--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 338 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/338/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 338. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/338/" --- # 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. ## 338. Isaiah · 41 of 79 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/338/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/338/#p-N [¶0] generation to generation--(Mal 1:4). [¶1] none ... pass through--Edom's original offense was: they would not let Israel pass through their land in peace to Canaan: God recompenses them in kind, no traveller shall pass through Edom. Volney, the infidel, was forced to confirm the truth of this prophecy: "From the reports of the Arabs, southeast of the Dead Sea, within three days' journey are upwards of thirty ruined towns, absolutely deserted." [¶2] 11. cormorant--The Hebrew is rendered, in [Psa 102:6], "pelican," which is a seafowl, and cannot be meant here: some waterfowl (katta, according to Burckhardt) that tenants desert places is intended. [¶3] bittern--rather, "the hedgehog," or "porcupine" [Gesenius] ([Is 14:23]). [¶4] owl--from its being enumerated among water birds in [Le 11:17]; [De 14:16]. Maurer thinks rather the heron or crane is meant; from a Hebrew root, "to blow," as it utters a sound like the blowing of a horn ([Re 18:2]). [¶5] confusion--devastation. [¶6] line ... stones--metaphor from an architect with line and plummet-stone (see on [Is 18:2]; [Is 28:17]); God will render to it the exact measure of justice without mercy ([Jas 2:13]; [2Ki 21:13]; [La 2:8]; [Am 7:7], ). [¶7] emptiness--desolation. Edom is now a waste of "stones." [¶8] 12. Rather, "As to her nobles, there shall be none there who shall declare a kingdom," that is, a king [Maurer]; or else, "There shall be no one there whom they shall call to the kingdom" [Rosenmuller] ([Is 3:6], &c.). Idumea was at first governed by dukes ([Ge 36:15]); out of them the king wan chosen when the constitution became a monarchy. [¶9] 13. dragons--(See on [Is 13:21]; [Is 13:22]). [¶10] court for owls--rather, "a dwelling for ostriches." [¶11] 14. wild beasts of the desert ... island--rather, "wild cats ... jackals" ([Is 13:21]). [¶12] screech owl--rather, "the night specter"; in Jewish superstition a female, elegantly dressed, that carried off children by night. The text does not assert the existence of such objects of superstition, but describes the place as one which superstition would people with such beings. [¶13] 15. great owl--rather, "the arrow snake," so called from its darting on its prey [Gesenius]. [¶14] lay--namely, eggs. [¶15] gather under her shadow--rather, "cherishes" her young under, &c. ([Jr 17:11]). [¶16] 16. book of the Lord--the volume in which the various prophecies and other parts of Scripture began henceforward to be collected together ([Is 30:8]; [Da 9:2]). [¶17] Seek--(so [Is 8:16], ; [Joh 5:39]; ). [¶18] no one ... fail--of these prophecies ([Mt 5:18]). [¶19] none shall want ... mate--image from pairing of animals mentioned, [Is 34:15] ("mate"); no prediction shall want a fulfilment as its companion. Or rather, "none of these wild animals (just spoken of) shall be wanting: none shall be without its mate" to pair and breed with, in desolate Idumea. [¶20] my ... his--Such changes of person are frequent in Hebrew poetry. [¶21] them--the wild beasts. [¶22] 17. cast ... lot--As conquerors apportion lands by lot, so Jehovah has appointed and marked out ("divided") Edom for the wild beasts ([Nu 26:55], ; [Jos 18:4-6]). ### Chapter 35 ### Is 35:1-10. Continuation of the Prophecy in the Thirty-fourth Chapter [¶25] See on [Is 34:1], introduction there. [¶26] 1. solitary place--literally, "a dry place," without springs of water. A moral wilderness is meant. [¶27] for them--namely, on account of the punishment inflicted according to the preceding prophecy on the enemy; probably the blessings set forth in this chapter are included in the causes for joy ([Is 55:12]). [¶28] rose--rather, "the meadow-saffron," an autumnal flower with bulbous roots; so Syriac translation. [¶29] 2. glory of Lebanon--its ornament, namely, its cedars ([Is 10:34]). [¶30] excellency of Carmel--namely, its beauty. [¶31] Sharon--famed for its fertility. [¶32] see ... glory of the Lord ... excellency--([Is 40:5], ). While the wilderness which had neither "glory" nor "excellency" shall have both "given to it," the Lord shall have all the "glory" and "excellency" ascribed to Him, not to the transformed wilderness ([Mt 5:16]). [¶33] 3. Strengthen ... hands ... confirm ... knees--The Hebrew for "strengthen" refers to the strength residing in the hand for grasping and holding a thing manfully; "confirm," to the firmness with which one keeps his ground, so as not to be dislodged by any other [Maurer]. Encourage the Jews, now desponding, by the assurance of the blessings promised. [¶34] 4. fearful--"hasty," Margin; that is, with a heart fluttered with agitation. [¶35] with--the Hebrew is more forcible than the English Version: "God will come, vengeance! even God, a recompense!" The sense is the same. [¶36] 5-6. Language figuratively, descriptive of the joy felt at the deliverance from Assyria and Babylon; literally, true of the antitypical times of Messiah and His miracles (see Margin references, [Mt 11:5]; [Lu 7:2]; 2Jo 5, 8; [Ac 3:2]). [¶37] 7. parched ground--rather, "the mirage (Hebrew, Sharab, 'the sun's heat') shall become a (real) lake." The sun's rays refracted on the glowing sands at midday give the appearance of a lake of water and often deceive the thirsty traveller (compare [Jr 2:13]; [Is 41:18]). [¶38] dragons--rather, "jackals." [¶39] each--namely, jackal. [¶40] grass--rather, "a dwelling or receptacle (answering to the previous habitation) for reeds," &c. (which only grow where there is water, [Job 8:11]). Where once there was no water, water shall abound. [¶41] 8. highway--such a causeway (raised way, from a Hebrew root, "to cast up") as was used for the march of armies; valleys being filled up, hills and other obstructions removed ([Is 62:10]; compare [Is 40:3], ). [¶42] way of holiness--Hebraism for "the holy way." Horsley translates, "the way of the Holy One;" but the words that follow, and [Is 35:10], show it is the way leading the redeemed back to Jerusalem, both the literal and the heavenly ([Is 52:1]; [Joe 3:17]; [Re 21:27]); still Christ at His coming again shall be the Leader on the way, for which reason it is called, "The way of the Lord" ([Is 40:3]; Mal 3:1). [¶43] it shall be for those: the wayfaring men--rather, "He (the Holy One) shall be with them, walking in the way" [Horsley]. [¶44] though fools--rather, "And (even) fools," that is, the simple shall not go astray, namely, because "He shall be with them" ([Mt 11:25]; [1Co 1:26-28]).