ye ... they--The change from speaking to, to speaking of them, intimates that the prophet turns away from them to a greater distance, because of their stupid unbelief.
10. Jehovah gives them up judicially to their own hardness of heart (compare [Zec 14:13]). Quoted by Paul, with variations from the Septuagint, [Ro 11:8]. See [Is 6:10]; [Psa 69:23].
eyes; the prophets, &c.--rather, "hath closed your eyes, the prophets; and your heads (Margin; see also [Is 3:2]), the seers, He hath covered." The Orientals cover the head to sleep; thus "covered" is parallel to "closed your eyes" ([Jud 4:19]). Covering the face was also preparatory to execution ([Es 7:8]). This cannot apply to the time when Isaiah himself prophesied, but to subsequent times.
11. of all--rather, "the whole vision." "Vision" is the same here as "revelation," or "law"; in [Is 28:15], the same Hebrew word is translated, "covenant" [Maurer].
sealed--([Is 8:16]), God seals up the truth so that even the learned, because they lack believing docility, cannot discern it (Mt 13:10-17; 11:). Prophecy remained comparatively a sealed volume ([Da 12:4], ), until Jesus, who "alone is worthy," "opened the seals" ([Re 5:1-5, 9]; 6:1).
12. The unlearned succeed no better than the learned, not from want of human learning, as they fancy, but from not having the teaching of God ([Is 54:13]; [Jr 31:34]; [Joh 6:45]; [1Co 2:7-10]; [1Jo 2:20]).
13. precept of men--instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external, and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires ([Joh 4:24]). Compare Christ's quotation of this verse from the Septuagint.
14. ([Ha 1:5]; [Ac 13:41]). The "marvellous work" is one of unparalleled vengeance on the hypocrites: compare "strange work," [Is 28:21]. The judgment, too, will visit the wise in that respect in which they most pride themselves; their wisdom shall be hid, that is, shall no longer appear, so as to help the nation in its distress (compare [1Co 1:19]).
15. seek deep to hide--rather, "That seek to hide deeply," &c. (compare [Is 30:1], 2). The reference is to the secret plan which many of the Jewish nobles had of seeking Egyptian aid against Assyria, contrary to the advice of Isaiah. At the same time the hypocrite in general is described, who, under a plausible exterior, tries to hide his real character, not only from men, but even from God.
16. Rather, "Ah! your perverseness! just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay!" [Maurer]. Or, "Ye invert (turn upside down) the order of things, putting yourselves instead of God," and vice versa, just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay [Horsley], ([Is 45:9]; ).
17. turned--as contrasted with your "turnings of things upside down" ([Is 29:16]), there shall be other and better turnings or revolutions; the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days ([Is 32:15]); first on the Jews; which shall be followed by their national restoration (see on [Is 29:2]; [Zec 12:10]) then on the Gentiles ([Joe 2:28]).
fruitful field--literally, "a Carmel" (see on [Is 10:18]). The moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful field, and vice versa. Compare [Mt 11:12], Greek: "the kingdom of heaven forces itself," as it were, on man's acceptance; instead of men having to seek Messiah, as they had John, in a desert, He presents Himself before them with loving invitations; thus men's hearts, once a moral desert, are reclaimed so as to bear fruits of righteousness: vice versa, the ungodly who seemed prosperous, both in the moral and literal sense, shall be exhibited in their real barrenness.
18. deaf ... blind--(Compare [Mt 11:5]). The spiritually blind, &c., are chiefly meant; "the book," as Revelation is called pre-eminently, shall be no longer "sealed," as is described ([Is 29:11]), but the most unintelligent shall hear and see ([Is 35:5]).
19. meek--rather, the afflicted godly: the idea is, virtuous suffering ([Is 61:1]; [Psa 25:9]; ) [Barnes].
poor among men--that is, the poorest of men, namely, the pious poor.
rejoice--when they see their oppressors punished ([Is 29:20], ), and Jehovah exhibited as their protector and rewarder ([Is 29:22-24]; [Is 41:17]; [Jas 2:5]).
20. terrible--namely, the persecutors among the Jewish nobles.
scorner--([Is 28:14], ).
watch for--not only commit iniquity, but watch for opportunities of committing it, and make it their whole study (see [Mi 2:1]; [Mt 26:59]; ).
21. Rather, "Who make a man guilty in his cause" [Gesenius], that is, unjustly condemn him. "A man" is in the Hebrew a poor man, upon whom such unjust condemnations might be practiced with more impunity than on the rich; compare [Is 29:19], "the meek ... the poor."
him that reproveth--rather, "pleadeth"; one who has a suit at issue.
gate--the place of concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held ([Ru 4:11]; [Pr 31:23]; [Am 5:10], ).
just--one who has a just cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" [Horsley].
for a thing of naught--rather, "through falsehood," "by a decision that is null in justice" [Barnes]. Compare as to Christ, [Pr 28:21]; [Mt 26:15]; [Ac 3:13], ; .
22. Join "saith ... concerning the house of Jacob."
redeemed--out of Ur, a land of idolaters ([Jos 24:3]).
not now--After the moral revolution described ([Is 29:17]), the children of Jacob shall no longer give cause to their forefathers to blush for them.
wax pale--with shame and disappointment at the wicked degeneracy of his posterity, and fear as to their punishment.
23. But--rather, "For."
he--Jacob.
work of mine hands--spiritually, as well as physically ([Is 19:25]; ; [Ep 2:10]). By Jehovah's agency Israel shall be cleansed of its corruptions, and shall consist wholly of pious men ([Is 54:13], ; 2:1; 60:21).
midst of him--that is, his land. Or else "His children" are the Gentiles adopted among the Israelites, his lineal descendants ([Ro 9:26]; [Ep 3:6]) [Horsley].
24. They ... that erred--([Is 28:7]).
learn doctrine--rather, "shall receive discipline" or "instruction." "Murmuring" was the characteristic of Israel's rebellion against God ([Ex 16:8]; [Psa 106:25]). This shall be so no more. Chastisements, and, in Horsley's view, the piety of the Gentiles provoking the Jews to holy jealousy ([Ro 11:11], ), shall then produce the desired effect.
Chapter 30
Is 30:1-32. The Thirtieth Through Thirty-second Chapters Refer Probably to the Summer of 714 B.C., AS THE Twenty-ninth Chapter to the Passover of That Year
Jewish ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria (Is 30:[2-6, 15]; 31:1). Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt rather than on Jehovah. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people ([Ex 23:32]; [De 7:2]).
1. take counsel--rather, as [Is 30:4], imply, "execute counsels."
cover ... covering--that is, wrap themselves in reliances disloyal towards Jehovah. "Cover" thus answers to "seek to hide deeply their counsel from the Lord" ([Is 29:15]). But the Hebrew is literally, "who pour out libations"; as it was by these that leagues were made ([Ex 24:8]; [Zec 9:11]), translate, "who make a league."
not of--not suggested by My Spirit" ([Nu 27:21]; [Jos 9:14]).
that they may add--The consequence is here spoken of as their intention, so reckless were they of sinning: one sin entails the commission of another ([De 29:19]).
2. walk--are now setting out, namely, their ambassadors ([Is 30:4]).
Egypt--See on [Is 19:1]; [Is 20:1].
Pharaoh--the generic name of the kings of Egypt, as Cæsar was at Rome. The word in Egyptian means "king" [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.6,2]. Phra, "the sun," was the hieroglyphic symbol and title of the king.
shadow--image from shelter against heat: protection ([Psa 121:5], ).