The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 195

Vere. 5-19.-ASSYRIA, AFTER BEING Gon's I come np without the Lord (Jehovah) INSTRUMENT TO PUNISH ISRAEL, SHALL HER· against this place, to destroy it? The Lord SELF BE PUNISHED JN HER TURN. The wicked (Jehovah) said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it" (compare below, eh. are a sword in the hand of God (Pa. xvii. 13), xxxvi. 10). It has been usual to consider wherewith he executes bis judgments; but Sennacherib's words a vain hoe.at; but if this fact is hid from them, and they imagine God instructed Nebuchadnezzar through that they are snccessful through their own dreams, may he not also by the same means strength and might. Bo it was with Assyria have" given charges" to .Assyrian monarchs? To take the spoil, and to take the prey ; (vers. 5-14:), which its long career of rather, to gather spoi'l, and seize prey. The victory had made proud and arrogant above terms used carry the thonghts back to eh. measure. God now, by the mouth of Isaiah, viii. 1-4, and to the symbolic name. Ma.her- makes known his intention of bringing down sho.lo.1-he.sh-baz. And to tread them down; the pride of A88yria, and laying her glory in literally, lo make it a trampling. "It" the dust, by a sudden and great destruction refers to "nation" in the first clause. (vers. 15-19), after she hus served his "Assyria," Ver. 7.-Howbeit he meaneth not so. i.e., " does not view the matter in purposes. this light-is not awnre that she is merely Ver. 5.-0 Assyrian; literally, Ho! Assl1ur. God's instrument in working out his will. " Asshur " is the nation personified, and is On the contrary, it is in her heart to destroy here addressed as an individual. The tran- the notions for her own advantage, and she sition from vers. 1-4 is abrupt, and may imagines that she is doing it by her own be to.ken to indicate an accidentnl juxta- strength." position of two entirely distinct prophecies. Ver. 8.-Are not my princes altogether Or Assyria may be supposed to hove been kings 1 One mark of the superiority of in the prophet's thought, though not in his Assyria. to other countries wo.s to be seen in words, when he spoke of " prisoners" and the fo.ct that her king had not mere office~, "sle.in" in the first clause of ver. 4. The but vassal kings under him. Hence th.; rod of mine anger (comp. Jer. Ii. 20, where title "king of kings" assumed by so many it is said of Babylon, "'fhou art my battle- Assyrian monarchs. While conquered ter- axe and wee.pons of war; for with thee will ritories were by degrees and to a certain I break in pieces the nntions, o.nd with thee extent absorbed into the empire allll placed will I destroy the kingdoms"). So Assyria under prefects (see the 'Epouym Ca.non'), was now the "rod" wherewith God ohns- an outer zone of more loosely organized de- tisod his enemies. The true" staff" in the pendencies was always maintained by th, hand of Assyrio, wherewith she smote the Assyrinns; and these dependencies con- peoples, wo.e "God's indignation." tinued ordinarily to be administered by their Ver. 6.-I will send him age.inst an hypo- nutive monarchs (see 'Ancient Monarchies,' oritioal nation; or, against a corrupt nation. vol. ii pp. 524--526). These are the" princes" Israel in the widerseuee, inclusive of Judo.h, who were "altogether kings." seems to be intended. The people of my Ver. 9.-Is not Calno aa Carchemish 1 A wrath ; i.e. "the people who o.re the object further proof of superiority, e.nd ground of of mr_wrath." Will I give him a oharge. confidence, 11\y in the further fact, that the In 2 Kings :nili, 25 Sennacherib says, "Am strongest citi~s h11.d, one and all, succumbeJ  186 TB F, DOOK OF nrn PROPHE't ISAIAH. [Ott, X, 1-dl,