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CHAP. II. (1)

THE word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2." And () it shall come to pass in the "last days (1), that the mountain (m) of the "LORD'S house shall be established in "the top of the mountains (n), and shall "be exalted above the hills (n); and "all nations (0) shall flow unto it. "3. And many people shall go and say,

(i) This and the two following chapters make one continued discourse. It was probably delivered in Uzziah's or Jotham's time.

(k) v. 2, 3, 4. These verses occur almost verbatim, Mic. iv. 1, 2, 3. Micah was contemporary with Isaiah.

("The last days," i. e. the "times "after the Messiah's appearance, 2 Lowth, "28. ;" perhaps referring to times not yet arrived, but approaching. Dr. Lightfoot understands it of the last days of Jerusalem and the Jewish state. 2 Lightf: 1074. Mr. Faber refers it to the time of the Restoration of the Jews, when they shall have

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""Come ye, and let us go up to the "mountain of the LORD, to the house "of the God of Jacob: and he will "teach us of his ways, and we will walk "in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the "LORD from Jerusalem. 4. And he "shall judge (p) among the nations, " and shall rebuke many people: and "they shall beat (q) their swords into "ploughshares, and their spears into

still to come a second and more glorious admission of the Gentiles, when the Jews shall also turn to the true religion. Mede, 139, 140. 29th Disc.

(p) v. 4. "Judge," i. e. (perhaps) "bring "his judgments upon." Vengeance upon his enemies is one of the characteristics of the Messiah. According to Balaam's prophecy, the Star and Sceptre he foresaw (i. e. Christ), was to "smite the corners of "Moab, and destroy all the children of "Sheth, (i. e. his opponents). Numb. xxiv. "17." It was foretold of him, (Ps. ii. 9.) that he should "rule the heathen with a

been converted to Christianity, and be "rod of iron, and break them in pieces like

settled in their own land: after the expiration of the 1260 years spoken of in Daniel and Revelations.

(m) "The mountain of the Lord's house," i.e." the true religion, the proper worship "of the only true God," or "the church of "Christ, the church and people of God. "Mede, 135. 29th Disc."

(n)"In the top of the mountains," and "above the hills," i. e. (probably) so as to put down every other religion.

(o)" All nations." The admission of the Gentiles, and the universality of Christ's religion, are frequent topics of prophecy. The promises to Abraham were, "In thee," or "in thy seed, shall all families, or na"tions of the earth be blessed." Gen. xii. 3. xxii. 18. And according to Ps. ii. 8. he, (i. e. Christ,) was to have "the heathen "for his inheritance, and the utmost parts "of the earth for his possession." Żechariah says of him, "He shall speak peace

"unto the heathen; and his dominion shall "be from sea even to sea, and from the "river (i. e. the Euphrates) even to the ends "of the earth. Žech. ix. 10." "As in "Adam all die," says St. Paul, "even so "in Christ shall all be made alive," (i. e. have everlasting life within their power.) 1 Cor. xv. 22. Mr. Mede expects there is

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a potter's vessel;" (Ps. cx. 6.) that he "should judge among the heathen, and fill "the places with the dead bodies, and "wound the heads over many countries:" and (Is. xi. 4. post, 633.) that he should "smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, "and slay the wicked with the breath of "his lips." And see Ps. xxi. 8, 9. destruction of Jerusalem, in little less than forty years after the crucifixion, was unquestionably one of God's judgments; and the wars which have been so long agitating the world and have but lately subsided, (in which probably more than six millions have perished,) may have been instruments in his hands to bring about his purposes. Happy they, in whom they work humble and serious reflection, whom they lead to righteousness, and the fear of the Lord!!

(q)" Beat, &c.". Peace has always been the tendency of Christ's religion. "On earth peace, goodwill towards men. "Luke ii. 14." In Is. xi. 6 to 9. post, 632. the peaceable character of Christ's kingdom is strongly delineated; and in Zechariah's prophecy of Christ and the nature of his kingdom, he says, "I will cut off "the chariot from Ephraim," (i. e. the "kingdom of Israel), "and the horse from "Jerusalem," (i. e. the kingdom of Judah): "and the battle bow shall be cut off;

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"(q) more vain oblations; incense is an "abomination unto me, the new moons "and sabbaths, the calling of assem"blies I cannot away with (r), it is "iniquity, even the solemn meeting. "14. Your new moons, and your ap"pointed feasts, my soul hateth: they 66 are a trouble unto me, I am weary to "bear them. 15. And when ye spread "forth your hands, I will hide mine from eyes you: yea, when ye make

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P. II.

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admission of the Gentiles, when the Jers still to come a second and nare grous also turn to the true religion. Weste 4."Judge," i.e. (perhaps) “bring gments upon." Vengeance upon is one of the characteristics of According to Balaam's pro

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many prayers, I will not hear: your "hands are full of blood. 16. Wash ye, "make you clean, put away the evil of doings from before mine eyes, your "cease to do evil, 17. Learn to do "well, seek judgment, relieve the op"pressed, judge (s) the fatherless, plead "for the widow. 18. Come now and "let us reason together, saith the LOR "though your sins be as scarlet, "shall be as white as snow; th "they be red like crimson, the "be as wool. 19. If ye be will "obedient, ye shall eat (t) "of the land. 20. But if ye "rebel, ye shall be devour "sword: for the mouth "hath spoken it. 21. H "ful city become an har "of judgment; righter "it; but now murd "silver (u) is becor "mixed with water

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e they are re&c. &c. that thou From hence to the er is foretold the punishJews for their idolatrous or their confidence in their own and for their distrust of God's It predicts also the downfall

Thou," i. e. "God." "From the east," where divination practised.

("Soothsayers." This was against the injunction, Deut. xviii. 14. "These nations, which thou shalt possess, heark"ened unto observers of times, and unto "diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy "God hath not suffered thee so to do."

(wo) "In the children," by associating with them, learning their practices, and (perhaps) intermarrying with them.

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and no ties of kindred

or love, were to induce a mu pity or conceal the offender; and if city were guilty, the inhabitants and cate were to be destroyed utterly with the edge of the sword, and the city and the spoil thereof were to be burnt. Deut. 6 to 16. So particular was God to keep up amongst his own peculiar people, wh had such repeated and decisive proofs his power,) that worship he prescribed that reverence for himself he thought to require.

(a) v. 9. "The mean," "the great," i. e. "all ranks."

(b) "Boweth down," and "humbleth "himself," to worship the idols.

(c) Forgive them not," or rather "thou "wilt not forgive them," assigning the reason why forgiveness would be withhel

(d) v. 10. Enter, &c." A spirited mode of insinuating the greatness of the impending vengeance. So Hos. s. 8.

"They shall say to the mountains, cover
"us, and to the hills, fall on us," and
see Rev. vi. 16.

(e) v. 11. "That day," i. e. the "day of
God's vengeance."

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Ships of Tarshish." Perdave aggrandized themselves by rce, and "pleasant pictures," those have raised themselves by works of

(i) v. 19. "Holes, &c." The consternation and dismay during the sixth seal in Revelations is described in nearly the same manner. (Rev. vi. 15 to 17.) "The "kings of the earth, and the great men, "and the rich men, and the chief cap"tains, and the mighty men, and every "bond man, and every free man, hid "themselves in the dens and in the rocks "of the mountains, and said to the moun"tains and rocks, "fall on us, and hide us "from the face of him that sitteth on the "throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; "for the great day of his wrath is come, "and who shall be able to stand."

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(k) v. 22. "Cease ye," i. e. "place no dependence on.'

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(2) "Whose breath is in his nostrils."

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CHAP. V. (n)

Now will I sing to my well-beloved "a song of my beloved touching his "vineyard: My well-beloved hath a "vineyard in a very fruitful hill. 2. And "he fenced it, and gathered out the "stones thereof, and planted it with "the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a ine-press therein: and he looked t it should bring forth grapes, and rought forth wild grapes (o). now, O inhabitants of Jerund men of Judah, judge, I betwixt me and my vinehat could have been done ny vineyard, that I have not in it? wherefore when I looked at it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes (o)?

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Who can therefore give no assistance like God's. When God formed man he "breathed into his nostrils the breath "of life, (Gen. ii. 7.)" and by this expression Isaiah might intend to bring to their recollection the origin and creation, and consequent inferiority, of man. The folly of trusting to man where the reliance ought to be placed upon God is reprobated, and man's insufficiency exposed on the same ground, Ps. cxlvi. 2, 3. “O put "not your trust in princes, nor in any "child of man, for there is no help in "them for when the breath of man goeth "forth, he shall turn again to his earth, "and then all his thoughts perish."

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(m) "Wherein, &c." What assistance can he give? What has he on which reliance can be placed?

(n) This chapter is unconnected with what preceded or follows. It reproves the Jews for their wickedness, ascribes to that cause calamities which had already befallen them, and looks forward to the Babylonish invasion and perhaps to more distant judgments.

(o) v.2.4. "Wild grapes," i. e. "grapes " of no value," or rather "noxious, of a "poisonous quality."

"pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift 66 up sword against nation, neither shall "they learn war any more. 5. O house "of Jacob, come ye (r), and let us walk "in the light of the LORD. 6. There"fore (s) thou (t) hast forsaken thy "people, the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east (u), "and are soothsayers (v) like the Phi"listines, and they please themselves "in the children (w) of strangers.

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7. Their land also is full of silver and "gold (r), neither is there any end of "their treasures: their land is also full "of horses (y), neither is there any end "of their chariots. 8. Their land also

"he" (i. e. the Messiah) "shall speak peace unto the heathen. Zech. ix. 10." These passages possibly look forward to a period very different from any which has yet occurred, when man shall live in perfect harmony with man, and wars shall cease throughout the world.

(r) v.5. "Come ye, &c." The position of this verse, after those which foretell the call and coming in of the Gentiles, might be intended to imply that the house of Jacob would long resist the true religion and not walk in the light of the Lord, but that they also in the end would be converted and join the flock of Christ. There are other passages, however, which more plainly predict this event, and its accomplishment is perhaps at no great distance.

(s) v. 6. "Therefore." An induction, not from what had preceded, but from what follows: It is because they are replenished from the east, &c. &c. that thou hast forsaken them. From hence to the end of the chapter is foretold the punishment of the Jews for their idolatrous practices, for their confidence in their own strength, and for their distrust of God's protection. It predicts also the downfall of idolatry.

(t)" Thou," i. e. “God."

(u) "From the east," where divination was practised.

(v) "Soothsayers." This was against the injunction, Deut. xviii. 14. "These na"tions, which thou shalt possess, heark"ened unto observers of times, and unto "diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy "God hath not suffered thee so to do."

(w) "In the children," by associating with them, learning their practices, and (perhaps) intermarrying with them.

"is full of idols (z): they worship the "work of their own hands, that which "their own fingers have made. 9. And "the mean (a) man boweth down (6), "and the (a) great man humbleth (6) "himself: therefore forgive them not (c). "10. Enter (d) into the rock, and hide "thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, "and for the glory of his majesty. "11. The lofty looks of man shall be "humbled, and the haughtiness of men "shall be bowed down, and the LORD "alone shall be exalted in that day (e) "12. For the day of the LORD of hosts "shall be upon every one that is proud "and lofty, and upon every one that is

(x) v.7. "Silver and gold." One com mand (Deut. xvii. 17.) to the king they were in after times to have was, "neither "shall he greatly multiply to himself sil "ver or gold."

(y)" Horses." Another command to their king, (Deut. xvii. 16.) was "He shall not multiply horses to himself," to prevent their intercourse with Egypt.

(z) v. 8. "Idols." Idolatry was an offence against which the Mosaic institu tions were particularly strict: If an indi vidual were guilty of it, he was to be stoned to death, and no ties of kindred friendship or love, were to induce a ma to pity or conceal the offender; and if city were guilty, the inhabitants and cattle were to be destroyed utterly with the edge of the sword, and the city and the spoil thereof were to be burnt. Deut. xi. 6 to 16. So particular was God to keep up amongst his own peculiar people, (who had such repeated and decisive proofs of his power,) that worship he prescribed, and that reverence for himself he thought fit to require.

(a) v. 9. "The mean," "the great," i. e. "all ranks."

(b)" Boweth down," and "humbleth "himself," to worship the idols.

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(c) "Forgive them not," or rather "thou "wilt not forgive them," assigning the reason why forgiveness would be withheld.

(d) v. 10. Enter, &c." A spirited mode of insinuating the greatness of the impending vengeance. impending vengeance. So Hos. x. 8. "They shall say to the mountains, cover "us, and to the hills, fall on us;" and see Rev. vi. 16.

(e) v.11. "That day," i. e. the "day of "God's vengeance."

upon

"fear of the LORD, and for the glory "of his majesty, when he ariseth to "shake terribly the earth. 22. Cease ye (k) from man whose breath is in "his nostrils (1): for wherein (m) is he "to be accounted of."

"lifted up, and he shall be brought
"low; 13. And upon all the cedars (g)
"of Lebanon, that are high and lifted
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all the oaks of Bashan.
"14. And upon all the high mountains,
"and upon all the hills that are lifted
up, 15. And upon every high tower,
" and upon every fenced wall, 16. And
"upon all the ships of Tarshish (h),
"and upon all pleasant pictures (h).
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"bowed down, and the haughtiness of
men shall be made low: and the
"LORD alone shall be exalted in that
"day. 18. And the idols he shall
"utterly abolish. 19. And they shall

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go into the holes (i) of the rocks, "and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory "of his majesty, when he ariseth to "shake terribly the earth. 20. In that "day a man shall cast his idols of silver, "and his idols of gold, which they "made each one for himself to worship, "to the moles and to the bats: 21. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for

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CHAP. V. (n)

Now will I sing to my well-beloved "a song of my beloved touching his "vineyard: My well-beloved hath a "vineyard in a very fruitful hill. 2. And "he fenced it, and gathered out the "stones thereof, and planted it with "the choicest vine, and built a tower "in the midst of it, and also made a "wine-press therein: and he looked "that it should bring forth grapes, and "it brought forth wild grapes (0). "3. And now, O inhabitants of Jeru"salem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vine66 yard. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not "done in it? wherefore when I looked "that it should bring forth grapes, "brought it forth wild grapes (o)?

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Who can therefore give no assistance like God's.. When God formed man he "breathed into his nostrils the breath

(g) v. 13, 14, 15, 16. Trees in prophetic writings signify great men. Mede. And cedars, oaks, mountains, hills, towers, walls, ships, and pictures, are here figur-"of life, (Gen. ii. 7.)" and by this expres

ative expressions for persons of rank and opulence.

(h) v. 16. "Ships of Tarshish." Persons who have aggrandized themselves by commerce, and "pleasant pictures," those who have raised themselves by works of

art.

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(i) v. 19. "Holes, &c." The consternation and dismay during the sixth seal in Revelations is described in nearly the same manner. (Rev. vi. 15 to 17.) "The kings of the earth, and the great men, "and the rich men, and the chief cap"tains, and the mighty men, and every "bond man, and every free man, hid "themselves in the dens and in the rocks "of the mountains, and said to the moun"tains and rocks, "fall on us, and hide us "from the face of him that sitteth on the "throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; "for the great day of his wrath is come, "and who shall be able to stand."

(k) v. 22. "Cease ye," i. e. "place no "dependence on."

("Whose breath is in his nostrils."

sion Isaiah might intend to bring to their recollection the origin and creation, and consequent inferiority, of man. The folly of trusting to man where the reliance ought to be placed upon God is reprobated, and man's insufficiency exposed on the same ground, Ps. cxlvi. 2, 3. "O put "not your trust in princes, nor in any "child of man, for there is no help in "them for when the breath of man goeth "forth, he shall turn again to his earth, " and then all his thoughts perish."

(m) "Wherein, &c." What assistance can he give? What has he on which reliance can be placed?

(n) This chapter is unconnected with what preceded or follows. It reproves the Jews for their wickedness, ascribes to that cause calamities which had already befallen them, and looks forward to the Babylonish invasion and perhaps to more distant judgments.

(o) v. 2. 4. "Wild grapes," i. e. " grapes " of no value," or rather "noxious, of a "poisonous quality."

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