The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 536

SEcTi:oN x; A' PnOPHEdY OF ';J'uooMENT ON AssntIA (cH. xxxm.). EXPOSITION. deliverance ushers in a reign of righteous- r c:aA:PTER XX:X.IU. ness (vers. 5, 6). 0 '_''tt,er~. 1--6..,-,TBE J~GMEN~ ON ASSYRIA Ver. 1.-Woe to thee that spoilest. The AND· DELIVERANCE OF JERUSALEM, ST.I.TED " spoiler" is here, evidently, Assyria-the world-power of this entire group of pro- <UINEBALLY. Events had progressed since phecies (see especially eh. xxx. 31 ; mi. R), the preceding prophecies were delh'ered. and the grel\test "spoiler" of Isaiah's time. Th~ n\')gotititions Cal'ried on .with ,Sen, Thou wast not spoiled; i.e. "that hast not i:i'ii,q)ierib ha_d be~n futile (ver,'7), the he11vy yet been spoiled thyself." A covert threat fine.imposed 11nd paid (2 Kings xviii. 14) is couveycJ in the words. And dealeat treacheroUBly; mlber, usest violence (com- had been of no avnil (ver. 18) ; the Assyrian pare the comment on eh. :ui. 2). When thou monarch wo:s still dissatisfi'ed; and threat• shalt ceue to spoil, etc. Conquering nations ened i second siege. AUeil4y'be WIIS µpQn cannot with safety pause on their career. bi~' ma~cl1, spoiling and ravaging (ver. l). Their aggressions h1we roused so many The,·people of the country disb:icts had enmities that, let them cense to attack, and at once they are attacked in their turn. removed:-into the·town (vcr. 8)-in a little Every man's hand is ngainst the spoiler time· tlie vast host 'might be expected to whose hnnd has been against every man. appear. before the walls. All was terror, Ver. 2.-0 Lord, etc. The mingling of gripf, 11nd confusion. Under these circum- prayer with prophecy is very unusual, ILUd stl\ncea,. baiah is once more commissionecl in<lic11tivo of highly exciteu feeling. Isaiah realizes fully the danger of his people and to declare the approaching discomfiture of nation, nnd knows that without pr,\yer tho :mighty conqueror, nnd tleliverauce of there is no deliverance. llis prayer is at Jerusalem out of his hand (vcrs. 3, 4). Tho once an outpouring of lilil own heiu:t, lllld  64() THE BOOK 01<' THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [Ott. xtxm. 1-H.