The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 374

perserution of prophets; e.nd (3) judicial impotence are very apt to seek compensa- murders, either nctual (like the.t of Ne.both, tion by doing deetructive work, whioh at in Israel) or -rirtual, i.e. such perversion of least shows that they have a power of some justice as produced general poverty and kind. Hence " Reigns of Terror" when misery, and tended to shorten men's lives revolutions are at the Jaet gasp. The strong (see the comment on eh. i. 15). Your lips expressions with respect to shedding inno- have spoken lies (comp. ob. xxxii. 7). The cent blood, used here and in 2 Kings xxi. 16 wicked oppressors "devised wicked devices and xxiv. 4, seem to imply something like to destroy the poor with lyi11g words." a massacre of the more godly Ismelites by Yer. 4.-None oalleth for justice; rather, the ungodly in M:anassch's time. Waeting fl01le pre.ferreih his suit in justice (so Lowth, and destruction ( compare the "destruotion Gesenius. Ewald, Knobel, and Mr. Chc·yne). and misery" of Rom. iii. 16, which is e. quo- ''Noone," that is," who engaged in a suit, tation of the present passage). limited himself to just pleas and honest Ver. 8.-The way of peaos they know not. courses in his prosecution of it." Nor any They have no desire for" pence," and neither pleadeth for truth; rather, none p"leadeth in "seek " it nor "ensue" it ( l Pet. iii. 11), truthjul.11ess. They trust ill vanity; literally, Peace can only be obtained through right- in chao,; i.e. " in a mass of false and vain eousness (eh. xxxii. 17). There is no judg- statements." The whole basis of the deal- ment ill their goings; rather, no justice-no ings between man and man was unsound, recognition of other men's rights, no endea- corrupt, chaotic. Where truth and plain vour to observe right in their own acts and dealing are set aside, all shortly becomes proceedings ( comp. ver. 4 ; and see also eh. ruin and confusion. They oonoeive misohief, i. 17, 21, 23; iii. 14, 15, eto.). They have etc. (comp. Ps. ni. 14). made them orooked paths (comp. Prov. ii.15; Yer. 5.-They hatohoockatrioe' eggs, (On x. 9 ; xxviii. 6). The way that leadeth to life the cockatrice, see the comment upon eh. is straight. They have wandered from it, Bnd ri S.) The meaning here is that the people made for themselves "crooked" paths, whioh ga-re themselves to brooding on and hatching can only lead to destruction. In such paths purposes which were as pernicious and de- there neither is nor can be "peace." structive as the eggs of venomons serpents. Vers. 9-15.-lsBAEL HDMBLY CONll"ESSES And weave the spide.r's web; i.e. " their ITS Sms TO Gov. Isaiah, anxious to bring purposes were as flimsy and unsubstantial as the web of the spider." He that eateth, the people to confession e.nd amendment, etc. If a man partake of their plans, he makes humble confession in their name, becomes morally as bad as they, and is joining himself ~th them, as if he had smitten with spiritual death. If an attempt been e. participator in their iniquities. be made to "crush " and destroy their plans, Ver. 9.-Therefore-i.e. on account of these the only result is the premature birth of a sins-is judgment far from us; i.e. "does viper. God refrain from judging our enemies." Ver. 6.-Their webs ahall not become gar- Neither doth justioe--i.e. the righting of the ments. The unsubstantial fabrics which wrongs which we suffer at the hands of the they weave shall not serve them in any heathen-overtake us. We are left by God way as garments, or be of any real value unavenged, and our enemies are left un- or utility. Their devices shall not. take punished on account of. our many trans- objective shape in such sort as to afford gressions. We wait for light. We look for them "cover" or protection. Their works a bright dawn to succeed the night of our are works of iniquity ; rather, worka of trouble; but we wait in vain-the obsourity wthingness, works that make a mere pre- tence of being works at all, and are in continues. reality mere shams, impotent and delusive. Ver.10.-We grope for the wall; rather, And the aot of violence is in their hands ; we grope al.cmg the wall (comp. Deut. xxviii. rather, and it u an act of vlole1iee that u in 29 • and for the "blindness that had hap- their hands. Violence creates nothing. At pe~ed unto Israel," see above, eh. xxix. 10, the best, it destroys. 18; xxxv. 5; xiii. 16, etc.). We stumble Ver. 7.-Their feet run to evil It is, at noonday. It was not that light was really however, only too true that they have e. wanting, but they had no eyes to behold it. power to work evil. They cannot construct, We are in desolate plaoes; rather, in dark their devices fall through, their ''spinning" puwes (Vulgate, Rodiger, Kny, Knobel). is to no purpose; but they can, in a rough and The word occurs only in this plo.ce, and ia bliud way, do enormous mischief. "Their of doubtful signification. feet run 1o evil" -rush to it at full speed- Ver. 11.-We roar all like bears; rather, Lrook no delay, but hurry on into act. toe grOtDl. The verb is used com~only o_f It is au easy thing to shed innocent blood; the "roe.ring" of the scn (eh. xvu. ~2; 11. and those who a.re W11Bcious of coD8tructi ve 15; Jer. vi.. 28; :ux.i. 45; L 42; li, 55};  en. LII. 1-21.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 387