remnant--all that is left of them. The dynasty shall cease ([Da 5:28-31]). Compare as to Babylon in general, [Jr 51:62].
23. bittern--rather, "the hedgehog" [Maurer and Gesenius]. Strabo (16:1) states that enormous hedgehogs were found in the islands of the Euphrates.
pools--owing to Cyrus turning the waters of the Euphrates over the country.
besom--sweep-net [Maurer], ([1Ki 14:10]; [2Ki 21:13]).
Is 14:24-27. A Fragment as to the Destruction of the Assyrians under Sennacherib
This would comfort the Jews when captives in Babylon, being a pledge that God, who had by that time fulfilled the promise concerning Sennacherib (though now still future), would also fulfil His promise as to destroying Babylon, Judah's enemy.
24. In this verse the Lord's thought (purpose) stands in antithesis to the Assyrians' thoughts ([Is 10:7]). (See [Is 46:10], ; [1Sa 15:29]; Mal 3:6).
25. That--My purpose, namely, "that."
break ... yoke--([Is 10:27]).
my mountains--Sennacherib's army was destroyed on the mountains near Jerusalem ([Is 10:33], ). God regarded Judah as peculiarly His.
26. This is ... purpose ... whole earth--A hint that the prophecy embraces the present world of all ages in its scope, of which the purpose concerning Babylon and Assyria, the then representatives of the world power, is but a part.
hand ... stretched out upon--namely, in punishment ([Is 5:25]).
27. ([Da 4:35]).
Is 14:28-32. Prophecy against Philistia
To comfort the Jews, lest they should fear that people; not in order to call the Philistines to repentance, since the prophecy was probably never circulated among them. They had been subdued by Uzziah or Azariah ([2Ch 26:6]); but in the reign of Ahaz ([2Ch 28:18]), they took several towns in south Judea. Now Isaiah denounces their final subjugation by Hezekiah.
28. In ... year ... Ahaz died--726 B.C. Probably it was in this year that the Philistines threw off the yoke put on them by Uzziah.
29. Palestina--literally, "the land of sojourners."
rod ... broken--The yoke imposed by Uzziah ([2Ch 26:6]) was thrown off under Ahaz ([2Ch 28:18]).
serpent's root--the stock of Jesse ([Is 11:1]). Uzziah was doubtless regarded by the Philistines as a biting "serpent." But though the effects of his bite have been got rid of, a more deadly viper, or "cockatrice" (literally, "viper's offspring," as Philistia would regard him), namely, Hezekiah awaits you ([2Ki 18:8]).
30. first-born of ... poor--Hebraism, for the most abject poor; the first-born being the foremost of the family. Compare "first-born of death" ([Job 18:13]), for the most fatal death. The Jews, heretofore exposed to Philistine invasions and alarms, shall be in safety. Compare [Psa 72:4], "Children of the needy," expressing those "needy in condition."
feed--image from a flock feeding in safety.
root--radical destruction.
He shall slay--Jehovah shall. The change of person, "He" after "I," is a common Hebraism.
31. gate--that is, ye who throng the gate; the chief place of concourse in a city.
from ... north--Judea, north and east of Palestine.
smoke--from the signal-fire, whereby a hostile army was called together; the Jews' signal-fire is meant here, the "pillar of cloud and fire," ([Ex 13:21]; [Ne 9:19]); or else from the region devastated by fire [Maurer]. Gesenius less probably refers it to the cloud of dust raised by the invading army.
none ... alone ... in ... appointed times--Rather, "There shall not be a straggler among his (the enemy's) levies." The Jewish host shall advance on Palestine in close array; none shall fall back or lag from weariness ([Is 5:26], ), [Lowth]. Maurer thinks the Hebrew will not bear the rendering "levies" or "armies." He translates, "There is not one (of the Philistine watch guards) who will remain alone (exposed to the enemy) at his post," through fright. On "alone," compare [Psa 102:7]; [Ho 8:9].
32. messengers of the nation--When messengers come from Philistia to enquire as to the state of Judea, the reply shall be, that the Lord ... ([Psa 87:1], ; ).
poor--([Zep 3:12]).
Chapter 15
Is 15:1-9. The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Chapters Form One Prophecy on Moab
Lowth thinks it was delivered in the first years of Hezekiah's reign and fulfilled in the fourth when Shalmaneser, on his way to invade Israel, may have seized on the strongholds of Moab. Moab probably had made common cause with Israel and Syria in a league against Assyria. Hence it incurred the vengeance of Assyria. Jeremiah has introduced much of this prophecy into his forty-eighth chapter.
1. Because--rather, "Surely"; literally, "(I affirm) that" [Maurer].
night--the time best suited for a hostile incursion ([Is 21:4]; [Jr 39:4]).
Ar--meaning in Hebrew, "the city"; the metropolis of Moab, on the south of the river Arnon.
Kir--literally, "a citadel"; not far from Ar, towards the south.
He--Moab personified.
Bajith--rather, "to the temple" [Maurer]; answering to the "sanctuary" ([Is 16:12]), in a similar context.
to Dibon--Rather, as Dibon was in a plain north of the Arnon, "Dibon (is gone up) to the high places," the usual places of sacrifice in the East. Same town as Dimon ([Is 15:9]).
to weep--at the sudden calamity.
over Nebo--rather "in Nebo"; not "on account of" Nebo (compare [Is 15:3]) [Maurer]. The town Nebo was adjacent to the mountain, not far from the northern shore of the Dead Sea. There it was that Chemosh, the idol of Moab, was worshipped (compare [De 34:1]).
Medeba--south of Heshbon, on a hill east of Jordan.
baldness ... beard cut off--The Orientals regarded the beard with peculiar veneration. To cut one's beard off is the greatest mark of sorrow and mortification (compare [Jr 48:37]).
3. tops of ... houses--flat; places of resort for prayer, &c., in the East ([Ac 10:9]).
weeping abundantly--"melting away in tears." Horsley prefers "descending to weep." Thus there is a "parallelism by alternate construction" [Lowth], or chiasmus; "howl" refers to "tops of houses." "Descending to weep" to "streets" or squares, whither they descend from the housetops.