time (xvi. 14 sqq.; xxiii. 3; xxix. 14; xxxii. 37; xl. 12; xlvi. 27). Therefore the Prophet promises here glorious and joyful return homethat to the Israelite must be dearest of all-and the object of his greatest longing (Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6), and in that home eternal joy (ver. 10). One may say that he draws here the outline of the pic ture that he afterwards carries out in chaps. xl.Ixvi. in all the varieties of its forms. Their contents show that the two chapters belong together. Chap. xxxv. is the necessary obverse of xxxiv. The expressions on xxxv. 7, which manifestly contrasts with xxxiv. 13, form a close bond between the two chapters; and it is to be noted that in the sense of occurs only in these two places. Also the metonymic use of p (xxxiv. 15; xxxv. 6) which occurs beside only lviii. 8; lix. 5, is a peculiarity of language that points to the correlation of the two chapters. EICHHORN, GESEN., ROSENMUELLER, DE W., MAUR., HITZIG, EW., UMBR., KNOBEL and others ascribe these chapters to a later author that lived in the time of the captivity. They only differ in that some (GESENIUS, ROSENMUELLER, HITZIG, EWALD) put this unknown author at the end of the exile, the others at an earlier period. We will show in the exposition, by exact investigation of the language, that both the contents and the form of language of these chapters connect them intimately with xl.-lxvi., yet that in both these respects there is also a common character with part first. This view is confirmed by the undeniable fact that these chapters are variously quoted by prophets before the exile. This will be proved in respect to Jer. xlvi. 10 in the comment on xxxiv. 5 sqq. I have shown the connection between these chapters and Jer. 1. 27, 39; li. 40, 60 that it does not presuppose the Babylonish exile, but the second, great and last exile in general. It is incomprehensible how the announcement of a great judgment on the heathen generally (xxxiv. 2, 3, 5 sqq.; xxxv. 8) can denote a later authorship, seeing the same is announced in the acknowledged prophecies of Isa. ii. 4, 11 sqq., and even in xxx. 25 sqq. (see comm. in loc.). But we may refer in this matter to the entire liber apocalypticus (xxiv.-xxvii.), by assaulting which the critics of course becloud for themselves the conspectus of Isaiah's field of vision. What KNOBEL further urges of the extravagant expectations (xxxiv. 3, 4, 9; xxxv. 1, 2, 5 sqq.), affects only the bold and grand images in which the Prophet utters these expectations. And these images are too bold, too hyperbolical for Isaiah! If the genuineness of chs. xiii., xiv., xxiv.-xxvii. is denied, then the analogies for the dissolution of the heavens (xxxiv. 4) and for the goblins of night and wild beasts (xxxiv. 11-17) are surrendered. On this subject we can only refer back to our defence of the genuineness of chap. xiii., xiv. Finally KNOBEL mentions a number of expressions in these chapters which in general, or at least, in their present meaning, occur only in later writers, putting in the latter class some expressions that are peculiar to this author. One may admit that many expressions occur in Isaiah that only later writers employ, or that are analogous to expressions of later use. But is this any proof of the later origin of these chapters? Isaiah is so opulent a spirit, he reigns with such creative power even in the sphere of language, and his authority is so great with his successors, that we may confidently affirm, that very many later words and expressions are to be referred to him as the source or exemplar. Moreover that argument loses weight when we consider that in our chapters much ancient linguistic treasure occurs, e. g., N‡, xxxiv. 3; DN, xxxiv. 7; Dp and D, xxxiv. 8. 8qq. by an extended examination in my work: "Der Prophet Jer. und Babylon, Erlangen, 1850." Comp. KUEPER, Jerem. libr. sacr. interpr. atque Isaiah, then, is doubtless the author of our chapvindex, Berolini, 1837, p. 79 sqq. CASPARI, Je- ters. But he wrote them in his later period, when rem., ein Zeuge für d. Echtheit von Jes. xxxiv., etc., Assyria was for him a stand-point long since surZeitschr. von Rudelbach und Guericke, 1843, Heft. mounted, and when, withdrawn from the present, 2, p. 1 sqq. The proof that Jer. has drawn on he lived, with all his prophetic seeing and knowour chapters carries with it the proof that the re-ing, in the future. I agree with DELITZSCH in semblances noticed between Zeph. i. 7, 8 and Isa. xxxiv. 6, and between Zeph. ii. 14 and Isa. xxxiv. 11, are to be regarded as a use of these chapters by Zephaniah, the older contemporary of Jeremiah, and not a quotation of Zephaniah by these chapters. The reasons adduced against Isaiah's authorship of these chapters will not stand examination. KNOBEL thinks the hatred of Edom in the degree shown in xxxiv. 5 sqq. is to be found only in passages that belong to the time after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. But not to mention Obadiah (especially vers. 10-14), there are found in Joel (iv. 19) and Amos (especially i. 11 sqq.) proofs enough that there could be in Isaiah's time a hatred like that expressed in our chapter xxxiv. We will show in the exposition of xxxv. assuming that Isaiah, in preparing the book as a whole (if he actually himself attended to this matter), put these chapters here as a conclusion of the first part of his prophetic discourses. I only add that on this occasion Isaiah must have added vers. 16, 17 with their reference to the now completed "book of the LORD." The division of the chapters is simple:1. The judgment on all nations, xxxiv. 1-4. 2. The judgment on Edom as representation of the whole in one particular example, of especial interest to Israel, xxxiv. 5-15. 3. Concluding remark: summons to compare the prophecy with the fulfilment, xxxiv. 16, 17. 4. The obverse of the judgment: Israel's redemption and return home, xxxv. 1 1. THE JUDGMENT ON ALL NATIONS. CHAPTER XXXIV. 1-4. COME near, ye nations, to hear; And hearken, ye people: Let the earth hear, and 'all that is therein; The world, and all things that come forth of it. 2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, And his fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter. 3 Their slain also shall be cast out, And their stink shall come up out of their carcases, As the leaf falleth off from the vine, The [For the sake of economy in labor and space | we will omit in this and subsequent chapters the Author's abundant and laborious citations of texts illustrative of Isaiah's style, and involving proof of the common authorship of parts first and second. Author has prepared a comprehensive list of the words and texts concerned in these chapters, which appears at the close of the volume and, except where the commentary furnishes additional matter, we shall refer to that list by the sign see list.—Tr.]. Ver. 1. see list. occurs often in both parts, e. g., i. 4; ii. 4; x. 7; xi. 10; xl. 15; xli. 2. The expression occurs Deut. xxxiii. 16; Ps. xxiv. 1; Mic. i. 2, and often; in Isaiah only here. Comp. 1810' xlii. 10; vi. 3; viii. 8; xxxi. 4.-an (comp. on xiii. 11) occurs only in part first.-D'NYNY (plur tant.) are ra exyova, "the products." The expres sion is based on Gen. i. 12, 24 (7). The Prophet thus does not mean only men, as many, influenced by the LXX. and Chald., have supposed. The word, being made parallel with, denotes everything that as production of the earth fills it. קרבו TT only here in Vers. 2, 3. 73P, X3, Пav, o'bhn see list.—on'719 casus absolutus, comp. EWALD, 309 b. Isaiah. Comp. Joel ii. 20; Amos iv. 10. (as verb only here in Isaiah), is used Ps. xxxviii. 6 of a festering wound, in Zech. xiv. 12 of rotting flesh, i. e., eyes and tongues rotting in their natu Ver. 4. כקק ral place. In Lev. xxvi. 39; Ezek. xxiv. 23; xxxiii. 10 it -T see GREEN's Gram., 140, 2. Niph. only here in for Isaiah, Polal. ix. 4.—] comp. i. 30; xxiv. 4; xxviii. 1, 4; xl. 7, 8; lxiv. 5, especially as regards see on xxviii. 1, 4. EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL. 1. It is a mighty matter, the concern of all nations that the Prophet has to announce: hence he summons all to hear his address (ver. 1). For the wrath of the LORD is kindled against all nations and all that belongs to them. They are all to be given up to the slaughter (ver. 2), and shall be cast out so that the stench shall mount up, and whole mountains shall run with blood (ver. 3). Yea, the heavens shall roll up as by strong heat, and the heavenly bodies shall fall like dry leaves (ver. 4). 2. Come-fig tree.-Vers. 1-4. The expression D'NYNY occurs only in Job and Isaiah (s (see on xxii. 24). The use nearest like the pre sent is xlii. 5. In ver. 2 only the nations are mentioned as the object of the judgment. Though impersonal nature shares in it, still this is only the means to an end. DN-, having a similar relation to that of - (see Tett. and Gram.), denotes not the host merely, but the host of mankind in general. Already, by virtue of the decree of wrath determined against them, the LORD has laid on them His curse or ban (D' xi. 15; xxxvii. 11), and devoted them to slaughter. On the description ver. 3 comp. xiv. 19; The passages Matt. xxiv. 29 2 Pet. iii. 7, 10, xxxvii. 36; lxvi. 24; x. 18; xiii. 7; xix. 1. 12; Rev. vi. 13, 14 are founded on the present text. For that the Prophet has in mind the destruction of the world, is manifest from this description comprehending the earth and heavens. 2. THE JUDGMENT ON EDOM, AS REPRESENTATION OF THE WHOLE IN ONE PARTICULAR EXAMPLE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO ISRAEL. 5 CHAPTER XXXIV. 5-15. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: And with the blood of lambs and goats, For the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. 7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, And the bullocks with the bulls; And their land shall be 'soaked with blood, And their dust made fat with fatness. 8 For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, And the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. 9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, And the dust thereof into brimstone, And the land thereof shall become burning pitch. 10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; The smoke thereof shall go up for ever: From generation to generation it shall lie waste; 11 But the 'cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; And he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, 12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, Aud all her princes shall be 'nothing. 13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, Nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof. And it shall be an habitation of "dragons, 4 And a court for owls. 14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with 'the wild beasts of the island, And the 'satyr shall cry to his fellow; The screech owl also shall rest there, And find for herself a place of rest. 15 There shall the 'great owl make her nest, and lay, And hatch, and gather under her shadow: Every one with her mate. Ver. 5. Only by great ingenuity can be explained to mean "for." Hence KNOBEL construes it as pleonastic, connecting the discourse, and appeals, e. g., to viii. 23. But there exists a plain causal connection between vers. 4 and 5, only the res causans is in verse 4 and not in ver. 5. Hence here = "because" and not "for." Because the sword of God has become drunken in heaven it comes down to earth (comp. Gen. iii. 14; xxxiii. 11; Exod. i 19, etc.). (comp. xvi. 9) is direct causative Piel ebrietatem facere, "to produce drunkenness.' "As, e. g., not only means "fatten," i. e., others, but also "make, produce, grow fat," i. e., grow fat one's-self, so this verb means not only "make others drunk" (Jer. xxxi. 14; Ps. lxv. 11), but also "make one's-self drunk."--in behoof of accomplishing judgment; comp. Hab. i. 12; Ezek. xliv. 24 Kri; comp. Isa. xli. 1; liv. 17, in another sense Isa. v. 7; xxxii. 1; xxviii. 26. Ver. 6. DRECHSLER refers יז 1. again only i. 11; xiv. 9.——D'' again in Isa. i. 11; lx. 7. and (verse 3) correspond in sense and sound. On see list. Ver. 8. The Plural the sing. Hos. ix. 7; is correct, then occurs only here: comp. Mic. vii. 3.—If the pointing is to be construed as substantive. For as such it is in the construct state and has given its tone to the governing noun; then does not stand directly before the tone syllable. But if it is a verb, then it has the tone, and in that case receives pretonic kamets (comp. iii. 13). As noun means causae actio, defensio, in the same sense as the verb with following accusative (i. 17; li. 22) is used (comp. xix. 20). זי the Masoretic form of writing) לנצח נְצָחִים .10 .Ver : occurs four times; Ps. xlix. 20; 1 Sam. xv. 29; 1 ז comp. xxiii. 13; xxv. 2; xxxii. 14.———— vipp; and min (kindred П xxxvii. 29) oc T cur only here in Isaiah, p, locus munitus xvii. 3; xxv. 12.—1] see list. די,י ,שעיר,איים,ציים, בנות יענה,תגים 13,14,15 .Vers to : the sword is to the LORD (the LORD has His sword) full of blood. But then it would need to read, as the sword has already been mentioned. Would one translate: "Jeho-0; vah has a sword that is full of blood," that again does not suit the previous mention of the sword verse 5, though this translation would best suit the three other instances of the use of 17 in this section (verses 2, 6,9). The context requires the rendering "the sword of the LORD is full of blood." For verses 6, 7 manifestly tell what the sword, (that ver. 5 was to come on Edom), | when actually come, has done to Edom. This is intimated by describing the sword after the execution. Thus the same sword as ver. 5 is meant. The article is wanting because, (instead of in Isaiah only here.— - has here also its restrictive sense. When GESENIUS (Thes. p. 9) says: that the vis restringendi relates non at proximum sed ad sequens quoddam vocabulum, and translates here accordingly: non nisi spectra ibi habitant, non nisi vultures ibi congregantur, the two statements exclude each other. which occurs only 1 Chron. xxi. 12) seems to be vox so- For where only spectra dwell, the vulture cannot also lennis, (Jud. vii. 20; Jer. xii. 12; xlvii. 6).—in dwell, and vice versa. To express that, the must be stead of, Hothpaal from 1, comp. verse 7; joined to and (vers. 14, 15). But both times Xxx. 23; GREEN'S Gram., 2 96, a.--That before Dit is joined to D. Hence it appears that the Prophet is to be explained according to ii. 6, does not seem probable. Rather it seems that the notion of causality, that lies in , has passed over to what follows: such as was before intimated, the sword has become from the blood of the sacrificial beasts. again only xvi. T::: T: would say: only there does the lilith rest, only there EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL. 1. If the Prophet would not deal only in indefinite generalities in regard to the judgment on the nations of the earth, he must give prominence to the case of one nation instar omnium. Among neighboring nations Moab, and Edom, and Ammon, were most detested by the Israelites (comp. Deut. xxiii. 3-6; Ezek. xxxv. 5 sqq.; Amos i. 11: Obad. 10 sqq.; Ps. cxxxvii. 7, etc.). As Isaiah elsewhere, in a similar connection, mentions the Moabites by way of exemplification (xxv. 10 sqq.), it is natural he should give similar prominence also to Edom, as he does here and lxiii. 1 sqq. Now, because the sword of Jehovah has already become drunken in heaven with blood, it descends to earth, because it finds no more work above. 2. For my sword--of Zion.-Vers. 5-8. The relation of this section to what precedes is this: the Prophet has said (vers. 2, 3), what the LORD purposes to do on earth. and החרימם D ver. 2 are to be understood of acts of the will, not of performance: ver. 3 describes prophetically what shall once take place on earth in consequence of that divine decree. Ver. 4 pictures the judgment that shall be executed on the heavens, but here the Prophet combines intention and performance. He contemplates the judgment of God as beginning in heaven, and continued on earth. [On the construction of '? see Text. and Gram. "It may be construed in its proper sense, either with ver. 3 (HITZIG), or with the whole of the preceding description. All this shall certainly take place for my sword (the speaker being God Himself) is steeped," etc.-J. A. ALEX., in loc.]. The expression is a bold poetic one. Isaiah speaks of the sword of the LORD again xxvii. 1; lxvi. 16. But only here does he personify it. He may, as regards the sense, have in mind Deut. xxxii. 41-43. Inevitable and irresistible are the judgments of the LORD. This the Prophet expresses by saying that the sword of the LORD, intoxicated with the judgment accomplished on "the host of the high ones that are on high" (xxiv. 21), and thirsting for more blood, descends to earth, and that first on Edom, as the nation that above all has become an object of the divine ban. ( the segregatio ad internecionem, 1 Kings xx. 42; Isa. xliii. 28). Vers. 6, 7 describe the effects of the execution. The sword of the LORD is not only full of blood, but is fattened, dropping fat. As in the second clause of ver. 6, the Edomites are regarded as a sacrifice, they are here compared to sheep, goats and rams. Bozra stands for Edom also lxiii. 1. Concerning this city see on Jer. lxix. 13. T: T | ing considerations show that our passage is the source from which Jer. drew. 1) The grand, drastic boldness and loftiness of the language of our passage, of which the words of Jer., after the fashion of that Prophet, are but a tempered imitation. 2) Isaiah uses the expression twice (vers. 5, 7); Jer. says, . It is much more likely that Jeremiah would dilute the strong exfashion (see my comm. on Jer. Introd. 8 3) than pression of a predecessor, in his well-known that an author living much later in the exile, should intensify the normal but weaker expression of Jer. 3) Jer. says p D; Isaiah Dp Di Now in general Dp is the older form of the word, and is used only in Lev. xxvi. 25; Deut xxxii. 35, 41, 43; Judg. xvi. 28; Ps. lviii. 11; Prov. vi. 34; Mic. v. 14, and in Isa. (xxxv. 4; xlvii. 3; lix. 17; lxi. 2; lxiii. 4). In the excep tions Ezek. xxiv. 8; xxv. 12, pop is evidently said for the sake of the effect of sound; in Ezek. xxv. 15 the expression DP is used along with . On the other hand is the form exclusively used by Jeremiah, and in Ezekiel it is the prevalent form (the exceptions being given above) and beside these is used only here and there (Num. xxxi. 2, 3; Lam. iii. 60; Ps. cxlix. 7). But it is not probable that a writer later than Jeremiah has introduced the old form into a passage borrowed from Jeremiah. 3. And the streams-emptiness. — Vers. 9-11. Edom was situated at the southern point of the Dead Sea. The following description recalls the pitchy and sulphurous character of this sea and its surroundings. It seems as if the ProThe enumeration of buffaloes, bullocks and phet would allude to that event which, recorded bulls (ver. 7) denotes that the entire nation shall in Gen. xix. 24, 25, 28, had impressed that chaperish, great and small, high and low. DN racter on the region. At least the sulphur, the (only here in Isaiah, elsewhere only Num. xxiii. overturning (5) and the ascending smoke are 22; Deut. xxxiii. 17; Job xxxix. 9 sq.; Ps. xxii. traits that he seems to have borrowed from that 22; xxix. 6; xcii. 11). It is now universally passage. occurs again only Exod. ii. 3. understood to mean the buffalo (see HERZ. R.- we had already where xxx. 33 the breath Encycl., XI. p. 28). D' see on i. 11. 7 of God is called " a stream of brimstone." When meaning "bull occurs only x. 13 K'thibh. 17 the streams are flowing pitch and the dust of the meaning "to fell" trees, beasts or men, is pecu- land is sulphur, the whole land will become a liar to Isaiah (see xxxii. 19). For Jer. xlviii. fearful place of conflagration. Day and night 15; 1. 27; li. 40 the use of the word is not quite (the expression occurs Deut. xxviii. 66, beside In consequence of the slaughter the comp. Isa. iv. 5: xxi. 8; lx. 11), forever, for it earth itself is drunk with blood, and fat with fat, is the flame of the last judgment, the burning comp. on vers. 5. 6. The parallelism reigns not shall continue. The burning land is the subject only in these verses, but in the entire complexity of which is used intensively also xliii. 17; of vers. 6-8. For the description of the judg-xvi. 24.-Ver. 10. On 17 as defining time see ment in ver. 6 a. and ver. 7 correspond, and the reasons assigned ver. 6 b. and ver. 8. But progress appears in the thought because ver. 8 gives particularly the object of the "sacrifice" and the "slaughter." The LORD will thereby satisfy His vengeance, and give Zion justice by a righteous recompense. the same. The expression for the day of the Lord's etc., recalls ii. 12 and Ixiii. 4. But the Prophet seems morcover to have in inind Deut. xxxii. 35, 41. For in those passages, as here, the notions of vengeance and recompense underlie the discourse. חָרַב .occurs only here מדור לדור .20 .on xiii exarescere, exsiccari, comp. xix. 5, 6; xliv. 27; lx. But beside this, our passage lay before Jere- Ver. 11. As such the land is inhabited only by miah. For Jer. xlvi. 10 is penetrated with ele-beasts of the desert. [On the names of beings ments drawn from Isa. xxxiv. 5-8. The follow- enumerated in this and the following verses see |