Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 10

Verse 1

write = ordain, or register; legalize iniquities.

grievousness = oppression.

prescribed = written.

Verse 2

poor = Hebrew. 'ani. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

Verse 3

desolation = storm.

leave = secure, or put in safe keeping. Hebrew. 'azab, a Homonym with two meanings. See note on Exodus 23:5 .

glory = honour.

Verse 4

bow down under the prisoners = captives will be enough to make you bow down.

fall under the slain = mortally wounded ones [will be enough] to make you fall.

For, &c. See note on Isaiah 9:12 .

Verse 5

O Assyrian. Not woe to the Assyrian. That woe comes later (Compare Isaiah 17:12 , and Isaiah 33:1 ), after the latest woes on Ephraim and Judah. This is a Divine summons.

Assyrian. The monuments tell us that this was Sargon, the father of Sennacherib.

Verse 6

hypocritical = impious, profane, godless, ' or irreligious. Compare Isaiah 9:17 with Isaiah 33:14 , the only other occurance in Isaiah.

Verse 7

he meaneth not so = will not mean. The blindness of the instrument emphasizes the truth of the prophecy.

think so = so intend.

Verse 8

he saith = he will say.

altogether = all of them.

Verse 10

As = According as.

idols = nothings.

Verse 11

idols = effigies.

Verse 12

Wherefore = And.

Verse 13

people = peoples.

Verse 14

found as a nest. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "found [means to reach] as a nest". peeped. See note on Isaiah 8:19 .

Verse 15

boast itself. Hebrew. pa'ar. Not therefore peculiar to the "latter" portion of Isaiah (Isaiah 44:23 , &c), as alleged.

shake itself against = brandish.

lift up itself, as if it were no wood = raise him that lifteth it up.

no wood: i.e. the user of it (who is flesh and blood, not wood).

Verse 16

kindle. burning = be like a burning. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew. yekad yekod kikod = kindle. kindling. kindling.

Verse 17

in one day. So it was (2 Kings 19:35 ),

Verse 18

body = flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for the whole body.

Verse 19

child = lad.

write = reckon.

Verse 20

that day. Passing on to the final fulfilment in the day of the LORD.

the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 .

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

in truth. Hebrew. be'emeth. Occurs three times in the "former" portion (here; Isaiah 16:5 ; Isaiah 38:3 ); and twice in the "latter" portion (Isaiah 48:1 ; Isaiah 61:8 ). See App-79 .

Verse 21

The remnant shall return. Hebrew. Shear-jashub . See Isaiah 7:3 . So they did. Compare 2 Chronicles 30:1-13 , esp. Isaiah 10:6 .

Verse 22

though, &c. Quoted in Romans 9:27 , Romans 9:28 .

as the sand, &c. Figure of speech Paraemia . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:17 ; Genesis 32:12 , &c).

consumption = full end, or finish. Hebrew. killayon. Reference to Pentateuch. Occurs only here, and Deuteronomy 28:65 . App-92 .

with = in.

Verse 23

consumption = consummation. Hebrew. kalfih,

determined = decreed.

all. Some codices, with five early printed editions, omit "all".

Verse 24

smite thee with = smite thee [indeed] with, &c.

rod = club.

Verse 25

anger = anger [shall cease].

Verse 26

according to = like.

Midian. Compare Isaiah 9:4 , and Judges 7:25 .

Verse 27

shall be destroyed = will rot.

because of the anointing = before the face (at the sight) of the oil: i.e. in Gideon's lamps; and of the anointed One (Messiah).

Verse 28

He is come. This is a prophetic description of Sennacherib's advance against Judah.

Aiath = Ai: now et Tell, or Khan Haiyan.

laid up. In anticipation of a speedy conquest of Jerusalem.

carriages = baggage (Old English). Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for what is carried.

Verse 29

the passage = the ravine: i.e. Wady Suweinit. Compare lSamaritan Pentateuch Isa 13:23 .

Geba. Now Jeb'a, near Michmash. Eamah. Now er Ram, five miles north of Jerusalem.

Gibeah. Now Tell el Ful, between Jerusalem and Emmaus, two and a half miles north of Jerusalem.

Verse 30

Gallim. Not identified. Probably Beitfala' near Bethlehem.

Laish. Not Laish in the tribe of Dan. Anathoth. Now 'Anata. Three miles north-east of Jerusalem.

Verse 31

Madmenah. Not identified. A town of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. See note on Isaiah 25:10 .

Gebim. Not identified. North of Jerusalem.

Verse 32

Nob. A city of the priests, in sight of Jerusalem, from whence Sennacherib shook his hand against the city. Nob only a half day's journey from Jerusalem.

Verse 34

forest. Authorized Version, edition 1611, reads., "forests" (plural) These are Sennacherib's own figures of himself. See 2 Kings 19:23 . Compare Isaiah 29:17 . Ezekiel 31:3-8 . Note the contrast in Isaiah 11:1 .