--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 336 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/336/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 336. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/336/" --- # 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. ## 336. Isaiah · 39 of 79 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/336/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/336/#p-N ### Chapter 33 ### Is 33:1-24. The Last of Isaiah's Prophecies as to Sennacherib's Overthrow [¶2] [Is 33:1], [8, 9], describe the Assyrian spoiler; strong as he is, he shall fall before Jehovah who is stronger ([Is 33:2-6, 10]-12). The time is the autumn of 713 B.C. [¶3] 1. and thou--that is, though thou wast not spoiled--though thou wast not dealt treacherously with (see on [Is 24:16]), thy spoiling and treachery are therefore without excuse, being unprovoked. [¶4] cease--When God has let thee do thy worst, in execution of His plans, thine own turn shall come (compare [Is 10:12]; ; [Ha 2:8]; [Re 13:10]). [¶5] 2. us; we ... their ... our--He speaks interceding for His people, separating himself in thought for a moment from them, and immediately returns to his natural identification with them in the word "our." [¶6] every morning--each day as it dawns, especially during our danger, as the parallel "time of trouble" shows. [¶7] 3. the tumult--the approach of Jehovah is likened to an advancing thunderstorm ([Is 29:6]; ), which is His voice ([Re 1:15]), causing the people to "flee." [¶8] nation--the Assyrian levies. [¶9] 4. The invaders' "spoil" shall be left behind by them in their flight, and the Jews shall gather it. [¶10] caterpillar--rather, "the wingless locust"; as it gathers; the Hebrew word for "gathers" is properly used of the gathering of the fruits of harvest ([Is 32:10]). [¶11] running to and fro--namely, in gathering harvest fruits. [¶12] he--rather, "they." [¶13] them--rather, "it," that is, the prey. [¶14] 6. wisdom--sacred; that is, piety. [¶15] thy--Hezekiah's; or rather, "Judea's." "His" refers to the same; such changes from the pronoun possessive of the second person to that of the third are common in Hebrew poetry. [¶16] treasure--Not so much material wealth as piety shall constitute the riches of the nation ([Pr 10:22]; ). [¶17] 7-9. From the vision of future glory Isaiah returns to the disastrous present; the grief of "the valiant ones" (parallel to, and identical with, "the ambassadors of peace"), men of rank, sent with presents to sue for peace, but standing "without" the enemy's camp, their suit being rejected ([2Ki 18:14], [18, 37]). The highways deserted through fear, the cities insulted, the lands devastated. [¶18] cry--([Is 15:4]). [¶19] 10. The sight of His people's misery arouses Jehovah; He has let the enemy go far enough. [¶20] I--emphatic; God Himself will do what man could not. [¶21] 11. Ye--the enemy. [¶22] conceive chaff--([Is 26:18]; ). [¶23] your breath--rather, your own spirit of anger and ambition [Maurer], ([Is 30:28]). [¶24] 12. ([Is 9:19]; [Am 2:1]). Perhaps alluding to their being about to be burnt on the funeral pyre ([Is 30:33]). [¶25] thorns--the wicked ([2Sa 23:6], ). [¶26] 13. far off--distant nations. [¶27] near--the Jews and adjoining peoples ([Is 49:1]). [¶28] 14. sinners in Zion--false professors of religion among the elect people ([Mt 22:12]). [¶29] hypocrites--rather, "the profane"; "the abandoned" [Horsley]. [¶30] who, &c.--If Jehovah's wrath could thus consume such a host in one night, who could abide it, if continued for ever ([Mr 9:46-48])? Fire is a common image for the divine judgments ([Is 29:6]; ). [¶31] among us--If such awful judgments have fallen on those who knew not the true God, how infinitely worse shall fall on us who, amid religious privileges and profession, sin against God, ([Lu 12:47], ; [Jas 4:17])? [¶32] 15. In contrast to the trembling "sinners in Zion" ([Is 33:14]), the righteous shall be secure amid all judgments; they are described according to the Old Testament standpoint of righteousness ([Psa 15:2]; ). [¶33] stoppeth ... ears ... eyes--"Rejoiceth not in iniquity" ([1Co 13:6]; contrast [Is 29:20]; [Psa 10:3]; [Ro 1:32]). The senses are avenues for the entrance of sin ([Psa 119:37]). [¶34] 16. on high--heights inaccessible to the foe ([Is 26:1]). [¶35] bread ... waters--image from the expected siege by Sennacherib; however besieged by trials without, the godly shall have literal and spiritual food, as God sees good for them ([Is 41:17]; [Psa 37:25]; ; ). [¶36] 17. Thine--the saints'. [¶37] king in ... beauty--not as now, Hezekiah in sackcloth, oppressed by the enemy, but King Messiah ([Is 32:1]) "in His beauty" ([So 5:10], ; [Re 4:3]). [¶38] land ... very far off--rather, "the land in its remotest extent" (no longer pent up as Hezekiah was with the siege); see Margin. For Jerusalem is made the scene of the king's glory ([Is 33:20], &c.), and it could not be said to be "very far off," unless the far-off land be heaven, the Jerusalem above, which is to follow the earthly reign of Messiah at literal Jerusalem ([Is 65:17-19]; [Jr 3:17]; [Re 21:1], 2, 10). [¶39] 18. meditate--on the "terror" caused by the enemy, but now past. [¶40] where, &c.--the language of the Jews exulting over their escape from danger. [¶41] scribe--who enrolled the army [Maurer]; or, who prescribed the tribute to be paid [Rosenmuller]; or, who kept an account of the spoil. "The principal scribe of the host" ([2Ki 25:19]; [Jr 52:25]). The Assyrian records are free from the exaggerations of Egyptian records. Two scribes are seen in every Assyrian bas-relief, writing down the various objects brought to them, the heads of the slain, prisoners, cattle, sheep, &c. [¶42] receiver--"weigher," Margin. Layard mentions, among the Assyrian inscriptions, "a pair a scales for weighing the spoils." [¶43] counted ... towers--he whose duty it was to reconnoitre and report the strength of the city to be besieged. [¶44] 19. fierce people--The Assyrians shall not be allowed to enter Jerusalem ([2Ki 19:32]). Or, thou shalt not any longer see fierce enemies threatening thee as previously; such as the Assyrians, Romans, and the last Antichristian host that is yet to assail Jerusalem ([De 28:49], ; [Jr 5:15]; [Zec 14:2]). [¶45] stammering--barbarous; so "deeper," &c., that is, unintelligible. The Assyrian tongue differed only in dialect from the Hebrew, but in the Assyrian levies were many of non-Semitic race and language, as the Medes, Elamites, &c. (see on [Is 28:11]). [¶46] 20. solemnities--solemn assemblies at the great feasts (see on [Is 30:29]; [Psa 42:4]; [Psa 48:12]).