The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 84

EXPOSITION. OHAPTEB IV. she descends to the tomb unwed (Soph., 'Antig.,' ll. 813-816). Among the Jews Tbe existing division between eh. iii. and ?hildlessness was a special reproach, because iv. is scarcely satisfactory. Ver. 1 of eh. iv. 1t took away all possibility of the woman belongs to the minatory portion of the sec- being in the line of the Meesiah's descent tion beginning with eh. ii. I e.nd terminating (comp. eh. liv. 1--4). with eh. iv. 6, and so stands connected in Vers. 2-6.-As the present prophecy ( eh. ii.-iv.), though in the me.in one of threaten- subject with ah. iii., which is wholly mina- ing and denunciation, opened with e. picture tory ; whereas the remainder of eh. iv. that was encouraging and comforting (eh. (vers. 2-6) is consolatory, consisting of a ii. 2-4), so now it terminates with a similar series of promises. Ch. iv. 1 is also for- picture. The evangelical prophet, like the great apostle of the Gentiles, is unwilling mally connected with eh. iii. by the tiau that any one should be "swallowed up with conjunctive, while the absence of any such overmuch sorrow." He will not separate link e.t the opening of ver. 2 indicates the the mercies of God from hie judgments. commencement of e. new paragraph e.t that Ver. 2.-In that day ahall the branoh of point. the Lord, etc. Some see in tbis passage merely e. promise that in tbe Messianic time■ Ver. 1.-Seven women ahall take hold of the produce of the soil would become more one man. Thie verse has been well called abundant than ever before, its harvests e. "companion pictnre to eh. iii. 6, 7." As richer, and its fruitage more luxuriant. But there, in the evil time of God's judgment, in the light of later prophecy it is scarcely thedeepe.iring men are represented as" taking possible to shut up the meaning within such hold " of a respectable man to make him narrow limits. 'l'he "Branch " of Isaiah their judge, so now the despairing women can hardly be isolated altogether in e. sound "take hold" of such a man and request him exegesis from the "Branch" of Jeremiah to allow them all to be regarded as hie (ni.ii. 5 : l[l[l[iti. 15) and of Zecharie.h (iii. wives. There has been snch e. destruction- 8: vi. 12). Now, the "Branch" of Zecha- men are become so scarce--that no other- riah is stated to be "e. man" (vi. 12 : note wise can women escape tbe shame and re- that the word used for "Branch" is the proach of being nnwedded and childless. same as Isaiah's, viz. taemaT,h), and the Onr own bread will we ee.t. They do not "Branch" of Jeremiah is e. King (ll.Xltlii. 15). a.ak him to enpporl them ; they are able Moreover, Isaiah uses e. nearly equivalent and willing t.o enpport themselves. To take term (netBer) in e.n admittedly Messianlo away ; rather, ta/re thou away-the impera- sense. Although, therefore, there is some tive mood, not ihe infinitive. Onr reproach. obscurit1, in the phrase, " Branch of Je- Children were regarded as snch a blessing M1Jah," 1t would seem to be beet to under- in the ancient times that to be childless stand Isaiah as here intimating, what he was e. misfortune e.od e. subject of reproach. elsewhere openly declares (eh. xi. 1-5)- Hagar "despised" the barren Sarai (Gen. viz. the coming of the Messiah in the latter xvi. 4). Her" adversary provoked Hannah days as the ornament and glory of hie people. sore, because the Lord had shut up her Be beautiful ud glorio111; rather,for beauty womb" (1 Sam. i. 6). Co!Dpare the lament and gwry; or, for ornament and gwry I i.e of Antigone, who view1 it a.a a diBgre.ce that for the ornament &Dd gloriJlcation of Israel Clll, tv. 1-6.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 69