9. I--will bewail for its desolation, though I belong to another nation (see on [Is 15:5]).
with ... weeping of Jazer--as Jazer weeps.
shouting for ... fallen--rather, "Upon thy summer fruits and upon thy luxuriant vines the shouting (the battle shout, instead of the joyous shout of the grape-gatherers, usual at the vintage) is fallen" ([Is 16:10]; [Jr 25:30]; ). In the parallel passage ([Jr 48:32]) the words substantially express the same sense. "The spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits."
10. gladness--such as is felt in gathering a rich harvest. There shall be no harvest or vintage owing to the desolation; therefore no "gladness."
11. bowels--in Scripture the seat of yearning compassion. It means the inward seat of emotion, the heart, &c. ([Is 63:15]; compare [Is 15:5]; [Jr 48:36]).
sound ... harp--as its strings vibrate when beaten with the plectrum or hand.
12. when it is seen that--rather, "When Moab shall have appeared (before his gods; compare [Ex 23:15]), when he is weary (that is, when he shall have fatigued himself with observing burdensome rites; [1Ki 18:26], &c.), on the high place (compare [Is 15:2]), and shall come to his sanctuary (of the idol Chemosh on Mount Nebo) to pray, he shall not prevail"; he shall effect nothing by his prayers [Maurer].
13. since that time--rather, "respecting that time" [Horsley]. Barnes translates it, "formerly" in contrast to "but now" ([Is 16:14]): heretofore former prophecies ([Ex 15:15]; [Nu 21:29]) have been given as to Moab, of which Isaiah has given the substance: but now a definite and steady time also is fixed.
14. three years ... hireling--Just as a hireling has his fixed term of engagement, which neither he nor his master will allow to be added to or to be taken from, so the limit within which Moab is to fall is unalterably fixed ([Is 21:16]). Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrians led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, &c., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate particularity of specification of the places three thousand years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the truth of prophecy.
Chapter 17
Is 17:1-11. Prophecy Concerning Damascus and Its Ally Samaria, that is, Syria and Israel, which had leagued together (seventh and eighth chapters)
Already, Tiglath-pileser had carried away the people of Damascus to Kir, in the fourth year of Ahaz ([2Ki 16:9]); but now in Hezekiah's reign a further overthrow is foretold ([Jr 49:23]; [Zec 9:1]). Also, Shalmaneser carried away Israel from Samaria to Assyria ([2Ki 17:6]; , ) in the sixth year of Hezekiah of Judah (the ninth year of Hoshea of Israel). This prophecy was, doubtless, given previously in the first years of Hezekiah when the foreign nations came into nearer collision with Judah, owing to the threatening aspect of Assyria.
1. Damascus--put before Israel (Ephraim, [Is 17:3]), which is chiefly referred to in what follows, because it was the prevailing power in the league; with it Ephraim either stood or fell ([Is 7:1-25]).
2. cities of Aroer--that is, the cities round Aroer, and under its jurisdiction [Gesenius]. So "cities with their villages" ([Jos 15:44]); "Heshbon and all her cities" ([Jos 13:17]). Aroer was near Rabbahammon, at the river of Gad, an arm of the Jabbok ([2Sa 24:5]), founded by the Gadites ([Nu 32:34]).
for flocks--([Is 5:17]).
3. fortress ... cease--The strongholds shall be pulled down (Samaria especially: [Ho 10:14]; [Mi 1:6]; [Ha 1:10]).
remnant of Syria--all that was left after the overthrow by Tiglath-pileser ([2Ki 16:9]).
as the glory of ... Israel--They shall meet with the same fate as Israel, their ally.
4. glory of Jacob--the kingdom of Ephraim and all that they rely on ([Ho 12:2]; [Mi 1:5]).
fatness ... lean--(See on [Is 10:16]).
5. harvestman, &c.--The inhabitants and wealth of Israel shall be swept away, and but few left behind just as the husbandman gathers the corn and the fruit, and leaves only a few gleaning ears and grapes ([2Ki 18:9-11]).
with his arm--He collects the standing grain with one arm, so that he can cut it with the sickle in the other hand.
Rephaim--a fertile plain at the southwest of Jerusalem toward Beth-lehem and the country of the Philistines ([2Sa 5:18-22]).
6. in it--that is, in the land of Israel.
two or three ... in the top--A few poor inhabitants shall be left in Israel, like the two or three olive berries left on the topmost boughs, which it is not worth while taking the trouble to try to reach.
7. look to his Maker--instead of trusting in their fortresses--([Is 17:3]; [Mi 7:7]).
8. groves--A symbolical tree is often found in Assyrian inscriptions, representing the hosts of heaven ("Saba"), answering to Ashteroth or Astarte, the queen of heaven, as Baal or Bel is the king. Hence the expression, "image of the grove," is explained ([2Ki 21:7]).
images--literally, "images to the sun," that is, to Baal, who answers to the sun, as Astarte to the hosts of heaven ([2Ki 23:5]; [Job 31:26]).
9. forsaken bough--rather "the leavings of woods," what the axeman leaves when he cuts down the grove (compare [Is 17:6]).
which they left because of--rather, "which (the enemies) shall leave for the children of Israel"; literally, "shall leave (in departing) from before the face of the children of Israel" [Maurer]. But a few cities out of many shall be left to Israel, by the purpose of God, executed by the Assyrian.
10. forgotten ... God of ... salvation ... rock--([De 32:15], ).
plants--rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [Maurer].
set in--rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds.
strange slips--cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable.
11. In the day ... thy plant--rather, "In the day of thy planting" [Horsley].
shalt ... make ... grow--Maurer translates, "Thou didst fence it," namely, the pleasure-ground. The parallel clause, "Make ... flourish," favors English Version. As soon as thou plantest, it grows.
in the morning--that is, immediately after; so in [Psa 90:14], the Hebrew, "in the morning," is translated "early."
but ... shall be a heap--rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone" [Horsley].
in ... day of grief--rather, "in the day of (expected) possession" [Maurer]. "In the day of inundation" [Horsley].
of desperate sorrow--rather, "And the sorrow shall be desperate or irremediable." In English Version "heap" and "sorrow" may be taken together by hendiadys. "The heap of the harvest shall be desperate sorrow" [Rosenmuller].
[Is 17:12-18:7]. Sudden Destruction of a Great Army in Judea (namely that of the Assyrian Sennacherib), AND Announcement of the Event to the Ethiopian Ambassadors.
The connection of this fragment with what precedes is: notwithstanding the calamities coming on Israel, the people of God shall not be utterly destroyed ([Is 6:12], ); the Assyrian spoilers shall perish ([Is 17:13], ).
12. Woe ... multitude--rather, "Ho (Hark)! a noise of," &c. The prophet in vision perceives the vast and mixed Assyrian hosts (Hebrew, "many peoples," see on [Is 5:26]): on the hills of Judah (so "mountains," [Is 17:13]): but at the "rebuke" of God, they shall "flee as chaff."
to the rushing ... that make--rather, "the roaring ... roareth" (compare [Is 8:7]; [Jr 6:23]).
13. shall ... shall--rather, "God rebuketh ([Psa 9:5]) them, and they flee--are chased"; the event is set before the eyes as actually present, not future.