The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 49

Proud , , , lofty ••• lifted up (comp. ea.stern e.rm of the Red Sea, early in hia vet. 11). "The ideas of eminence, pride, reign (2 Kings xiv. 22), and no doubt main- e.nd opposition to God melt into eooh other tained a fleet there, as Jehoshaphat had done in the Old Testament" (Oheyne). And he (1 Kings nii. 48). Elath remained in the shall be brought low; ru.ther, that it may possession of the J cws till the reign of be brought low (so Gesenius and Oheyne). Ahaz, when it was taken by Rezin, and Ver. 13.-Upon all the cede.re of Lebanon. restored to Edom (see 'Speaker's Com- It is usual to tu.ke this metaphorically; and mentary' on 2 Kings xvi. 6). Upon all no doubt men are often compared to trees pleasant pioturee ; Revised Version, all in Scripture (Ps. i. 3; Jer. xvii. B; Job viii. pleasant imag,ry. The exact word here 16, 17), and "cedars of Lebauon" espe- translated " pfotures" does not occur else- cially are symbols of the great and proud where in the Old Testament; but a cognate ones (Ezek. xxxi. 3). But it has been well word is not uncommon. From the passage& observed that either all the details of the in which this cognate word occurs ( espe- description in the text must be taken cially Lev. xxvi. 1 ; Numb. xxxiii. 52 ; literally, or all of them metaphorically, and Prov. xxv. 11 ; Ezek. viii. 12), it is con- that the mention of such objects u.s "ships cluded that works of art, of some sort or of Te.rshish" and " pleasant pictures" other, are intended. More than this can pleads strongly for a literal interpretation. scarcely be determined. Dr. Kay thinks The day of the Lord was upon the cedars the term to include "scul1-tures and freaco- when Sennu.cherib " with chariots upon paintings." Mr. Cheyne translates ·• all chariots came up to the height of the ddightful works of imagery." The senti- mountains, to the aides of Lebc1n-0n, and eut ment is that the judgment of God will fall down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice on the most valued contents of palaces and fir ,trees thereof" (eh. xxxvii. 24); and grand houses, no less than upon the forests similar devastation accompanied, it is pro- and the mountains, the fortified plooes, and bable, the other invasions of the Assyrians the national navy. All will be involved in (see • Ancient Monarchies,' vol. i. pp. 474, one sweeping destruction. 475). Upon all the oaks of :Bashe.n. The Ver. 17.-The loftiness of lll&JI. This "oe.ks of Be.shan" are celebrated also by ¥erse interrupts the sequence of the Ezekiel (xxvii. 6) and by Zeclui.riah (xi. 2). thoughts somewhat awkwardly. It is a It is quite likely the.t the Assyrians cut sort of refrain (see ver. 11"; e.nd for the use timber in Bashe.n, as they did in Lebanon of refrains in Hebrew poetry, see Exod. xv. and A.manus. I, 21; Ps. cvii. 8, 15, 21, 31), and perhaps Ver. 14.-JloUllte.ins . . . hills. It is comes in for rhythmical reasons, to tlia Sennacherib's boast that he "came up to the detriment of the sense. height or the mountains" ( eh. xxxvii. 24). Ver. 18.-And the idols he shall utterly Ver. 15.-Upon every high tower. Uz- abolish; rather, and the idols shall utterly ziah and Jotham he.d, both of them, pa.irl pass aicay. While the visitation shall fall much attention to fortifications, and had only pe.1 tially on the other objects precious especially "built towers,'' both at Jerusalem to Israel-the cedars, the oaks, the terraced and in other parts of Ju<lrea (2 Chron. xxvi. mountains and hills, the strongholds, the 9, 10 ; xxvii. 4), Isaiah means to pour ships, and the works of art-the idols shall contempt on these indications of " trust in be wholly swept away by it. It is impos- an e.rm of flesh,'' and to say that they will sible to say whe.t visitation exactly was in be of no e.ve.il when the time of calamity the prophet's mind ; but if we may suppose arrives. Every fenoed wall. " On the wall that the Babylonian captivity came within of Ophel " J othe.m he.d " built much " the range of the prophetic vision, we must (2 Chron. XXl'ii, 3). Hosea. (viii. 14) and pronounce the prediction to have received Micah (iv. 11) also notice the trust of a very remarkable fulfilment in this matter, ,Tudah in her fortreBBes, u.nd threaten their since thu.t cnlamity did put an llfltire end destruction. to the idolatry of the nation. Ver. 16. -All the ehipa of Te.rahiah. Ver. 19.-They shall go into the holes of " Ships 1of Tarshish " meant originally the rooks, etc. (see ver. 10, which is an " ships l>uilt to sail to Tarshish; " but was exhortation to do what this verse declores used by the later writers for ships of 11, will be done). On the ahtmdrmt caves of certain class or size ( 1 Kings xxii. 48 ; Palestine, see note on the former passage. Ps. xlviii. 7; Ezek. xxvii. 25). Te.rshish To shake terribly the earth ; Ii terall y, to we.a Tartessus, in Spain, and voyages thither affright ths earth. It is not said in wbat were regarded as long and dangerous way he will affright it. 'l'he cognnte (Herod., i. 168). Consequently, the ships Axe.hie verb he.s the mee.uing " to sllake ; " whioh were built for the T!lltessie.n tre.d11 but it is not clear the.t the Hebrew ouo has were of unusual size e.nd strength. Uzzie.h ever this sense. bed "built [i.e. rebuilt] Elath," in the Ver. 20.-In the.t de.7 a man lhall out, eto. ISAIAH, D  34 THE BOOK OF THE P,ROFHE'.l' ISAIAH. [oa. u. 1-22.