1Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and who have written and continue to write toil; 2to thrust aside the needy from judgment, and to rob the right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may plunder the orphans! 3And what will you do in the day of judgment, and in destruction when it comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4Without Me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. In all this His hand is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. 5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger! And the staff in their hand is My indignation. 6I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of My wrath. I will command him to draw out the plunder, and to seize the spoils, and to trample them like the mud of the streets. 7Yet he does not plan this, nor does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off not a few nations. 8For he says, Are not my commanders all like kings? 9Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria; 11shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her idols? 12And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, I will punish the fruit of the proud heart of the king of Assyria and the glory of his haughty looks. 13For he says, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am discerning. And I have removed the borders of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14And my hand has found, as a nest, the riches of the people; and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; and there was no one who moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. 15Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Shall the saw magnify itself against him who moves it? As if the rod could swing itself at those who lift it up! As if a staff could rise up, as though it were not wood! 16Therefore the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, shall send leanness among his fat ones; and under his glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17And the light of Israel shall be as a fire, and His Holy One as a flame; and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day. 18And it shall burn up the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body; and they shall be as when a sick one faints. 19And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be so few, that a child might write them. 20And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob, shall never again lean on him who struck them; but will truly lean on Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. 21The remnant shall return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Strong and Mighty God. 22For though Your people Israel are like the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return; the completion which is decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23For the Lord Jehovah of Hosts shall make a full end, as ordained, in the midst of all the land. 24Therefore thus says the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, O my people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria. He shall strike you with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against you, in the way of Egypt. 25But yet a little while, and the indignation shall cease, and My anger shall be for their destruction. 26And Jehovah of Hosts shall stir up a scourge upon him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as His staff was on the sea, so shall He lift it up in the way of Egypt. 27And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil. 28He has come to Aiath, he has passed to Migron; at Michmash he has stored his equipment; 29they have gone over the pass; they have taken lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to be heard unto Laish; O poor Anathoth. 31Madmenah has fled; the inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32Yet he shall remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his fist against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 33Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, shall lop off the bough with terror; and those exalted high shall be chopped down, and the haughty shall be humbled. 34And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by the Mighty One.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 Fourth strophe. (
Isa 10:1-
Isa 10:4)
them that decree--namely, unrighteous judges.
write grievousness, &c.--not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them (
Isa 65:6) [MAURER], (
Isa 1:10,
Isa 1:23).
2 To turn aside, &c.--The effect of their conduct is to pervert the cause of the needy [HORSLEY]. In English Version "from judgment" means "from obtaining justice."
take away the right--"make plunder of the right" (rightful claim) [HORSLEY].
3 what will ye do--what way of escape will there be for you?
visitation--of God's wrath (
Isa 26:14;
Job 35:15;
Hos 9:7).
from far--from Assyria.
leave . . . glory--rather, "deposit (for safekeeping) your wealth" [LOWTH]. So
Ps 49:17.
4 Without me--not having Me to "flee to" (
Isa 10:3).
bow down--Bereft of strength they shall fall; or else, they shall lie down fettered.
under . . . under--rather, "among" (literally, "in the place of") [HORSLEY]. The "under" may be, however, explained, "trodden under the (feet of the) prisoners going into captivity," and "overwhelmed under the heaps of slain on the battlefield" [MAURER].
5 It was written when Assyria proposed (a design which it soon after tried to carry out under Sennacherib) to destroy Judah and Jerusalem, as it had destroyed Samaria. This is the first part of Isaiah's prophecies under Hezekiah. Probably between 722 and 715 B.C. (see
Isa 10:27). (
Isa 10:9,
Isa 10:11 show that Samaria was destroyed before this prophecy)
O Assyrian, &c.--rather, "What, ho (but MAURER, Woe to the) Assyrian! He is the rod and staff of Mine anger (My instrument in punishing,
Jer 51:20;
Ps 17:13). In their hands is Mine indignation" [HORSLEY, after JEROME]. I have put into the Assyrians' hands the execution of Mine indignation against My people.
6 send him--"Kings' hearts are in the hand of the Lord" (
Pro 21:1).
hypocritical--polluted [HORSLEY].
nation--Judah, against whom Sennacherib was forming designs.
of my wrath--objects of My wrath.
give . . . charge-- (
Jer 34:22).
and to tread, &c.--HORSLEY translates: "And then to make him (the Assyrian) a trampling under foot like the mire of the streets" (so
Isa 10:12;
Isa 33:1;
Zech 10:5). But see
Isa 37:26.
7 meaneth not so--He is only thinking of his own schemes, while God is overruling them to His purposes.
think--intend. Sinners' plans are no less culpable, though they by them unconsciously fulfil God's designs (
Ps 76:10;
Mic 4:12). So Joseph's brethren (
Gen 50:20;
Pro 16:4). The sinner's motive, not the result (which depends on God), will be the test in judgment.
heart to destroy . . . not a few--Sennacherib's ambition was not confined to Judea. His plan was also to conquer Egypt and Ethiopia (
Isa 20:1-
Isa 20:6;
Zech 1:15).
8 Vauntings of the Assyrians. Illustrated by the self-laudatory inscriptions of Assyria deciphered by HINCKS.
princes . . . kings--Eastern satraps and governors of provinces often had the title and diadem of kings. Hence the title, "King of kings," implying the greatness of Him who was over them (
Ezek 26:7;
Ezra 7:12).
9 Is not . . . as--Was there any one of these cities able to withstand me? Not one. So Rab-shakeh vaunts (
Isa 36:19).
Calno--Calneh, built by Nimrod (
Gen 10:10), once his capital, on the Tigris.
Carchemish--Circesium, on the Euphrates. Taken afterwards by Necho, king of Egypt; and retaken by Nebuchadnezzar: by the Euphrates (
Jer 46:2).
Hamath--in Syria, north of Canaan (
Gen 10:18). Taken by Assyria about 753 B.C. From it colonists were planted by Assyria in Samaria.
Arpad--near Hamath.
Samaria--now overthrown.
Damascus-- (
Isa 17:1,
Isa 17:3).
10 found--unable to resist me: hath overcome (so
Ps 21:8).
and whose--rather, "and their." This clause, down to "Samaria," is parenthetical.
excel--were more powerful. He regards Jerusalem as idolatrous, an opinion which it often had given too much ground for: Jehovah was in his view the mere local god of Judea, as Baal of the countries where it was adored, nay, inferior in power to some national gods (
Isa 36:19-
Isa 36:20;
Isa 37:12). See in opposition,
Isa 37:20;
Isa 46:1.
As my hand . . . shall I not, as I have--a double protasis. Agitation makes one accumulate sentences.
12 whole work--His entire plan is regard to the punishment of the Jews (
Isa 10:5-
Isa 10:7).
Zion--the royal residence, the court, princes and nobles; as distinguished from "Jerusalem," the people in general.
fruit--the result of, that is, the plants emanating from.
stout--Hebrew, "greatness of," that is, pride of.
glory--haughtiness.
13 I am prudent--He ascribes his success to his own prudence, not to God's providence.
removed the bounds--set aside old, and substituted new boundaries of kingdoms at will. A criminal act, as Jehovah Himself had appointed the boundaries of the nations (
Deut 32:8).
treasures--"hoarded treasures" [HORSLEY].
put down . . . inhabitants like, &c.--rather, "as a valiant man, I have brought down (from their seats) those seated" (namely, "on thrones"; as in
Ps 2:4;
Ps 29:10;
Ps 55:19. The Hebrew for "He that abideth," is He that sitteth on a throne); otherwise, "I have brought down (as captives into Assyria, which lay lower than Judea; therefore 'brought down,' compare
Isa 36:1,
Isa 36:10), the inhabitants" [MAURER].
14 nest--implying the ease with which he carried off all before him.
left--by the parent bird.
none . . . moved . . . wing--image from an angry bird resisting the robbery of its "nest."
peeped--chirped even low (
Isa 8:19). No resistance was offered me, of deed, or even word.
15 Shall the instrument boast against Him who uses it? Through free in a sense, and carrying out his own plans, the Assyrian was unconsciously carrying out God's purposes.
shaketh it--moves it back and forward.
staff . . . lift . . . itself . . . no wood--rather, "as if the staff (man, the instrument of God's judgments on his fellow man) should set aside (Him who is) not wood" (not a mere instrument, as man). On "no wood" compare
Deut 32:21, "that which is not God;"
Isa 31:8 shows that God is meant here by "not wood" [MAURER].
16 fat ones-- (
Isa 5:17). The robust and choice soldiers of Assyria (
Ps 78:31, where "fattest" answers in the parallelism to "chosen," or "young men," Margin).
leanness--carrying out the image on "fat ones." Destruction (
Ps 106:15). Fulfilled (
Isa 37:36).
his glory--Assyria's nobles. So in
Isa 5:13, Margin;
Isa 8:7.
kindle--a new image from fire consuming quickly dry materials (
Zech 12:6).
17 light of Israel--carrying out the image in the end of
Isa 10:16. Jehovah, who is a light to Israel, shall be the "fire" (
Deut 4:24;
Heb 12:29) that shall ignite the "thorns," (the Assyrians, like dry fuel, a ready prey to flame).
18 glory of his forest--The common soldiers, the princes, officers, &c., all alike together, shall be consumed (see on
Isa 9:18).
in one day-- (
Isa 37:36).
fruitful field--literally, "Carmel," a rich mountain in the tribe of Asher. Figurative for Sennacherib's mighty army. Perhaps alluding to his own boasting words about to be uttered (
Isa 37:24), "I will enter the forest of his Carmel."
soul and body--proverbial for utterly; the entire man is made up of soul and body.
as when a standard bearer fainteth--rather, "they shall be as when a sick man" (from a Syriac root) wastes away." Compare "leanness," that is, wasting destruction (
Isa 10:16) [MAURER]. Or, "there shall be an entire dissipation, like a perfect melting" (namely, of the Assyrian army) [HORSLEY].
19 rest--those who shall survive the destruction of the host.
his forest--same image as in
Isa 10:18, for the once dense army.
child . . . write--so few that a child might count them.
20 The effect on the "remnant" (contrasted with the Assyrian remnant,
Isa 10:19); namely, those who shall be left after the invasion of Sennacherib, will be a return from dependence on external idolatrous nations, as Assyria and Egypt (
2Kgs 18:21;
2Kgs 16:7-9), to the God of the theocracy; fulfilled in part in the pious Hezekiah's days; but from the future aspect under which Paul, in
Rom 9:27-
Rom 9:28 (compare "short work" with "whole work,"
Isa 10:12, here), regards the whole prophecy, the "remnant," "who stay upon the Lord," probably will receive their fullest realization in the portion of Jews left after that Antichrist shall have been overthrown, who shall "return" unto the Lord (
Isa 6:13;
Isa 7:3;
Zech 12:9-
Zech 12:10;
Zech 14:2-
Zech 14:3;
Zeph 3:12).
21 mighty God-- (
Isa 9:6) the God who shall have evinced such might in destroying Israel's enemies. As the Assyrians in Sennacherib's reign did not carry off Judah captive, the returning "remnant" cannot mainly refer to this time.
22 yet--rather in the sense in which Paul quotes it (
Rom 9:27), "Though Israel be now numerous as the sand, a remnant only of them shall return"--the great majority shall perish. The reason is added, Because "the consumption (fully completed destruction) is decreed (literally, decided on, brought to an issue), it overfloweth (
Isa 30:28;
Isa 8:8) with justice"; that is, the infliction of just punishment (
Isa 5:16) [MAURER].
23 even determined--"A consumption, and whatever is determined," or decreed [MAURER].
midst--Zion, the central point of the earth as to Jehovah's presence.
land--Israel. But the Septuagint, "in the whole habitable world." So English Version (
Rom 9:28), "upon the earth."
24 Therefore--Return to the main proposition, Assyria's ultimate punishment, though employed as God's "rod" to chastise Judea for a time.
O my people--God's tenderness towards His elect nation.
after the manner of Egypt--as Egypt and Pharaoh oppressed thee. Implying, too, as Israel was nevertheless delivered from them, so now it would be from the Assyrian Sennacherib. The antithesis in
Isa 10:26 requires this interpretation [MAURER].
25 For--Be not afraid (
Isa 10:24), for, &c.
indignation . . . cease--The punishments of God against Israel shall be consummated and ended (
Isa 26:20;
Dan 11:36). "Till the indignation be accomplished," &c.
mine anger--shall turn to their (the Assyrians') destruction.
26 slaughter of--"stroke upon."
Midian-- (
Isa 9:4;
Judg 7:25).
as his rod was upon the sea--rather, understanding "stroke" from the previous clause, "according to the stroke of His rod upon the Red Sea" (
Exod 14:16,
Exod 14:26). His "rod" on the Assyrian (
Isa 10:24,
Isa 10:26) stands in bold contrast to the Assyrian used as a "rod" to strike others (
Isa 10:5).
after the manner of Egypt--as He lifted it up against Egypt at the Red Sea.
27 his burden--the Assyrians' oppression (
Isa 9:3). Judah was still tributary to Assyria; Hezekiah had not yet revolted, as he did in the beginning of Sennacherib's reign.
because of-- (
Hos 10:15).
the anointing--namely, "Messiah" (
Dan 9:24). Just as in
Isa 9:4-
Isa 9:6, the "breaking of the yoke of" the enemies' "burden and staff" is attributed to Messiah, "For unto us a child is born," &c., so it is here. MAURER not so well translates, "Because of the fatness"; an image of the Assyrians fierce and wanton pride drawn from a well-fed bull tossing off the yoke (
Deut 32:15). So
Isa 10:16 above, and
Isa 5:17, "fat ones."
28 Onward gradual march of Sennacherib's army towards Jerusalem, and the panic of the inhabitants vividly pictured before the eyes.
come to--come upon as a sudden invader (
Gen 34:27).
Aiath--same as Ai (
Josh 7:2;
Neh 7:32). In the north of Benjamin; so the other towns also; all on the line of march to Jerusalem.
Michmash--nine miles northeast of Jerusalem.
laid up . . . carriages--He has left his heavier baggage (so "carriages" for the things carried,
Acts 21:15) at Michmash, so as to be more lightly equipped for the siege of Jerusalem. So
1Sam 17:22;
1Sam 25:13;
1Sam 30:24 [JEROME and MAURER].
29 passage--the jaws of the wady or defile at Michmash (
1Sam 13:23;
1Sam 14:4-5).
lodging--their quarters for the night, after having passed the defile which might have been easily guarded against them.
Ramah--near Geba; seven miles from Jerusalem.
Gibeah of Saul--his birthplace and residence, in Benjamin (
1Sam 11:4), distinct from Gibeah of Judah (
Josh 15:57).
30 daughter of Gallim--Gallim and her sons (see on
Isa 1:8;
2Kgs 19:21). "Cry aloud in consternation."
Laish--not the town in Dan (
Judg 18:7), but one of the same name near Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 9:9).
Anathoth--three miles from Jerusalem in Benjamin; the birthplace of Jeremiah. "Poor" is applied to it in pity, on account of the impending calamity. Others translate, Answer her, O Anathoth.
31 Madmenah--not the city in Simeon (
Josh 15:31), but a village near Jerusalem.
removed--fled from fear.
gather themselves to flee--"put their goods in a place of safety" [MAURER].
32 that day--literally, "As yet this (one only) day (is allowed to the soldiers) for remaining (halting for rest) at Nob"; northeast of Jerusalem on Olivet; a town of the priests (
Neh 11:32).
daughter--rightly substituted for the Chetib reading, house. His "shaking his hand" in menace implies that he is now at Nob, within sight of Jerusalem.
33 bough--literally, the "beauty" of the tree; "the beautiful branch."
high ones of stature--"the upright stem," as distinguished from the previous "boughs" [HORSLEY].
34 This verse and
Isa 10:33 describe the sudden arrest and overthrow of Sennacherib in the height of his success;
Isa 10:18-
Isa 10:19;
Ezek 31:3,
Ezek 31:14, &c., contain the same image; "Lebanon" and its forest are the Assyrian army; the "iron" axe that fells the forest refers to the stroke which destroyed the one hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians (
2Kgs 19:35). The "Mighty One" is Jehovah (
Isa 10:21;
Isa 9:6).
From the local and temporary national deliverance the prophet passes by the law of suggestion in an easy transition to the end of all prophecy--the everlasting deliverance under Messiah's reign, not merely His first coming, but chiefly His second coming. The language and illustrations are still drawn from the temporary national subject, with which he began, but the glories described pertain to Messiah's reign. Hezekiah cannot, as some think, be the subject; for he was already come, whereas the "stem of Jesse" was yet future ("shall come") (compare
Mic 4:11, &c.;
Mic 5:1-
Mic 5:2;
Jer 23:5-
Jer 23:6;
Jer 33:15-
Jer 33:16;
Rom 15:12).
