Song (Isa. xxx. 29).—The usual Hebrew term is here employed (vid. Rem. on Ex. xv. 1). Pipe (v. 29).—This is the halil or flute kind of wind instruments, different from the ugabh or organ (vid. Rem. on I Sam. x. 5; I Kings i. 40). Tabrets and harps (v. 32).—These were tophs and kinnors (vid. Rem. on Gen. iv. 21; xxxi. 27). 1 ISAIAH XXXv. 1-10. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: 3 4 The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; Behold, your God will come with vengeance, Even God with a recompense; He will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, 7 And the tongue of the dumb sing: For in the wilderness shall waters break out, And the parched ground shall become a pool, In the habitations of dragons, where each lay, 8 9 10 Shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, And it shall be called the way of holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err No lion shall be there; Nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, It shall not be found there; But the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy Singing (v. 2), sing (v. 6), songs (v. 10).—In these three cases derivatives of ranan are employed (vid. Rem. on Lev. ix. 24). Chapter xxxv is an elegant poem, and refers in the plainest terms to the incarnation and sufferings of the Messiah. The previous chapter is intimately connected with this, the two containing an entire prophecy. We will sing my songs to the stringed instruments (Isa. xxxviii. 20). This expression indicates rejoicing in consequence of the recovery of King Hezekiah from a dangerous illness. (nonaggen), translated sing my songs, also כגינותי ככבֶּן (gino thay), translated stringed instruments, are both derived from nagan, to strike a chord or string (vid. Rem. on Job xxx. 9; Ps. iv. title). The LXX designate the particular stringed instrument used, calling it the psaltery, but there is nothing in the original to show that the inspired writer intended to indicate any particular stringed instrument. The expression is obviously a general one, indicating praise and rejoicing with instrumental, as well as vocal, music. Chap. xlii. 10, 11, sing-song -shout. The prophet here speaks of the infinite goodness of God in providing a Saviour, and calls upon all men to rejoice and praise the Lord in view of the wonderful fact. In verse 10, derivatives of shir are used for sing and song, and in verse 11, for sing, a derivative of ranan (vid. Rem. on Ex. xv. 1; Lev. ix. 24). Chap. xliv. 23. Here the prophet calls upon the heavens and earth to praise Jehovah, because he had redeemed his people. A derivative of ranan is used in both cases in which reference is made to music. In chap. xlviii. 20, a derivative of the same word is employed and translated singing. The same is true of the references to music in chap. xlix. 13. The Chap. li. 3, melody.—The original of this is a derivative of zamar (vid. Rem. on Ex. xv. 2). It is usually translated song. In v. 11, a derivative of ranan is employed for singing. Chap. lii. 8, 9, sing, a derivative of ranan, is used in both cases. same is true of the references to music in chap. liv. 1. The same is true also in chap. lv. 12. In chap. lviii. 1, trumpet. This was the shophar, or crooked trumpet (vid. Rem. on Ex. xix. 16; Lev. xxv. 9). In chap. lxv. 14, a derivative of ranan is employed. BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THE object of the writer in this book is to exhibit the great wickedness and apostasy of the people of Judah, to show that they would be punished by judgments from heaven, and, upon repentance, be finally restored to the divine favor. Jeremiah was sensitive, naturally timid, and retir ing; still, in the discharge of his duty he did not shrink from publicity, danger, or even death itself. He was remarkably susceptible to sorrowful emotions, and utters many plaintive and thrilling lays. His style is highly pa thetic and beautiful. He speaks the truth with boldness and fidelity, but with the utmost tenderness. He beholds in prophetic vision the judgments of heaven descending upon his people. He deeply sympathizes with them, and exhorts them to avert impending destruction by turning to the Lord. Bishop Lowth considers Jeremiah as nearly equalling Isaiah in sublimity of thought and diction. The canonicity of this book is well-established, though some German critics have raised objections against detached passages. There seems to be a disarrangement in the chronological order of the different prophecies of Jeremiah, and various conjectures have been suggested to account for it, but we have not a sufficient number of facts at present to enable us to decide with certainty the cause. Dr. Blaney has arranged the prophecies in the following manner: 1. The prophecies delivered in the reign of Josiah, containing chapters i-xii, inclusive. 2. The prophecies delivered in the reign of Jehoiakim, comprising chapters xiii-xx, xxii, xxiii, xxxv, xxxvi, xlv-xlviii, and xlix, 1-33. 3. The prophecies delivered in the reign of Zedekiah, including chapters xxi, xxiv, xxvii-xxxiv, xxxviixxxix, xlix, 34-39, and 1, and li. 4. The prophecies delivered under the government of Gedaliah, from the taking of Jerusalem to the retreat of the people into Egypt, and the prophecies of Jeremiah delivered to the Jews in that country; comprehending chapters xl-xliv, inclusive. This book is believed to have been written at different times between 628 and 583 B. C., and is consequently very ancient. There are occasional allusions to music. Indeed, nearly the whole book consists of beautiful poems, which were probably set to music. As a specimen of the plaintive, pathetic, sublime lays of this poet, we present a part of the fourth chapter (verses 19-26). It is the following. as translated by Herder: 19 My bowels, my bowels! I'm filled with pain, My very heart is full of anguish, And yet I cannot hold my peace. My soul hath heard the sound of trumpets, 20 Destruction, desolation, is cried, 21 For all the land is desolate, My tents are suddenly spoiled. How long shall I yet see the standard, 22 My foolish nation understand me not, 23 |