Verse 1
write = ordain, or register; legalize iniquities.
grievousness = oppression.
prescribed = written.
Verse 2
poor = Hebrew. "ani. See note on Proverbs 6:11.
Verse 3
desolation = storm.
leave = secure, or put in safe keeping. Hebrew. "azab, a Homonym with two meanings. See note on Exodus 23:5.
glory = honour.
Verse 4
bow down under the prisoners = captives will be enough to make you bow down.
fall under the slain = mortally wounded ones [will be enough] to make you fall.
For, &c. See note on Isaiah 9:12.
Verse 5
O Assyrian. Not woe to the Assyrian. That woe comes later (Compare Isaiah 17:12, and Isaiah 33:1), after the latest woes on Ephraim and Judah. This is a Divine summons.
Assyrian. The monuments tell us that this was Sargon, the father of Sennacherib.
Verse 6
hypocritical = impious, profane, godless, " or irreligious. Compare Isaiah 9:17 with Isaiah 33:14, the only other occurance in Isaiah.
Verse 7
he meaneth not so = will not mean. The blindness of the instrument emphasizes the truth of the prophecy.
think so = so intend.
Verse 8
he saith = he will say.
altogether = all of them.
Verse 10
As = According as.
idols = nothings.
Verse 11
idols = effigies.
Verse 12
Wherefore = And.
Verse 13
people = peoples.
Verse 14
found as a nest. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "found [means to reach] as a nest". peeped. See note on Isaiah 8:19.
Verse 15
boast itself. Hebrew. pa"ar. Not therefore peculiar to the "latter" portion of Isaiah (Isaiah 44:23, &c), as alleged.
shake itself against = brandish.
lift up itself, as if it were no wood = raise him that lifteth it up.
no wood: i.e. the user of it (who is flesh and blood, not wood).
Verse 16
kindle. burning = be like a burning. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6). Hebrew. yekad yekod kikod = kindle. kindling. kindling.
Verse 17
in one day. So it was (2 Kings 19:35),
Verse 18
body = flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for the whole body.
Verse 19
child = lad.
write = reckon.
Verse 20
that day. Passing on to the final fulfilment in the day of the LORD.
the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5.
the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4.
in truth. Hebrew. be"emeth. Occurs three times in the "former" portion (here; Isaiah 16:5; Isaiah 38:3); and twice in the "latter" portion (Isaiah 48:1; Isaiah 61:8). See App-79.
Verse 21
The remnant shall return. Hebrew. Shear-jashub. See Isaiah 7:3. So they did. Compare 2 Chronicles 30:1-13, esp. Isaiah 10:6.
Verse 22
though, &c. Quoted in Romans 9:27, Romans 9:28.
as the sand, &c. Figure of speech Paraemia. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12, &c).
consumption = full end, or finish. Hebrew. killayon. Reference to Pentateuch. Occurs only here, and Deuteronomy 28:65. App-92.
with = in.
Verse 23
consumption = consummation. Hebrew. kalfih,
determined = decreed.
all. Some codices, with five early printed editions, omit "all".
Verse 24
smite thee with = smite thee [indeed] with, &c.
rod = club.
Verse 25
anger = anger [shall cease].
Verse 26
according to = like.
Midian. Compare Isaiah 9:4, and Judges 7:25.
Verse 27
shall be destroyed = will rot.
because of the anointing = before the face (at the sight) of the oil: i.e. in Gideon"s lamps; and of the anointed One (Messiah).
Verse 28
He is come. This is a prophetic description of Sennacherib"s advance against Judah.
Aiath = Ai: now et Tell, or Khan Haiyan.
laid up. In anticipation of a speedy conquest of Jerusalem.
carriages = baggage (Old English). Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for what is carried.
Verse 29
the passage = the ravine: i.e. Wady Suweinit. Compare lSamaritan Pentateuch Isaiah 13:23.
Geba. Now Jeb"a, near Michmash. Eamah. Now er Ram, five miles north of Jerusalem.
Gibeah. Now Tell el Ful, between Jerusalem and Emmaus, two and a half miles north of Jerusalem.
Verse 30
Gallim. Not identified. Probably Beitfala" near Bethlehem.
Laish. Not Laish in the tribe of Dan. Anathoth. Now "Anata. Three miles north-east of Jerusalem.
Verse 31
Madmenah. Not identified. A town of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. See note on Isaiah 25:10.
Gebim. Not identified. North of Jerusalem.
Verse 32
Nob. A city of the priests, in sight of Jerusalem, from whence Sennacherib shook his hand against the city. Nob only a half day"s journey from Jerusalem.
Verse 34
forest. Authorized Version, edition 1611, reads., "forests" (plural) These are Sennacherib"s own figures of himself. See 2 Kings 19:23. Compare Isaiah 29:17. Ezekiel 31:3-8. Note the contrast in Isaiah 11:1.