--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 314 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/314/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 314. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/314/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 314. Isaiah · 17 of 79 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/314/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/314/#p-N [¶0] 3. draw water ... salvation--an expressive image in a hot country. On the last day of the feast of tabernacles the Jews used to bring water in a golden pitcher from the fountain of Siloam, and pour it, mingled with wine, on the sacrifice on the altar, with great rejoicing. This is the allusion in Jesus' words on "the last day of the feast" ([Joh 7:2], ). The pouring out of water indicated repentance ([1Sa 7:6]; compare, as to the Jews' repentance hereafter, [Zec 12:10]). There shall be a latter outpouring of the Spirit like the former one on pentecost ([Joe 2:23]). [¶1] wells--not mere streams, which may run dry, but ever-flowing fountains ([Joh 4:14]; ), "Out of his belly (that is, in and from himself)--living water" ([Is 42:18]; [Psa 84:6]; [Zec 13:1]; [Re 7:17]). [¶2] 4. make mention--Hebrew, "cause it to be remembered." [¶3] 5. Sing, &c.--alluding to [Ex 15:21]. [¶4] 6. inhabitant of Zion--Hebrew, "inhabitress"; so "daughter of Zion," that is, Zion and its people. [¶5] in the midst of thee--of Jerusalem literally ([Jr 3:17]; [Eze 48:35]; [Zep 3:15], ; [Zec 2:10]). ### Chapter 13 ### Is 13:1-22. The Thirteenth through Twenty-third Chapters Contain Prophecies as to Foreign Nations.--The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Twenty-seventh Chapters as to Babylon and Assyria [¶8] The predictions as to foreign nations are for the sake of the covenant people, to preserve them from despair, or reliance on human confederacies, and to strengthen their faith in God: also in order to extirpate narrow-minded nationality: God is Jehovah to Israel, not for Israel's sake alone, but that He may be thereby Elohim to the nations. These prophecies are in their right chronological place, in the beginning of Hezekiah's reign; then the nations of Western Asia, on the Tigris and Euphrates, first assumed a most menacing aspect. [¶9] 1. burden--weighty or mournful prophecy [Grotius]. Otherwise, simply, the prophetical declaration, from a Hebrew root to put forth with the voice anything, as in [Nu 23:7] [Maurer]. [¶10] of Babylon--concerning Babylon. [¶11] 2. Lift ... banner--([Is 5:26]; ). [¶12] the high mountain--rather, "a bare (literally, "bald," that is, without trees) mountain"; from it the banner could be seen afar off, so as to rally together the peoples against Babylon. [¶13] unto them--unto the Medes ([Is 13:17]), the assailants of Babylon. It is remarkable that Isaiah does not foretell here the Jews' captivity in Babylon, but presupposes that event, and throws himself beyond, predicting another event still more future, the overthrow of the city of Israel's oppressors. It was now one hundred seventy-four years before the event. [¶14] shake ... hand--beckon with the hand--wave the hand to direct the nations to march against Babylon. [¶15] nobles--Babylonian. Rather, in a bad sense, tyrants; as in [Is 14:5], "rulers" in parallelism to "the wicked"; and [Job 21:28] [Maurer]. [¶16] 3. sanctified ones--the Median and Persian soldiers solemnly set apart by Me for the destruction of Babylon, not inwardly "sanctified," but designated to fulfil God's holy purpose ([Jr 51:27], ; [Joe 3:9], ; where the Hebrew for prepare war is "sanctify" war). [¶17] for mine anger--to execute it. [¶18] rejoice in my highness--"Those who are made to triumph for My honor" [Horsley]. The heathen Medes could not be said to "rejoice in God's highness" Maurer translates, "My haughtily exulting ones" ([Zep 3:11]); a special characteristic of the Persians [Herodotus,1.88]. They rejoiced in their own highness, but it was His that they were unconsciously glorifying. [¶19] 4. the mountains--namely, which separate Media and Assyria, and on one of which the banner to rally the hosts is supposed to be reared. [¶20] tumultuous noise--The Babylonians are vividly depicted as hearing some unwonted sound like the din of a host; they try to distinguish the sounds, but can only perceive a tumultuous noise. [¶21] nations--Medes, Persians, and Armenians composed Cyrus' army. [¶22] 5. They--namely, "Jehovah," and the armies which are "the weapons of His indignation." [¶23] far country--Media and Persia, stretching to the far north and east. [¶24] end of heaven--the far east ([Psa 19:6]). [¶25] destroy--rather, "to seize" [Horsley]. [¶26] 6. day of the Lord--day of His vengeance on Babylon ([Is 2:12]). Type of the future "day of wrath" ([Re 6:17]). [¶27] destruction--literally, "a devastating tempest." [¶28] from the Almighty--not from mere man; therefore irresistible. "Almighty," Hebrew, Shaddai. [¶29] 7. faint ... melt--So [Jr 50:43]; compare [Jos 7:5]. Babylon was taken by surprise on the night of Belshazzar's impious feast ([Da 5:30]). Hence the sudden fainting and melting of hearts. [¶30] 8. pangs--The Hebrew means also a "messenger." Horsley, therefore, with the Septuagint translates, "The heralds (who bring word of the unexpected invasion) are terrified." Maurer agrees with English Version, literally, "they shall take hold of pangs and sorrows." [¶31] woman ... travaileth--([1Th 5:3]). [¶32] amazed--the stupid, bewildered gaze of consternation. [¶33] faces ... flames--"their visages have the livid hue of flame" [Horsley]; with anguish and indignation. [¶34] 9. cruel--not strictly, but unsparingly just; opposed to mercy. Also answering to the cruelty (in the strict sense) of Babylon towards others ([Is 14:17]) now about to be visited on itself. [¶35] the land--"the earth" [Horsley]. The language of [Is 13:9-13] can only primarily and partially apply to Babylon; fully and exhaustively, the judgments to come, hereafter, on the whole earth. Compare [Is 13:10] with [Mt 24:29]; [Re 8:12]. The sins of Babylon, arrogancy ([Is 13:11]; [Is 14:11]; , ), cruelty, false worship ([Jr 50:38]), persecution of the people of God ([Is 47:6]), are peculiarly characteristic of the Antichristian world of the latter days ([Da 11:32-37]; [Re 17:3], ; , [7, 9-14], 24). [¶36] 10. stars, &c.--figuratively for anarchy, distress, and revolutions of kingdoms ([Is 34:4]; [Joe 2:10]; [Eze 32:7], ; [Am 8:9]; [Re 6:12-14]). There may be a literal fulfilment finally, shadowed forth under this imagery ([Re 21:1]). [¶37] constellations--Hebrew, "a fool," or "impious one"; applied to the constellation Orion, which was represented as an impious giant (Nimrod deified, the founder of Babylon) chained to the sky. See on [Job 38:31]. [¶38] 11. world--the impious of the world (compare [Is 11:4]). [¶39] arrogancy--Babylon's besetting sin ([Da 4:22], ). [¶40] the terrible--rather, tyrants [Horsley]. [¶41] 12. man ... precious--I will so cut off Babylon's defenders, that a single man shall be as rare and precious as the finest gold. [¶42] 13. Image for mighty revolutions ([Is 24:19]; ; [Ha 3:6], ; [Hag 2:6], ; [Re 20:11]). [¶43] 14. it--Babylon. [¶44] roe--gazelle; the most timid and easily startled.