Isaias xxx.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Of me. Ezechias was guided by human prudence, in making an alliance with Egypt, though he might have just reasons for refusing to pay tribute to the Assyrians, 4 Kings xviii. 20. (Calmet) — And. Septuagint, “alliances not by,” &c. (Haydock)
Ver. 2. Down, with presents, ver. 6., and 4 Kings xviii. 20.
Ver. 3. Shame. Egypt had been defeated before Sennacherib’s approach.
Ver. 4. Hanes. Chaldean, “Taphanes,” (Jeremias ii. 16.) or Daphnę Pelusię. (Herodotus ii. 30.) — In the Arabic, Nome, which formed part of (Haydock) the dominions of Tharaca. (Calmet)
Ver. 6. Burden. This title seems unnecessary, and may be added by some Jew, (chap. xxi. 13.) though the Chaldean and others explain it, “They carry on their beasts, presents to the south,” to the nations of Arabia and Egypt, infested with lions, &c. The rest of the prophecy is against the Jews, who cannot well be styled beasts of the south. (Calmet) — Basilisk. The ibis devours many serpents on their flight from Arabia into Egypt. (Herodotus ii. 5.; Solin. xxxii.)
Ver. 7. Cried. Hebrew, “called it Rahab, (or pride) it is rest.” The people are indolent, though they will make great promises. (Calmet)
Ver. 8. Box. This word was covered with wax. (Propertius iii. 3.) — Write, that none may pretend that they were not admonished. Some think that this was addressed to Jeremias: but Isaias spoke to his incredulous countrymen.
Ver. 10. See not. Such were the dispositions of their heart, chap. xxviii. 15.
Ver. 11. Us. Mention God no more, or let him not meddle with our affairs. Seek not to reclaim us, we are pleased with our delusion. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Oppression. Literally, “calumny,” (Haydock) or rebellion against the Assyrians. This was contrary to the respect due to God’s name, used in the ratification of treaties, how wicked soever those princes might be.
Ver. 13. For. Psalm lxi. 3. If God had not miraculously cut off the army of Sennacherib, what would have become of the kingdom of Juda?
Ver. 15. Be. Septuagint, “groan,” as Origen, &c., read. If you be seriously converted, and trust not in Egypt, you need not fear.
Ver. 16. Ones, or chariots. (Calmet) — Egypt was famous for horses, Deuteronomy xvii. 16. (Forcr.[Forerius?]) — Rebsaces ridicules the Jews for the want of them, 4 Kings xviii. 23. (Haydock)
Ver. 17. Five. A small number shall put you to flight. (Menochius) — Mast, set up after a shipwreck, to warn others, or as a signal, chap. xxxiii. 23.
Ver. 18. Wait for him. Having convinced Ezechias that he ought to trust in no other, the Lord rescues him from the hand of Sennacherib. (Calmet)
Ver. 19. Weep. The citizens expected certain death, (Haydock) or slavery. (Calmet)
Ver. 20. Water. The land will be reduced to a miserable condition by the ravages of Sennacherib. (Haydock) — The following was a sabbatical year, ver. 23., and chap. xxxvii. 30. — Teacher. It seems that Isaias, &c., had been silent. He spoke after Ezechias had sent for him, and God promises that the people shall not be left without guides. (Calmet) — Christ will not abandon his Church. (Menochius)
Ver. 22. Garment. Hebrew, “ephod,” belonging to the idol, or its priests. Ezechias had prohibited idolatry at first. After his deliverance he was still more zealous, and even those who had formerly retained an affection for idols, saw their vanity, and became sincere.
Ver. 24. Floor. They shall not have straw only, but wheat, &c., to denote abundance.
Ver. 25. Towers, or chief officers of Sennacherib. All shall be luxuriant.
Ver. 26. Sevenfold. Exceedingly great, equal to the light of 49 days. (Calmet) — The fame of Ezechias spread widely. His kingdom was a figure of that of Christ, when this was more perfectly realized, the preaching of the gospel having dispelled the darkness of error. (Calmet) — He alludes to the day of judgment. (St. Jerome) (Menochius)
Ver. 27. Name. Majesty of God, (Calmet) in the future ages. (Haydock)
Ver. 28. Error. The unjust government of Sennacherib, who endeavoured to engage all in idolatry.
Ver. 29. Night. When the festivals commenced. (Calmet) — He may particularly mean that night, when the destroying angel slew the Egyptians. (Vatable) — Pipe. Music. (Haydock) — This was not prescribed.
Ver. 30. Stones. The Angel raised the storm, which destroyed many, while the rest in a panic fell upon one another, chap. ix. 5., and xxxvii. 36.
Ver. 31. Rod. Sennacherib is terrified, who a few days before insulted the living God.
Ver. 32. Harps. The sound of thunder will fill the people of Ezechias with joy, while the enemy shall perish irrecoverably. (Calmet)
Ver. 33. Topheth. ‘Tis the same as Gehenna, and is taken for hell. (Challoner) — The Assyrians perish amid horrid cries (Haydock) and thunders, which resembled the noise made by drums, and by children who were burning in the arms of Moloc, 4 Kings xviii. 4., and xxiii. 10., and 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 16. Some think that the carcasses of the Assyrians were to be burnt in this common sewer of Jerusalem. But they were too far distant, chap. xxxvii. 33. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The people are blamed for their confidence in Egypt. God’s mercies towards his Church: the punishment of sinners.
1 Woe to you, apostate children, saith the Lord, that you would take counsel, and not of me: and would begin a web, and not by my spirit, that you might add sin upon sin:
2 Who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, hoping for help in the strength of Pharao, and trusting in the shadow of Egypt.
3 And the strength of Pharao shall be to your confusion: and the confidence of the shadow of Egypt to your shame.
4 For thy princes were in Tanis, and thy messengers came even to Hanes.
5 They were all confounded at a people that could not profit them: they were no help, nor to any profit, but to confusion and to reproach.
6 The burden of the beasts of the south. In a land of trouble and distress, from whence come the lioness, and the lion, the viper and the flying basilisk, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of beasts, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels to a people that shall not be able to profit them.
7 *For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this: It is pride only, sit still.
8 Now therefore go in and write for them upon a box, and note it diligently in a book, and it shall be in the latter days for a testimony for ever.
9 For it is a people that provoketh to wrath, and lying children, children that will not hear the law of God.
10 Who say to the seers: See not: and to them that behold: Behold not for us those things that are right: speak unto us pleasant things; see errors for us.
11 Take away from me the way; turn away the path from me; let the holy One of Israel cease from before us.
12 Therefore thus saith the holy One of Israel: Because you have rejected this word, and have trusted in oppression and tumult, and have leaned upon it:
13 Therefore shall this iniquity be to you as a breach that falleth, and is found wanting in a high wall; for the destruction thereof shall come on a sudden, when it is not looked for.
14 And it shall be broken small, as the potter’s vessel is broken all to pieces with mighty breaking, and there shall not a shard be found of the pieces thereof, wherein a little fire may be carried from the hearth, or a little water be drawn out of the pit.
15 For thus saith the Lord God, the holy One of Israel: If you return and be quiet, you shall be saved: in silence and in hope shall your strength be. And you would not:
16 But have said: No, but we will flee to horses: therefore shall you flee. And we will mount upon swift ones: therefore shall they be swifter that shall pursue after you.
17 A thousand men shall flee for fear of one: and for fear of five shall you flee, till you be left as the mast of a ship on the top of a mountain, and as an ensign upon a hill.
18 Therefore the Lord waiteth, that he may have mercy on you: and therefore shall he be exalted, sparing you: because the Lord is the God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
19 For the people of Sion shall dwell in Jerusalem: weeping, thou shalt not weep, he will surely have pity on thee: at the voice of thy cry, as soon as he shall hear, he will answer thee.
20 And the Lord will give you spare bread, and short water: and will not cause thy teacher to flee away from thee any more: and thy eyes shall see thy teacher.
21 And thy ears shall hear the word of one admonishing thee behind thy back: This is the way, walk ye in it: and go not aside neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
22 And thou shalt defile the plates of thy graven things of silver, and the garment of thy molten things of gold, and shalt cast them away as the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. Thou shalt say to it: Get thee hence.
23 And rain shall be given to thy seed, wheresoever thou shalt sow in the land: and the bread of the corn of the land shall be most plentiful, and fat. The lamb in that day shall feed at large in thy possession:
24 And thy oxen, and the ass-colts that till the ground, shall eat mingled provender, as it was winnowed in the floor.
25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every elevated hill, rivers of running waters in the day of the slaughter of many, when the towers shall fall.
26 And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of his people, and shall heal the stroke of their wound.
27 Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar, his wrath burneth and is heavy to bear: his lips are filled with indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire.
28 His breath as a torrent overflowing even to the midst of the neck, to destroy the nations unto nothing, and the bridle of error that was in the jaws of the people.
29 You shall have a song as in the night of the sanctified solemnity, and joy of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe, to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.
30 And the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and shall shew the terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the flame of devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and hailstones.
31 For at the voice of the Lord the Assyrian shall fear being struck with the rod.
32 And the passage of the rod shall be strongly grounded, which the Lord shall make to rest upon him with timbrels and harps, and in great battles he shall overthrow them.
33 For Topheth is prepared from yesterday, prepared by the king, deep, and wide. The nourishment thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it.
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7: Jeremias xxxvii. 7.