The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 197

atout hee.tt; i.e. tho notions, language, etc., perceiving, the.t she is a mere instrument, which flowed from the stoutness of heart-- like an axe, a saw, a rod, or a staff. The such la11guo.ge, e.g., as thCLt of vers. 8-11 BBW' .•• him that sha.keth it; rather, him anrl 13, 14, Of the King of Assyria. The that mm,eth, it to and fro. The action of melio.ce is not levelled against any one par- sawing is alluded to. As if the rod ■hould ticular king, as Se.rgon, or Sennacherib; but shake itself against them that lift it up ; ngninst the mone.rchy itself, which from first rather, aa if a rod were to mm,e tl1R-m to and to lust wo.s aotuated by the same spirit, nnd fro that lift it wp. For Assyria. to assert breathed the same tone, of pride, selfiehnees, herself as if she were independent of God is and cruelty. (See the royo.l inscriptions, like a rod attempting to sway the hand that piissim, which become more revolting os holds it. It is a complete inversion of the time goes on.) natural order of things. Or as if the sta1t' Ver. 13.-For he 81\ith. Neither this should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. speech Ii.or that in vers. 8-11, nor again that Translate, 0'1' aa if a staff slwuld lift up that given in eh. :nxvii. 24, 25, is to be regarded which is not wood ; i.e. ·' as if a staff' should e.s historical w the sense of being the actual t.a.ke action and lift up its holder, who is not utterance of e.ny A~syrian mone.rch. All wood, but flesh and blood.'' e.re ime.ginary speeche~, composed by the Ver. 16.-Therefore shall the Lord . . . prophet, whereby he expresses in his own send among his fat ones leanness. A con- language the thoughts which Assyrian kwgs twuation of ver.12, showing what the nature enterte.inet.l in their I.Jearts. I have removed of Assyria's puni:ihment shall be. The the bounds ot the people; rather, of people8. prophet expresses it by two images-first, Assyrio.n monarchs take. e.s one of tlrnir that of a wasting sickness; and secondly, that 1itles " the remover of boundaries and land- of a fire. The first image expresses that marks" (G. Smith's • Assyriall Discoveries,' gradual decay of national spirit which saps pp. 2 13, 244). And have robbed their trea- the vital strength of a nation; the second is sures (comp. 2 Kings xv. 19; xviii. 14-16). more suited to denote some external attack The plunder of conquered countries is con- under which the weakened nation should ste.ntly recorded by the Assyrian monarchs succumb. There are traces, in the later e.i! one of· tho most important results of each history of Assyria, both of increasing internal successful expe, lition; It is not unfrequently weakness through luxury and effeminacy, represented in the sculptures (see 'Ancient and of violent external attacks culminating Monarchies,' vol ii. p. lj5 ). I have put down in the combined Median and Babylonian the inhabitant& like a valiant man. The invasion, before which her power collapsed passage is obscure ; 11nn many different (Abyden. ap. Enseb., ' Chrnn. Can.,' pars i renderings have been given. Perhaps the c. ix.; Syncell, • Chronograph.,' p. 210, B ; best is that of Mr. Cheyne, " I have brought Tobit xiv. 15). down, like a mighty one, those that Silt on Ver. 17.-The light of Israel. A new thrones." Abbir, however, the word trans- name of Go,!. 'l'he idea on whi~h it is based lated "e. mighty one,'' as often means "a may be found w the Psalms (:uvii. l; bull • (see Ps. xxii. 12 ; I. 13 ; lxviii. 30; lxxxiv. 11), and again w Isaiah (L,:. 19). eh. xxxiv. 7; Jer. l. 11). God enlightens his people, cheers them, ·, Ver. 14.-My hand hath.fciund as a. nest comforts them spiritno.Jly, as the light of the the riches of the people; rather, of the peoples. sun enlightens, cheers, and comforts men 'l'he Assyrians are fond of comparing their physically. Christ, 118 true God, is " the enemies to birds (' Records of the Past,' true Light, which lighteth every m:m that vol. vii. pp. 36, 62, etc.); but the exact cometh into the world" (John i. 9). Shall metaphor. here used does not, I belie\·e, oecur be for a fire. As the same material tire in the inscriptions; The nations' treasures which gives light, warmth, and comfort are like eggs found in deserted nests, which may burn o.nd destroy, so the spiritual light, the bunter gathors without any, even tl.Je finding fit material, scorches and consumes. slightest, risk. All the earth. Orientlll The tire which devours Assuia is to be hyperbole. Assyri11n monarchs often say that kindled by God. His Holy One; i.e. "the tl,cy "have subdued all the races of men," or Holy One of Israel" (see eh. i. 4). It shall " carried the glory of their name to the ends burn and devour his thorns and his briers. ofthe ee.rth," or "overthrown the armies of The destrnotion of Assyria shall resemble the whole world w battle." l'eeped; rather, that of Israel, in which Assnb wos the chfrped (see note on oh. viii. HJ). None of wstrument (eh. ix. IS). It 8h,;ll be as com- the inhl\bite.nts offered eveu suoh feeble re- plete, as te_rrible, and as fiu,il. In one day. sistauce 88 a bird makes ivhen its nest is Scarcely "w one battle" (Cheyne); fol' the robbed. deRtruction of Assyria was etlected by Ver. 15.-She.ll the axe boe.st itself1 Hore many battles, many sieges, and much ex- the prophet takes the word, 11nd rebukes hausting ravage. "In one day" rather .Aasyl'ia for her folly in forgetting, or not mc1ms '' ai one and the same time;•  188 'I'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAll. [CB, X.1-3i,