, h Call his name 'Ma
Ry the name given to a son of the prophet, the speedy ruin of her-shalal-hash-baz.
Syria and Israel, and the invasion of Judah by the king of Assyria, are predicted, 1-8. A formidable confederacy against Judah would be defeated, 9, 10. The Jews are exhorted to fear and trust God, and not to fear man; as the
way to safety, when numbers would be ensnared and de
stroyed, 11-15. The prophet, (as a type of Christ,) with
hi. disciples, are signs to the people, 16-18. He warns them
test and standard of truth; and predicts the blasphemy and despair of the rebellious, 19-22.
choosing the good;" and then closed his life, by offering himself an all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins! May we learn to trust and love him, as now risen, ascended, and, in our nature and for our benefit, reigning upon the mediatorial throne; and, whilst we come to our reconciled Father through his advocacy, may we copy his example through every scene of life and death.
Thus we shall speedily be delivered from all that we dread or abhor, and become "more than conquerors" over every enemy, "through him that loved us."-But sorrows of every kind are speedily coming on all those, who "neglect so great salvation:" nor can any dignity or sacredness of character, or obscurity and meanness, preserve those from divine judgments, who continue in rebellion against God.
The desolations, which sin has brought on many churches and nations, that once were very prosperous, not only give warning to others not to copy their example, but teach every individual to moderate his regard to those objects, which may soon be torn from him; and they awfully assure us, that if we remain unfruitful under the means of grace, the Lord will shortly pronounce sentence on us, and say, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever." (Notes, Matt . 21:17 -20. Luke 13:6-9.)
NOTES.