The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 48

" they be filled toith cusroml! from the east); ie right in regiuding it as mainly a oon- i.e. they have adopted a number of Syrian, tinuation of the old privo.te teraphim-wor- Assvrian, and Ammonite superstitions; e.g. ship (' Notes,' p. 25). high plaoes, images, and "groves," the Ver. 9.-Aud the mean man bowetb burning uf their children in honour of l\Io- down, eto. So Ewo.ld and Kay; but most Jooh, the use of divination and enchant- other commente.tors render, "Thereforo ment, etc. (2 Kings xv. 4; xvi. 3, 4; xvii. she.11 the mean man be bowed down, e.nd 10-12, 16, 17, etc.). Most of these prac- the great man brought low, o.nd thou ehalt tices reached the Israelites from Syria, not [or, • canst not'] forgive them" though many had their origin either in (Rosenmiiller, Lowth, Gcsenius, Knobel, Assyria or Babylonia. Soothsayers, like Cheyne). The transition from narrative to the Philistines. The "diviners" of the threatening comes best at the beginning of Philistines are mentioned in 1 Sam. vi. 2. the verse. By the word here employed, it would seem Ver. 10.-Euter into the rook. The lime- that they foretold the future from observa- stone rocks of Palestine are full of extensive tions on the clouds nnd the general appear- caverns, to which the Israelites often be- ance of the sky. During the reign of Uz- took themselves in times of do.nger (see ziah, the Israelites had been brought into JuJg. vi. 2; 1 Sam. xiii. 6; :u:ii. J, eto.). closer contact with the Philistines thnn The prophet exhorts them to flee thither usne.l, through his conquest of several of now, but without ate.ting what exactly is their cities (2 Chron. xxvi. 6). They please the peril (oomp. vers. 19, 21). Ride thee themselves in the ohildren of strangers; in the dust. Not "the dust of humilia- literally, strike hands with the chilllren of tion" (Kay), but "the dust of the earth " strangers (comp. Job xuii. 23). This is (Gen. ii. 7), put here for the earth itself, as thought --to refer to striking hands upon a in ver. 19. For fear of the Lord; rather, barge.in tCheyne), and to be an e.llnsion to from before the terror of Jehovah. Some the commercial activity of the reigns of awful manifestation of Jehovah's power is Uzzie.h and Jotham (2 Kings xiv. 22; xvi. intended, its nature being still kept baok 6). But perhaps it does not mean more and shrouded in darkness. than familiarity. Ver. 11.-The effect of tbe judgment Ver. 7.-Fnll of silver and gold. The which, in ver. 9, was said to be the humili- results of the commercial activity-not evil ation of high and low alike, is here declared things in themselves, but probably acquired with special reference to the high-minded by sharp dc>e.ling, and leading to undue and proud, whom it will humble more than softness and luxury. The Law had given a others. The Lord a.lone shall be exalted ; warning against "greaUy multiplying silver like a lofty and strong tower (comp. oh. xii. and gold" (Dent. xvii. 17). For the fact 4; mill. 5). of the vast abundance of the precious Vere. 12-22.-THE DESOBIPTION OF THE met.ale in Judma at this time, see 2 Kings DAY OF THE LORD. " The prophet now, xiv. 16; xx. 13 ; 2 Chron. :xxxii. 27; and having nnnounoed that God is about to compare Sennacherib's inscription on the Taylor Cylinder (' Ancient Monarchies,' visit his people in anger (vers. 10, 11), vol. ii. p. 163, 2nd edit.). Full of horses proceeds to describe in highly rhetorical . . ohariots (comp. Mir.ah v. 10). There language the visitation itself, (1) as to its is no reason to believe that the Jews or object, which is to bring down all that IB1'8elites ever possessed. (unless it were exalts itself against God (ver. 12); (2) as under Solomon) any considerable cavalry or cho.riot force. But from the time of to its scope-it is to be upon trees, moun- DaviJ horses and chariots were imported te.ins, hills, towers, walls, ships, pleasant for convenience and for show by the kings, pictures, idols (vers. 13-18); (3) es to its the princes, and the nobles (see 2 Sam. practical effect, which will be to e.lerm o.nd xv. 1; 1 Kings iv. 26; L 28, 29; n:ii. 31; terrify, to make men fly o.nd hide them- Eccles. x. 7). Like the silver and the gold, selves, and to produce contempt of the they were signs pf luxury and ostentation. idols in which they have so long trusted Ver. 8.-Jl'nll\ of idols. The historians declare that both Uzziah o.nd Jotham main- (vers. 19-21). tained the worship of Jehovah and dis- Ver. 12.-Jl'or the day of the Lord of allowed idolatry (2 Kings xv. 3, t'! ; 2 hosts shall be upon every one; rather, For Chron. :u:vi 4; :u:vii. 2), so that WCl must the Lord of hosts shall haTJe a day upoo regard the idol-worship of the time as nn eTJerything. Thll passage is excgetico.l of irregular and private practice. (It is, per- " that day" in the preceding verso. A haps, alluded to in 2 Chron. xxvii. 2; and "day"-or time-is certainly coming which the fact of its prevalence is stated in A mos shall be emphatically•• the Lord's "-o. day ii. 4; Micah v. 13.) Perhaps Bishop L<,wth on which he will desceml to judgment.. (JH, 11, 1-22,J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 33