Bible Commentaries

Isa 33:1-24.

THE LAST OF ISAIAH'S PROPHECIES AS TO SENNACHERIB'S OVERTHROW.

Isa 33:1, 8, 9,

describe the Assyrian spoiler; strong as he is, he shall fall before Jehovah who is stronger

(Isa 33:2-6, 10-12).

The time is the autumn of 713 B.C.

1. and thou--that is, though thou wast not spoiled--though thou wast not dealt treacherously with (see on

Isa 24:16),

thy spoiling and treachery are therefore without excuse, being unprovoked.

cease--When God has let thee do thy worst, in execution of His plans, thine own turn shall come (compare

Isa 10:12; 14:2; Hab 2:8; Re 13:10).

2. us; we . . . their . . . our--He speaks interceding for His people, separating himself in thought for a moment from them, and immediately returns to his natural identification with them in the word "our."

every morning--each day as it dawns, especially during our danger, as the parallel "time of trouble" shows.

3. the tumult--the approach of Jehovah is likened to an advancing thunderstorm

(Isa 29:6; 30:27),

which is His voice

(Re 1:15),

causing the people to "flee."

nation--the Assyrian levies.

4. The invaders' "spoil" shall be left behind by them in their flight, and the Jews shall gather it.

caterpillar--rather, "the wingless locust"; as it gathers; the Hebrew word for "gathers" is properly used of the gathering of the fruits of harvest

(Isa 32:10).

running to and fro--namely, in gathering harvest fruits.

he--rather, "they."

them--rather, "it," that is, the prey.

6. wisdom--sacred; that is, piety.

thy--Hezekiah's; or rather, "Judea's." "His" refers to the same; such changes from the pronoun possessive of the second person to that of the third are common in Hebrew poetry.

treasure--Not so much material wealth as piety shall constitute the riches of the nation

(Pr 10:22; 15:16).

7-9. From the vision of future glory Isaiah returns to the disastrous present; the grief of "the valiant ones" (parallel to, and identical with, "the ambassadors of peace"), men of rank, sent with presents to sue for peace, but standing "without" the enemy's camp, their suit being rejected

(2Ki 18:14, 18, 37).

The highways deserted through fear, the cities insulted, the lands devastated.

cry--

(Isa 15:4).

8. broken . . . covenant--When Sennacherib invaded Judea, Hezekiah paid him a large sum to leave the land; Sennacherib received the money and yet sent his army against Jerusalem

(2Ki 18:14, 17).

despised--make slight of as unable to resist him

(Isa 10:9; 36:19);

easily captures them.

9.

(Isa 24:4).

Lebanon--personified; the allusion may be to the Assyrian cutting down its choice trees

(Isa 14:8; 37:24).

Sharon--south of Carmel, along the Mediterranean, proverbial for fertility

(Isa 35:2).

Bashan--afterwards called Batanea

(Isa 2:13).

fruits--rather, understand "leaves"; they lie as desolate as in winter.