I. DIVINE PONIBHIIIENTB OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARE REll{.EDIAL. We are not able to fit together the fatherly relation and the hopeless destruction of nny of bis sons. Muoh of our difficulty in dealing with the conditions of the future life ol"ises from ou1· failing to distinguish between the individual nnd the corporate life of meu. Nations, aeots, classes, families even, can be destroyed. 'l.'heir corporate life may once for all cease. God's judgments may reach them in this form for the sake of, and for the due impres• sion of, the individual. We understand the destruction of an army or of a city, but not the destruction of a man. . II. DIVTh'E PtnHSHMENTS OF THE NATION OR THB CLASS MAY BB DEBTBUCtlVE. Tophet here is the figure for the destruction of the army of Sennacherib, and of him as king, not as ma.n. Tophet tells of material destructions, and such only can concern man in human and earthly relations. Sodom and Gomorrah may be burned up in the fires of God, destroyed from off the face of the earth; but we know nothing of the et.Anding of individual Sodomites before God. The Canaanite race WI\S to be swept from the &rth, but we are sure the Judge of a.11 the earth will do right by each Canaanite. God's temporal destructions for corporate sins are part of the world's education, but are no basis for belief in any everlasting material punishments for individua.ls.-R. T, "
EXPOSITION. hundred of the Pharaoh of the Exod ne (Exod. CHAPTER XXXL xiv. 7), e.nd even the one thonse.nd two Vera. 1-3.-A FunTHER W..UU,"ING AGAINST h undrcd of Shishak (2 Chron. xii. 3) e.re mode• SEEKIRG THE ALLIANCE OF EGYPT. This rate computations, quite in accord with the monuments, e.nd with all that we otherwise prophecy seems to be quite independent know of Egyptian warfe.re. Egypt exported of the last (eh. XXL 1-7). It may have chariots to the neighbouring countries been given earlier or later. The chief point (1 Kings x. 29), and was at this time the brought ont, which had not distinctly ap- only power which seemed capable of furnish-. peared pre·\'ionsly, is the value set on the ing such a chariot-force ea could hope to contend on tolerably even terms with the horses and che.riots of Egypt in the conflict force of Assyria. They look not nilto the with Assyria (comp. 2 Kings xviii. 24). Roly One of Israel (comp. eh. xx:x:. 11, 12). Ver. 1.-Woe to them that go down to The trust in the Egyptie.n o.lliance was Egypt for help (comp. eh. xu:. 1, 2; a.nd accompanied by e. di8trust of Jehovah e.na see a.Jso the earlier prophecy, eh. xx. 2-6). his power, and e. disinclination to look to The examples of Samaria, Gaza, and A.shdod him for aid. might well have taught the lesson of dis- Ver. 2.-Yet he also is wise. Intense trust of Egypt, without any Di vine warniugs irony. "Wisdom is not :wholly confined (see G. Smith's• Eponym Canon,' pp. 125- to the human counsellors whose advice 131). Dnt the Jews were infatuated, and Judah follows (ch.xxix.14). He (Jehove.h) relied on Egypt despite her previons failures is 'wise' too, and could give prudent counsel to give effective a.id. And stay on horses. if his advice were asked." As he is not The Assyrian ca.ve.lry was very nnmerone, consulted, he will bring evil upon his and very efficient. It is often !epresented people, e.nd will not oe.11 back, or retro.et, on the monuments. Egyptian ca.valry, on his words of threatening, but will give them the other hand, is not represented e.t a.11 ; e.ccomplishment, by rising up e.gainst the and it may be questioned whether, in the ho11Se of the evil-doers ( i.e. the J e wa), aud early times, the Egyptiau war-horses were their help (i.e. the Egyptians). not entirely employed in the chariot-service Ver. 3.-Now the Egyptians are men, and (see 'Pulpit Commentary' on Exodus, p. not God. Judah relied on Phe.raoh, o.s on 321). The later dynasties of Egyptian a sort of God, ,which indeed he we.s con- kings, however, employed cavalry, as appears sidered in his own country (' Records of the from 2 Cl.iron. xii. 3; Herod., iL 162; 'Re- Past,' voL vi. p. 145, I. 320; p. 148, I. 418, cords of the Past,' Yol. ii pp. 68, 70, 72, et.c. etc.). Isaiah asserts the contrary in tho And trust in ohariots, beca11Se they are strongest way : the Egyptians, one and all; ma.ny. The large number of the chariots e.re men-mere men; and "there is no help maintained by the Pharaohs is abundantly in them" (Ps. ex! vi. 3). Their hones 11.eah, evidenced. Diodorue W!l!igne to Sesoetrie and not spirit. The horses, on whioh so twenty-seven thonsand (i. 54, § 4). This much reliance was placetl, were mere 11nim11ls, is, no doubt, an exaggeration ; bnt the six subject to 1111 the weakness of the anim11l on. x.xxr, 1-9.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPIIK'r ISAIAII. 511