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"shall he judge the poor, and reprove (c) "with equity for the meek of the earth: "and he shall smite the earth (d) with "the rod of his mouth, and with the "breath of his lips shall he slay the "wicked. 5. And righteousness shall "be the girdle of his loins, and faith"fulness the girdle of his reins. 6. The "wolf (e) also shall dwell with the lamb, "and the leopard shall lie down with "the kid: and the calf and the young "lion and the fatling together, and a "little child shall lead them. "the cow and the bear shall feed (g); "their young ones shall lie down to"gether; and the lion shall eat straw "like the ox. 8. And the sucking child

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"shall play on the hole of the asp, and "the weaned child shall put his hand "on the cockatrice-den. 9. They shall "not hurt (h) nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full "of the knowledge of the LORD, as (i) "the waters cover the sea. 10. And in "that (k) day there (1) shall be a root (m) "of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign (n) of the people; to it shall the "Gentiles seek (0), and his rest shall be "glorious. 11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall "set his hand again the second time, to recover the remnant (p) of his people "which shall be left, from Assyria, and "from Egypt, and from Pathros, and

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(c) v. 4. Reprove, &c." or "with equity work conviction in. 1 Fab. 105." (d) "Smite the earth." One of the characteristics of the Messiah. See ante, note on Is. ii. 4.

(e) v. 6. "The wolf, &c." figuratively: "Such shall be the harmony and concord, "that the most violent dispositions shall "not molest the meekest." It corresponds with the description of the same period, Is. ii. 4. ante, 625. "they shall beat their "swords into plough-shares, &c." And see Is. lxv. 25.

(g) v.7. "Feed," add " together."

(h) v. 9. "Hurt, &c." So Is. ii. 4. "Na"tion shall not lift up sword against nation, "neither shall they learn war any more." Though it is the natural tendency of Christianity to produce peace upon earth, and goodwill between man and man, so that there would be no wars or dissensions if its dictates were universally followed, yet it is probable both these passages in chapter ii. and chapter xi. refer to a period not yet arrived.

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(2) As," i. e. "as completely;" the earth shall be as full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the sea is of water; there shall be no place this knowledge shall not reach.

(k) v. 10. In that day," i. e. (probably) "when Christianity shall have made such "progress."

("There shall be, &c." or "the root "of Jesse, which standeth for an ensign, "&c. 1 Fab. 106."

(m) A root, &c." i. e. "the Messiah;" so called, Rev. v. 5. " Behold the lion of "the tribe of Judah, the root of David hath "prevailed, &c." And Rev. xxii. 16. “ I

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"Jesus hath sent mine angel, &c. I am the "root and offspring of David, &c."

(n) v. 10. 12. "An ensign." To collect followers, to gather together those who will range under his standard. See Is. xlix. 22. and Is. lxii. 10.

(0) "The Gentiles." Another prophecy of the coming in of the Gentiles; of their adopting Christ's religion. See ante, Is. ii. 2. and the note there.

(p) v. 11. "The remnant, &c." One, amongst many, of the prophetic intimations of a signal restoration of the Jews. The dispersion of the Jews into all nations, so distinctly denounced against them for disobedience, Deut. xxviii. 25. 37. 64. and their continuance as a marked and separate people, is one of the signal miracles of God's hand, and bears the strongest testimony to the truth of the Mosaic writings. These writings contain what appears a plain and clear prophecy of the future restoration of the Jews: It shall come "to pass, when all these things are come "upon thee, the blessing and the curse, "which I have set before thee, and thou "shalt call them to mind among all the na"tions whither the Lord thy God hath "driven thee, and shalt return unto the "Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice "according to all that I (i. e. Moses) com"mand thee this day, thou and thy chil"dren, with all thy heart, and with all thy "soul; that then the Lord thy God will "turn thy captivity, and have compassion

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upon thee, and will return and gather "thee from all the nations whither the "Lord thy God hath scattered thee. And "the Lord thy God will bring thee into the "land which thy fathers possessed, and

"from Cush, and from Elam, and from "Shinar, and from Hamath, and from "the islands of the sea. 12. And he "shall set up an ensign for the nations, "and shall assemble the outcasts of "Israel (q), and gather together the dis"persed of (q) Judah, from the four cor"ners of the earth. 13. The envy also "of Ephraim (r) shall depart, and the "adversaries (s) of Judah shall be cut

"thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee "good, and multiply thee above thy fa"thers, &c. Deut. xxx. 1 to 5." In speaking of this and other prophecies on the same subject, in his admirable Lectures on the last four books of Moses, Dr. Graves (the present Dean of Ardagh in Ireland) observes, "Undoubtedly the language of "prophecy justifies the Jews in looking "forward to some most signal and favour"able change, some illustrious restoration "of divine favour and temporal prosper"ity." And it may be collected as his opinion, that whatever may be the accomplishment of these predictions, it is clear it has never yet taken place: that as to the time and circumstances of the event, the Christian will pronounce his opinion with great caution and reserve, but that the circumstances of the world at the time he was writing, give reason to believe it is approaching that the change will probably consist, primarily, in the conversion of the great bulk of the entire nation, the descendants of the ten tribes as well as of the two, to Christianity, and that when once converted, they may become, in the lands in which they are dispersed, such irresistible preachers as to carry conviction to every heart. 2 Graves, 447, 448. 454. 473, 474. See ante, note (s) on Deut. iv. 27. 30.

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(q) v. 12. "Israel," i. e. (perhaps) "the "ten tribes ;" and " Judah," the two. At Cochin, in China, there is a colony of Israelites, about 16,000, whom Dr. Buchanan considers as descended from the ten tribes. 2 Graves, 435-6. 1 Fab. 66.

"The Aff

ghans and Rohillas in Persia are perhaps "of the same stock, as well as the Ameri"can Indians mentioned by Mr. Adair, "many of whose rites, practices, and no"tions seem to be of Israelitish origin." See 1 Fab. on the Conversion of the Jews. 42 to 66.

(r) v. 13. "Ephraim," i. e. " the ten "tribes," "the subjects of the kings of "Israel." Isaiah repeatedly gives them

"off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, "and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14. But they shall fly upon (t) the "shoulders of the Philistines (u) to"ward the west, they shall spoil them "of the east together: they shall lay "their hand upon Edom and Moab, "and the children of Ammon (u) shall "obey them. 15. And the LORD shall "utterly destroy the tongue (w) of the

the appellation of "Ephraim," because the tribe of Ephraim was in his time the most powerful. See Isaiah vii. 2. 5. 9. 17.— ix. 9. So Zech. ix. 10.

(s)" Adversaries," rather "enmity." "That the dissensions between the ten "tribes and the two, those who were under "the kings of Israel, and those who were "under the kings of Judah, should cease.” See Zechariah ix. 10. where in the prophecy of the times of Christianity it is said, "I will cut off the chariot from "Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, "and the battle bow shall be cut off;" and Ezek. xxxvii. 21, 22. 24. 28. where, in reference to times not yet arrived, "Thus "saith the Lord God, "Behold, I will "take the children of Israel from among "the heathen, whither they shall be gone, "and will gather them on every side, and "bring them into their own land: and I "will make them one nation in the land

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upon the mountains of Israel: and one "king shall be king to them all: and they "shall be no more two nations, neither "shall they be divided into two kingdoms

any more at all: and David my servant" (i. e. the Messiah) "shall be king over

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"Shepherd: they shall also walk in my "judgments, and observe my statutes, "and do them: and the heathen shall "know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, "when my sanctuary shall be in the midst "of them for evermore."

(t) v. 14. "Fly upon," i. e. perhaps, "make common cause against."

(u)" Philistines," " Edom," " Moab," and "the children of Ammon," i. e. (probably) "the opposers of the true religion." See ante, 541. Numb. xxiv. 17, 18, (Balaam's prophecy,) where the future adversaries of God's religion are called by the names of the then opposers of his people, "Moab,” "Sheth," "Edom," and "Seir." And see post, 638. Isaiah xxv. 10.

(w) v. 15. "Tongue." A narrow piece

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of land running into the sea. So 11 Lucan, 613. "Tenuem producit in æquora lin"guam." This and the next verse are figurative; and the meaning probably is, that so far from impediments to the return of the Jews and Israelites, it should meet with the greatest facilities there should be no obstacle; that where land would obstruct them, it should be swallowed up where water, it should be made dry: that God would interpose as signally and effectually, as if he were to destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea and make it water; or as if he were to dry up the streams of the Euphrates, and make it land. Mr. Faber thinks the destruction of the Egyptian and Turkish governments is referred to, that they might not obstruct the return of the ten tribes. See 1 Fab. 112 to 126.

(x)"The Egyptian sea," i. e. "the "Nile:""the river," i. e. " the Euphra"tes. Mede, 529. Parkh. Hebr. Dict. "206."

(y) There are no marks in this chapter to confine its predictions to any one particular event. It might have in view each of the three great desolations; that by Shalmanezer, who carried away the ten tribes; that by Nebuchadnezzar, who

"and utterly spoiled: for the LORD "hath spoken this word. 4. The earth "mourneth, and fadeth away, the "world languisheth and fadeth away, "the haughty people of the earth do "languish. 5. The earth also is de"filed under the inhabitants thereof: "because they have transgressed the "laws, changed the ordinance, broken "the everlasting covenant (b). 6. There"fore hath the curse devoured the "earth, and they that dwell therein 66 are desolate: therefore the inhabit"ants of the earth are burned, and few "men left. 7. The new wine mourn"eth (c), the wine languisheth, all the "merry-hearted (d) do sigh. 8. The "mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of "them that rejoice endeth, the joy of "the harp ceaseth. 9. They shall not "drink wine with a song (e), strong "drink shall be bitter to them that "drink it. 10. The city of con"fusion (g) is broken down: every "house is shut up that no man may "come in. 11. There is a crying for (h)

carried the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem to Babylon; or that by the Romans, who finally destroyed Jerusalem within 40 years after our Saviour's crucifixion; and it might relate even to more distant times. (z) v. 1. "The earth," i. e. "the land "of Judea."

(a) v. 2. "As with the people, &c." ire. "all ranks shall undergo the same "fate: none shall escape."

(b) v. 5. "The everlasting covenant," i. e. (probably)" the engagement man "makes with God." The Israelites entered into such an engagement Exod. xxiv. 3 to 8. and Christians do the same at baptism.

(c) v. 7. "The new wine mourneth," i. e. either, "the means of making new "wine fail, (from the destruction of the "vineyards,)" or, "even that, which "above all things used to produce mirth, "has no longer that effect.'

(d)" The merry-hearted," i. e. "those "who used to be so."

(e) v. 9. "With a song," i. e. "there "will be no cheerfulness or singing even amongst those who drink wine."

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(g) v. 10. "Confusion," or "vanity," "idolatry."

(h) v. 11. "A crying for," i. e. (per

"wine in the streets, all joy is dark"ened, the mirth of the land is gone. "12. In the city is left desolation, and "the gate is smitten with destruction: "13. When thus it shall be in the "midst of the land among the people; "there shall be as the shaking of an "olive tree, and as the gleaning66 grapes (i) when the vintage is done.

14. They (k) shall lift up their voice, "they shall sing for the majesty of the "LORD, they shall cry aloud from the

sea. 15. Wherefore, glorify ye the "LORD in the fires (1), even the name "of the LORD God of Israel in the isles "of the sea. 16. From (m) the utter

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most part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous: "but I said, "My leanness, my leanness (n), woe unto me: the treacherous dealers (0) have dealt (p)

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haps) "a scarcity of," "complaints for "want of it."

(i) v. 13. "As the shaking of an olive "tree, and as the gleaning grapes, &c." i. e. (probably) "a remnant," for which these might be proverbial expressions; such as remains to those who have to shake the olive tree, or glean the grapes. See Jer. xlix. 3. "If grape-gatherers come to thee, "would they not leave some gleaning "grapes?" and Obad. i. 5. the same expression; and see post, Is. lxv. 8.

(k) v. 14. "They," i. e. " the remnant." () v. 15. "Fires," or 64 66 rivers," val. "lies."

(m) v. 16. The first part of this verse probably refers to the reception of the Gospel by the Gentiles; the latter, to the rejection of it by the Jews: the former, a subject of exultation, the latter, of grief: and then the following verses intimate the heavy vengeance which would come upon the Jews.

(n)"My leanness," i. e. (probably) either an exclamation of sorrow, as "alas, alas," or it may refer to the Jews, Isaiah's people, and intimate a great scarcity of true worshippers amongst them.

(0) The treacherous dealers,” i. e. probably, the Jews." The expression here used might have some well-known application in Isaiah's time. It occurs again, Isaiah xxi. 2. "A grievous vision is declared unto me: the treacherous

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"treacherously, yea, the treacherous "dealers have dealt (p) very treacherously. 17. Fear (q) and the pit, " and the snare are upon thee, O in"habitant of the earth (r). 18. And it "shall come to pass, that he who fleeth "from the noise of the fear, shall "fall (s) into the pit: and he that co"meth up out of the midst of the pit, "shall be taken in the snare: for the "windows (t) from on high are open (u), "and the foundations of the earth do "shake.

19. The earth is utterly "broken down, the earth is clean dis"solved, the earth is moved exceed"ingly. 20. The earth shall reel to and "fro like a drunkard, and shall be re"moved like a cottage, and the trans"gression thereof shall be heavy upon "it, and it shall fall, and not rise

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"dealer dealeth treacherously, and the "spoiler spoileth." The meaning may be, that the Jews, who had so often dealt deceitfully with God, would deal much more so, and incur much heavier punishments. (p) "Have dealt," or "deal." It probably refers to future conduct.

(q) v. 17. "Fear," rather "the terror;" a contrivance to frighten beasts into the toils. The same idea and expressions occur, Jer. xlviii. 3. "Fear, and the pit, " and the snare, shall be upon thee, O in"habitant of Moab: he that fleeth from "the fear shall fall into the pit; and he "that getteth up out of the pit shall be "taken in the snare."

(r)" Earth," i. e. probably, “Judea." (s) v. 18. "Shall fall, &c.* The dangers shall be so numerous, that by evading one, a man shall only fall into another. So Amos v. 19. "As if a man did flee "from a lion, and a bear met him; or "went into the house, and leaned his "hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him."

(t)" The windows, &c." The same expression as Moses uses in his descrip tion of the deluge (Gen. vii. 11.), "All "the fountains of the great deep were "broken up, and the windows of heaven "were opened." It might be intended to intimate, that the judgments contemplated would not be much inferior to that of the deluge.

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(u) Open," "to send forth God's "judgments."

"in that day, that the LORD shall pu "nish the host of the high ones that "are on high, and the kings of the "earth upon the earth. 22. And they "shall be gathered together as prisoners "are gathered in the pit, and shall be "shut up in the prison, and after many "days shall they be visited. 23. Then "the moon (v) shall be confounded, "and the sun (v) ashamed, when (w) "the LORD of hosts shall reign in "mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and "before his ancients gloriously."

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(v) v. 23. "The moon," and "the sun," i. e. "the chief rulers. Mede, 449." Or "the moon" may mean "the people," and "the sun"" their ruler. Sir I. Newton, "2 Lowth, 187."

(w)" When, &c." This may (perhaps) refer to a period not yet arrived.

(x) An hymn of triumph and thanksgiving; looking back upon past interpositions of God's power, and forward to future blessings and the times of the Messiah: perhaps, to some events not even yet accomplished.

(y) v. 2. "Of a city, &c." referring to some destruction upon their adversaries.

(z) "Strangers," or "oppressors," or "deceivers ;"" built," i. e. "rebuilt." (a) v. 3. Glorify," i. e. probably, "turn to thy worship."

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(b) v. 4. "A storm against the wall," or a winter storm, Bishop Lowth;" or "an inundation of water."

(c) v. 5. The meaning perhaps is, "Thou shalt frustrate the violence of "strangers, as easily and effectually as the

"shadow from the heat, when the blast "of the terrible ones is as a storm "against the wall (b). 5. Thou (c) "shalt bring down the noise of "strangers, as the heat in a dry place; "even the heat with the shadow of a "cloud: the branch of the terrible

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ones shall be brought low. 6. And "in this mountain shall the LORD of " hosts make unto all people a feast (d) "of fat things, a feast of wines on the "lees, of fat things full of marrow, of "wines on the lees well refined. 7. And "he will destroy in this mountain the "face of the covering (e) cast over all people, and the veil (e) that is spread over all nations. 8. He will swallow up (g) death in victory, and the LORD "God will wipe away tears from off all "faces, and the rebuke (h) of his peo"ple shall he take away from off all "the earth: for the LORD hath spoken "it. 9. And it shall be said in that ❝ day, "Lo this is our God, we have "waited for him, and he will save us; "this is the LORD, we have waited for "him, we will be glad, and rejoice in "his salvation. 10. For in this "mountain shall the hand of the

"shadow of a cloud frustrates the effect "of heat. See post, 643. Is. xxxii. 2." (d) v. 6. "A feast, &c." i. e. "the "Christian dispensation. I Barr. 49." Or it may refer specially to that period when, (according to Isaiah ii. 2. & Isaiah ix. 9.) "the mountain of the Lord's house shall "be established in the top of the moun"tains, &c. and all nations shall flow unto "it, &c." " and they shall not hurt nor "destroy in all God's holy mountain."

(e) v. 7. "The face of the covering," "and the veil," i. e. either "the marks "of mourning," or "ignorance."

(g) v. 8. "Swallow up, &c." "When "this corruptible shall have put on in"corruption, and this mortal shall have "put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is "written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Cor. xv. 54."

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(h) "The rebuke, &c." "The taunts "cast upon them in their distress, "that theirs could not be the true God "who could suffer them to be so de"pressed."

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