The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 430

EXPOSITION. xxxiv. 5, 6; d-.i. 16). Mr. Cheyne suppo!1€s OHAPTER XXVII. the idea to have been taken from the Baby- Ver. 1.-THE 'fRIPLE JUDGMENT ON THl!I lonian mythology, and seems to think it POWERS OF DARKNESS. The crowning jadg- half material. But it is merely on e. par ment of all is now briefly described. "In that with other anthropomorphisms. The word rendered "sore" probably means "well- do.y "-the day of God's vengeance-when tempered," "keen." Leviathan. Etymo- e,ll his other enemies have been put down, logically, the term "Leviathan" appears to Jehovah shall finally visit with his sword mean "that which is coiled" or "twisted," three mighty foes, which are described under whence it wonld seem to have been pri- three figures-the first as '' Leviathan, the marily applied, as in the present verse, to serpents. In Job :di. 1-34, however, it swift serpent; " the second as "Leviathan, manifestly de3ignates the crocodile, while the crooked serpent; "and the third as "the in Ps. civ. 26 it must be used of some kind dragon that is in the sea." It has been of cetacean. Thus its most appropriatl" usual to see in these three monsters three English rendering would be " monster." kingdoms inimical to God-either Assyria, The piercing serpent; rather, the fleet, or fugitive se,-pent. It is a general character- Babylon, and Egypt; or Assyria, Egypt, istic of the snake tribe to glide away and and Tyre; or Media, Persia, and Egypt. hide themselves when disturbed. Even But this diversity of interpretation shows leviathan that crooked serpent ; rather, and that there is no particular fitness in the also letriathan that crooked serpent. It is emblems to symbolize any special kingdoms quite clear that two dii<tinct foes of God e.re poiuted at--one characterized as" fleet," or world-powers, while the imagery itself the other as "tortuous." And he shall alaythe and the law of climax: alike point to some- dragon. Here ia mention of a third enemy, thing higher than world-powers being in- probably Satan himst,lf (see the introductory tended. "Levie.than," in Job ill. 8, where paragraph to this seotion ). the word first occurs, represents a supra- Vera. 2-6.-Gon's CA.RE FOR ms VL'l'E• mundane power-probably "the dragon, the YABD, This piece may be called a com- enemy of light, who in old Eastern traditions panion picture to eh. v.1-7,or a joy-song is conceived 118 reo.dy to swallow up sun ond to be set over B,,"Binst that dirge. In both moon, and plunge creation in original chaos the figure of the vineye.rd ia employed to or darkness" (' Speaker's Commentary,' express the people of God, and God is " tho vol. iv. p. 28) ; and the "dragon" ia a cus- Lord of the vineyard." But whereas, on tomary emblem of Satan himself (Ps. xoi. the former occasion, all was wrath o.nd fury, 13; eh. Ii. 9; Rev. xii. 7, 9), the prince of menace and judgment, here all is mercy and dorkness. The triple vengeance here is loving-kindness, protection and promise. parallel to the triple punishment, in the The difference is, no doubt, not with God, apoculyptio vision (Rev. xix. 20; xx:. 10), "with whom is no variableness, neither of " the devil," " the beast," and " the false shadow of turnillg" (Jae. i. 17), but wilh prophet," who hove been termed by com- the vineyard, which is either not the sarue, mentators" the three great enemies of God's or, if the same, then differently ciroum- kingdom" (see • Speaker's Commente.ry stanoed. The vineyard of oh. v. is be)·ond on the New Testament,' vol. iv. p. 802). all doubt the Jewish Church in the time of Ver. 1.-The Lord with hill sore BI1d great Isaiah, or in the times shortly after. Tlie BI1d strong sword. The "sword" of Jeho- vineyard of the present place is either the vah is first heard of in the Pentateuoh, where it is called " glittering" (Deut. xxx:ii. Christian Church, or the Jewish Church il). It is spoken of by DBvid (Ps. vii. 12), reformed and purified by suffering. It is and frequently by Isaiah (11011 oh. uxi. 8; 11ot t!le Cl~llfCh triumphant in heaven, 1i11ce Ill4J41f, ~ V  THE. BOOK 'OF THE PRORHE1' ISAU,H. [c11. nvu, J::--13.