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)

Verse 3

Afar. When Salmanasar shall come from Ninive to destroy Samaria, to punish the people for their idolatry (Calmet) and oppressions. (Haydock) --- Glory. Golden calves, (Osee viii. 5., and x. 5.) or possessions, chap. ix. 8.

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. (Haydock) --- The prophet speaks of Salmanasar, or of Sennacherib. (St. Cyprian; St. Jerome)

Verse 6

Deceitful. Hebrew, "hypocritical," joining my worship with that of idols. (Calmet) --- They had solemnly promised to serve the Lord, Exodus xix. 8. (Worthington)

Verse 7

So. He will not think that he is executing my vengeance, supposing that he conquers by his own power.

Verse 9

As. Literally, "altogether kings." (Haydock) --- Thus Nabuchodonosor kept the conquered princes for derision, Habacuc i. 10., and Judges i. 7. --- Arphad, Arad, or rather Raphanæ, Jeremias xlix. 23. --- Damascus. These two cities were not yet subdued.

Verse 10

Idols. He looks upon the true God as no better than any idols, (4 Kings xviii. 32.) and falsely supposes that the latter were adored in Jerusalem. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Works. Humbling and terrifying Ezechias and his subjects, who were reduced to great distress, in order to avert the impending war. (Haydock) --- Eyes. The Assyrians were punished in their turn.

Verse 14

Nest. Some put these words in the mouth of God. (Tertullian) (Abdias 4.) --- But they shew the insolence of Sennacherib.

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. (St. Augustine, Confessions ii. 7.) --- Sennacherib persecuted the Jews of his own free will, though he was God's instrument. (Worthington)

Verse 16

Fire. The Jews assert, that 185,000 perished by an inward burning, so that only ten men were left, ver. 19. (St. Jerome)

Verse 17

Light. God. (Haydock) --- Thorns. Private soldiers. (Calmet)

Verse 18

Glory. Officers. --- Flesh. Or body. All shall perish. (Haydock) --- Fear. Sennacherib escaped alone, and fell by the sword of his own sons.

Verse 19

CHAPTER X.

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.

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 Kings xviii. 3., and Romans ix. 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." (Haydock) --- As the apostle has explained this passage, "every other interpretation must cease." (St. 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 i. 8. The incredulous Jews shall be rejected, ver. 23., and Romans ix.

Verse 24

Egypt. He sent Rabsaces from Lachis, when he set out to meet Tharaca, 4 Kings xix.

Verse 25

Little. Twenty-eight years, (Psalm lxxxix. 4.) or he alludes to the destruction which took place in a single night, (Calmet) or in a moment, ver. 16. (Haydock)

Verse 26

Oreb. Judges vii. 25. --- And his. Moses thus let loose the waters of the Red Sea on the Egyptians, by stretching forth his rod. (Calmet)

Verse 27

Oil. That is, by the sweet unction of divine mercy. (Challoner) --- Chaldean, "before the anointed," in consideration of Ezechias and Isaias. In the higher sense, it denotes the victory of Christ over the devil. (Calmet)

Verse 28

Into Aiath, &c. 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)

Verse 29

Lodging. Here, say the Assyrians, we will encamp.

Verse 31

Take. Protestants, "gather themselves to flee." (Haydock)

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." (Haydock) --- Hand. As Nicanor did against the temple, 2 Machabees xv. 32. (Calmet)

Verse 33

Vessel. Like Gideon, when he attacked Madian, ver. 26., and Judges vii. 19. Septuagint, "the nobles." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "their beauty." The empire of Assyria shall presently fall. (Calmet)