still more so when we recollect that his recovery was positively affirmed, and the future duration of his life fixed and declared at the same moment. 12. "Removed...as a shepherd's tent."-This is a figurative way of expressing what the Scripture also expresses by another figure-that "we have here no abiding city" (Heb. xi. 10). There the transitory nature of human life is expressed by the contrast between a shepherd's tent-which is frequently taken up and carried quite away-learing in its former place no trace of habitation, and a built and established city-"a city that hath foundations." CHAPTER XXXIX. 1 Merodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, hath notice of his treasures. 3 Isaiah, understanding thereof, foretelleth the Babylonian captivity. AT 'that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 3 1 The promulgation of the Gospel. 3 The preaching of John Baptist. 9 The preaching of the apostles. 12 The prophet by the omnipotency of God, 18 and his incomparableness, 26 comforteth the people. COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye 'comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her 'warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made 'straight, and the rough places 'plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be are come from a far country unto me, eren from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts : 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. 2 Or. appointed time. 9 Or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem. 10 Or, against the strong. 12 Or, recompense for his work. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those "that are with young. 12 ¶ Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in "a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who 18instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of "understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him are as "nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. 18 To whom then will ye "liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? 19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. 20 He that "is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. 21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? are 22 "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof as grasshoppers; that "stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: 23 That bringeth the "princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he called them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? "there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall "renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 15 Heb. a tierce. 16 Wisd. 9. 13. Rom. 11. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 16. 13 Ezek. 34. 23. John 10. 11. 14 Or, that give suck. 17 Heb. man of his counsel. 18 Heb. made him understand. Heb. is poor of oblation. 23 Or, him that sitteth, &c. 24 Psal. 104. 2. 21 Acts 17.29. 27 Heb. change. Verse 3. "Prepare ye the way," &c.-Lowth is probably correct in understanding that the idea is taken from the practice of Eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered upon an expedition or took a journey, especially through desert and unpractised countries, sent harbingers before them to prepare all things for their passage, and pioneers to open the passes, to level the ways, and to remove all impediments. Such things were done in military marches, as appears from the account which Diodorus gives of the march of Semiramis; and, in like manner, when the Great Mogul made his royal progresses, a very large body of men was sent on before, to prepare for the imperial cavalcade a way through the wilderness, by removing every obstruction and creating every facility which their numbers rendered possible. 11. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.”—An illustration of this beautiful verse will be found in the note to Gen. xxxi. 17, 18. 15. "Counted as the small dust of the balance."-That is, of as small account as the minute particles of unconsidered dust, which rest upon the balance without any sensible effect upon its equilibrium. “A very little thing."—The word (PT dak) is elsewhere applied as an epithet to denote something exceedingly small and fine, sometimes to express the finest and smallest dust, such as the wind drives before it. Jerome thinks that the prophet had in view that exceedingly fine and almost imperceptible dust which in the East_penetrates to every thing, however well compacted, and the extremely minute and subtle character of which can now only be com prehended by those who have travelled in the hot and dry regions of the East. He compares what he thus supposes to be intended, to the atoms of Epicurus and Democritus; and, following his general idea, some modern translators render the original word by "an atom in the present text. 22. "That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in."-In the first clause, the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic must have read differently, for they have "as a vault;" but, following our present copies, the word seems to express a very fine cloth; or, as some think, a delicate skin. Lowth has "as a thin veil." The ancients generally believed that the sky was solid, and extended like a vault over the earth. That this was also the opinion of the Hebrews is clear from many passages of Scripture. Those other passages which describe it as extended like a veil, spread out like a tent, or rolled up like a volume, do not affect this view, since they are obviously designed to illustrate by comparison the facility with which the highest demonstrations of Almighty power are afforded, whether in creating or destroying, rather than to state the condition or structure of the firmament, regarded in itself. See more fully, on every part of this subject, in Calmet's excelle at Dissertation sur le Système du Monde, selon les Anciens Hébreux." CHAPTER XLI. 1 God expostulateth with his people, about his mer cies to the church, 10 about his promises, 21 and about the vanity of idols. KEEP silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up 'the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, and passed 'safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last: I am he. 5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, 'Be of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encouraged the 'goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, 'saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my 'friend. 9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: | be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I wil strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and "they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having "teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. 16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open "rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the "wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree toge ther: Rev. 1. 17, and 22. 13. 8 Chap. 43. 10, and 44. 6, and 48. 19. 15 Hel, mouths Heb. Be strmg. James 2. 23. 20 That they may see, and know, and | and he shall come: from the rising of the consider, and understand together, that the sun shall he call upon my name: and he hand of the LORD hath done this, and the shall come upon princes as upon morter, and Holy One of Israel hath created it. as the potter treadeth clay. 21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. 23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. 21 24 Behold, ye are "of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. 25 I have raised up one from the north, 18 Heb. Cause to come near. 19 Heb. set our heart upon them. 26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. 27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. 28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could "answer a word. 29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion. 20 Or, worse than nothing. 21 Or, worse than of a viper. 22 Heb. return. Verse 19. "Shitlah tree."-This was the tree that furnished the shittim-wood, so frequently mentioned in the books of Moses as that which was employed in the works of the tabernacle. (See the note on Exod. xxv. 5.) 46 Myrtle" (see Zech. i. 8)- Oil-tree." The olive-tree is probably intended, as understood elsewhere by our translators. Thus they have "olive-tree" in the text of 1 Kings vi. 23, and "trees of oil in the margin. "Fir tree."-In common language we generally understand the Pinus abies as meant when the term "fir-tree" is used; but perhaps the Pinus laricio may be here intended, since it is a noble tree rising to the elevation of 150 feet, which renders its wood peculiarly adapted for masts, where length and straightness are required. The green of ts majestic foliage would form a delightful contrast to the uncomfortable waste around it. "The pine."-The word 7 tidhar, only occurs here and in ch. 1x. 13. Its meaning is very uncertain, and the translations fluctuate between the plane, beech, pine, cypress, larch, and elm. The last has the support of Aquila, Symmachus, and Jerome; and, with such authority, is perhaps the most probable alternative, where all is uncertain. However, if we will have a pine-tree, we might conjecture that allusion is here made to the silver fir (Pinus picea), the presence of which is by the Tartars considered as a sure indication of good springs of water. The leaves are solitary and flat, after the manner of the common fir. The tree is remarkable for its even and apright stature, silvery bark, and horizontal branches. The coloured bractea or flower-leaves with which the cone is garnished form a beautiful characteristic of the species. "But tree."-This word also ( teashshur) occurs only here and in ch. lx. 1; and it is not very clear what tree is intended. Translations are divided between redar, fir, poplar, box-tree, &c. The last, which our translation has chosen, is perhaps the best supported alternative. The box (Buxus sempervirens) is favourably known in our gardens and pleasure-grounds; and when it attains considerable magnitude, and flourishes in a congenial soil, the beauty and freshness of this evergreen claim great admiration. The wood is much esteemed for the even and compact nature of its texture, which render it of singular value in the Arts, it being thus most fitted for wood engraving. The box belongs to the euphorbaceous tribe, which is characterized by a fruit composed of three lesser ones combined together, as one may observe in the spurge, or any other species of euphorbium. CHAPTER XLII. 1 The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy. 5 God's promise unto him. 10 An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel. 17 He reproveth the people of incredulity. BEHOLD 'my servant, whom I uphold: mine elect, in whom my soul 'delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the 'smoking flax shall he not 'quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be 'discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein : 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in "darkness out of the prison house. 8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my 'glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. 10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and "all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall "prevail against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and "devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. 18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? 20 Seeing many things, "but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; "they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. 5 Heb. broken. 1 Matt. 12. 18. Matt. 3. 17. and 17. 5. Ephes. 1. 6. Chap. 49.6. Luke 2. 32. Acts 13. 47. 7 Chap. 61. 1. 14 Psal. 97.7. Chap. 1. 29, and 44. 11, and 45. 16. 15 Rom. 2. 22. 16 Or, him. 18 Heb. a treading. 19 Heb. for the aftertime. 3 Or, dimly burning. 4 Heb. quench it. Luke 4. 18. Heb. 2. 14, 15. Chap. 9.2. 9 Chap. 48. 11. 10 Heb. the fulness thereof. 11 Or, behave himself mightily. 12 Heb. swallow, or sup up. 13 Heb. into straightness. 17 Or, in snaring all the young men of them. Verse 11. "The villages that Kedar doth inhabit.”—The Kedarenes were a tribe of Arabs; and as some tribes of Ara bian and Tartar nomades live in tents, and wander from one place to another during one part of the year, and remain fixed in villages during the other, perhaps, as Lowth supposes, the people which the prophet had in view were of this class, and the "villages," those collections of huts or cottages in which they at times resided. It does not however appear very clear to us that such an explanation is quite necessary; for it is very possible that the term rendered "village" may apply as well to a collection of tents as to one of huts or cottages, by the same analogy which occasions a tent to be sometimes called a house both by the ancient Hebrews and the modern Aralians. |