2 For the indignation H7110 of the LORD H3068 is upon all nations, H1471 and his fury H2534 upon all their armies: H6635 he hath utterly destroyed H2763 them, he hath delivered H5414 them to the slaughter. H2874
And G2532 out of G1537 his G846 mouth G4750 goeth G1607 a sharp G3691 sword, G4501 that G2443 with G1722 it G846 he should smite G3960 the nations: G1484 and G2532 he G846 shall rule G4165 them G846 with G1722 a rod G4464 of iron: G4603 and G2532 he G846 treadeth G3961 the winepress G3025 G3631 of the fierceness G2372 and G2532 wrath G3709 of Almighty G3841 God. G2316 And G2532 he hath G2192 on G1909 his vesture G2440 and G2532 on G1909 his G846 thigh G3382 a name G3686 written, G1125 KING G935 OF KINGS, G935 AND G2532 LORD G2962 OF LORDS. G2962 And G2532 I saw G1492 an G1520 angel G32 standing G2476 in G1722 the sun; G2246 and G2532 he cried G2896 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 saying G3004 to all G3956 the fowls G3732 that fly G4072 in G1722 the midst of heaven, G3321 Come G1205 and G2532 gather yourselves together G4863 unto G1519 the supper G1173 of the great G3173 God; G2316 That G2443 ye may eat G5315 the flesh G4561 of kings, G935 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of captains, G5506 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of mighty men, G2478 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of horses, G2462 and G2532 of them that sit G2521 on G1909 them, G846 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of all G3956 men, both free G1658 and G2532 bond, G1401 both G2532 small G3398 and G2532 great. G3173 And G2532 I saw G1492 the beast, G2342 and G2532 the kings G935 of the earth, G1093 and G2532 their G846 armies, G4753 gathered together G4863 to make G4160 war G4171 against G3326 him that sat G2521 on G1909 the horse, G2462 and G2532 against G3326 his G846 army. G4753 And G2532 the beast G2342 was taken, G4084 and G2532 with G3326 him G5127 the false prophet G5578 that wrought G4160 miracles G4592 before G1799 him, G846 with G1722 which G3739 he deceived G4105 them that had received G2983 the mark G5480 of the beast, G2342 and G2532 them that worshipped G4352 his G846 image. G1504 These both G1417 were cast G906 alive G2198 into G1519 a lake G3041 of fire G4442 burning G2545 with G1722 brimstone. G2303 And G2532 the remnant G3062 were slain G615 with G1722 the sword G4501 of him that sat G2521 upon G1909 the horse, G2462 which G3588 sword proceeded G1607 out of G1537 his G846 mouth: G4750 and G2532 all G3956 the fowls G3732 were filled G5526 with G1537 their G846 flesh. G4561
And G2532 another G243 angel G32 came G1831 out of G1537 the temple, G3485 crying G2896 with G1722 a loud G3173 voice G5456 to him that sat G2521 on G1909 the cloud, G3507 Thrust in G3992 thy G4675 sickle, G1407 and G2532 reap: G2325 for G3754 the time G5610 is come G2064 for thee G4671 to reap; G2325 for G3754 the harvest G2326 of the earth G1093 is ripe. G3583 And G2532 he that sat G2521 on G1909 the cloud G3507 thrust in G906 his G846 sickle G1407 on G1909 the earth; G1093 and G2532 the earth G1093 was reaped. G2325 And G2532 another G243 angel G32 came G1831 out of G1537 the temple G3485 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven, G3772 he G846 also G2532 having G2192 a sharp G3691 sickle. G1407 And G2532 another G243 angel G32 came G1831 out G1537 from the altar, G2379 which had G2192 power G1849 over G1909 fire; G4442 and G2532 cried G5455 with a loud G3173 cry G2906 to him that had G2192 the sharp G3691 sickle, G1407 saying, G3004 Thrust in G3992 thy G4675 sharp G3691 sickle, G1407 and G2532 gather G5166 the clusters G1009 of the vine G288 of the earth; G1093 for G3754 her G846 grapes G4718 are fully ripe. G187 And G2532 the angel G32 thrust in G906 his G846 sickle G1407 into G1519 the earth, G1093 and G2532 gathered G5166 the vine G288 of the earth, G1093 and G2532 cast G906 it into G1519 the great G3173 winepress G3025 of the wrath G2372 of God. G2316 And G2532 the winepress G3025 was trodden G3961 without G1854 the city, G4172 and G2532 blood G129 came G1831 out of G1537 the winepress, G3025 even unto G891 the horse G2462 bridles, G5469 by the space of G575 a thousand G5507 and six hundred G1812 furlongs. G4712
And G2532 I beheld G1492 when G3753 he had opened G455 the sixth G1623 seal, G4973 and, G2532 lo, G2400 there was G1096 a great G3173 earthquake; G4578 and G2532 the sun G2246 became G1096 black G3189 as G5613 sackcloth G4526 of hair, G5155 and G2532 the moon G4582 became G1096 as G5613 blood; G129 And G2532 the stars G792 of heaven G3772 fell G4098 unto G1519 the earth, G1093 even as G5613 a fig tree G4808 casteth G906 her G846 untimely figs, G3653 when she is shaken G4579 of G5259 a mighty G3173 wind. G417 And G2532 the heaven G3772 departed G673 as G5613 a scroll G975 when it is rolled together; G1507 and G2532 every G3956 mountain G3735 and G2532 island G3520 were moved G2795 out of G1537 their G846 places. G5117 And G2532 the kings G935 of the earth, G1093 and G2532 the great men, G3175 and G2532 the rich men, G4145 and G2532 the chief captains, G5506 and G2532 the mighty men, G1415 and G2532 every G3956 bondman, G1401 and G2532 every G3956 free man, G1658 hid G2928 themselves G1438 in G1519 the dens G4693 and G2532 in G1519 the rocks G4073 of the mountains; G3735 And G2532 said G3004 to the mountains G3735 and G2532 rocks, G4073 Fall G4098 on G1909 us, G2248 and G2532 hide G2928 us G2248 from G575 the face G4383 of him that sitteth G2521 on G1909 the throne, G2362 and G2532 from G575 the wrath G3709 of the Lamb: G721 For G3754 the great G3173 day G2250 of his G846 wrath G3709 is come; G2064 and G2532 who G5101 shall be able G1410 to stand? G2476
And this shall be the plague H4046 wherewith the LORD H3068 will smite H5062 all the people H5971 that have fought H6633 against Jerusalem; H3389 Their flesh H1320 shall consume away H4743 while they stand H5975 upon their feet, H7272 and their eyes H5869 shall consume away H4743 in their holes, H2356 and their tongue H3956 shall consume away H4743 in their mouth. H6310 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that a great H7227 tumult H4103 from the LORD H3068 shall be among them; and they shall lay hold H2388 every one H376 on the hand H3027 of his neighbour, H7453 and his hand H3027 shall rise up H5927 against the hand H3027 of his neighbour. H7453 And Judah H3063 also shall fight H3898 at Jerusalem; H3389 and the wealth H2428 of all the heathen H1471 round about H5439 shall be gathered together, H622 gold, H2091 and silver, H3701 and apparel, H899 in great H3966 abundance. H7230 And so shall be the plague H4046 of the horse, H5483 of the mule, H6505 of the camel, H1581 and of the ass, H2543 and of all the beasts H929 that shall be in these H1992 tents, H4264 as this plague. H4046 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left H3498 of all the nations H1471 which came H935 against Jerusalem H3389 shall even go up H5927 from H1767 year H8141 to year H8141 to worship H7812 the King, H4428 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521
God H410 is jealous, H7072 and the LORD H3068 revengeth; H5358 the LORD H3068 revengeth, H5358 and is furious; H1167 H2534 the LORD H3068 will take vengeance H5358 on his adversaries, H6862 and he reserveth H5201 wrath for his enemies. H341 The LORD H3068 is slow H750 to anger, H639 and great H1419 in power, H3581 and will not at all H5352 acquit H5352 the wicked: the LORD H3068 hath his way H1870 in the whirlwind H5492 and in the storm, H8183 and the clouds H6051 are the dust H80 of his feet. H7272 He rebuketh H1605 the sea, H3220 and maketh it dry, H2717 and drieth up H3001 all the rivers: H5104 Bashan H1316 languisheth, H535 and Carmel, H3760 and the flower H6525 of Lebanon H3844 languisheth. H535 The mountains H2022 quake H7493 at him, and the hills H1389 melt, H4127 and the earth H776 is burned H5375 at his presence, H6440 yea, the world, H8398 and all that dwell H3427 therein. Who can stand H5975 before H6440 his indignation? H2195 and who can abide H6965 in the fierceness H2740 of his anger? H639 his fury H2534 is poured out H5413 like fire, H784 and the rocks H6697 are thrown down H5422 by him.
The words H1697 of Amos, H5986 who was among the herdmen H5349 of Tekoa, H8620 which he saw H2372 concerning Israel H3478 in the days H3117 of Uzziah H5818 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and in the days H3117 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 two years H8141 before H6440 the earthquake. H7494 And he said, H559 The LORD H3068 will roar H7580 from Zion, H6726 and utter H5414 his voice H6963 from Jerusalem; H3389 and the habitations H4999 of the shepherds H7462 shall mourn, H56 and the top H7218 of Carmel H3760 shall wither. H3001
Proclaim H7121 ye this among the Gentiles; H1471 Prepare H6942 war, H4421 wake up H5782 the mighty men, H1368 let all the men H582 of war H4421 draw near; H5066 let them come up: H5927 Beat H3807 your plowshares H855 into swords, H2719 and your pruninghooks H4211 into spears: H7420 let the weak H2523 say, H559 I am strong. H1368 Assemble H5789 yourselves, and come, H935 all ye heathen, H1471 and gather yourselves together H6908 round about: H5439 thither cause thy mighty ones H1368 to come down, H5181 O LORD. H3068 Let the heathen H1471 be wakened, H5782 and come up H5927 to the valley H6010 of Jehoshaphat: H3092 for there will I sit H3427 to judge H8199 all the heathen H1471 round about. H5439 Put H7971 ye in the sickle, H4038 for the harvest H7105 is ripe: H1310 come, H935 get you down; H3381 for the press H1660 is full, H4390 the fats H3342 overflow; H7783 for their wickedness H7451 is great. H7227 Multitudes, H1995 multitudes H1995 in the valley H6010 of decision: H2742 for the day H3117 of the LORD H3068 is near H7138 in the valley H6010 of decision. H2742
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 unto me; Take H3947 the wine H3196 cup H3563 of this fury H2534 at my hand, H3027 and cause all the nations, H1471 to whom I send H7971 thee, to drink H8248 it. And they shall drink, H8354 and be moved, H1607 and be mad, H1984 because H6440 of the sword H2719 that I will send H7971 among them. Then took H3947 I the cup H3563 at the LORD'S H3068 hand, H3027 and made all the nations H1471 to drink, H8248 unto whom the LORD H3068 had sent H7971 me: To wit, Jerusalem, H3389 and the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and the kings H4428 thereof, and the princes H8269 thereof, to make H5414 them a desolation, H2723 an astonishment, H8047 an hissing, H8322 and a curse; H7045 as it is this day; H3117 Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt, H4714 and his servants, H5650 and his princes, H8269 and all his people; H5971 And all the mingled H6153 people, and all the kings H4428 of the land H776 of Uz, H5780 and all the kings H4428 of the land H776 of the Philistines, H6430 and Ashkelon, H831 and Azzah, H5804 and Ekron, H6138 and the remnant H7611 of Ashdod, H795 Edom, H123 and Moab, H4124 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 And all the kings H4428 of Tyrus, H6865 and all the kings H4428 of Zidon, H6721 and the kings H4428 of the isles H339 which are beyond H5676 the sea, H3220 Dedan, H1719 and Tema, H8485 and Buz, H938 and all that are in the utmost H7112 corners, H6285 And all the kings H4428 of Arabia, H6152 and all the kings H4428 of the mingled people H6153 that dwell H7931 in the desert, H4057 And all the kings H4428 of Zimri, H2174 and all the kings H4428 of Elam, H5867 and all the kings H4428 of the Medes, H4074 And all the kings H4428 of the north, H6828 far H7350 and near, H7138 one H376 with another, H251 and all the kingdoms H4467 of the world, H776 which are upon the face H6440 of the earth: H127 and the king H4428 of Sheshach H8347 shall drink H8354 after H310 them. Therefore thou shalt say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Drink H8354 ye, and be drunken, H7937 and spue, H7006 and fall, H5307 and rise H6965 no more, because H6440 of the sword H2719 which I will send H7971 among you. And it shall be, if they refuse H3985 to take H3947 the cup H3563 at thine hand H3027 to drink, H8354 then shalt thou say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Ye shall certainly H8354 drink. H8354 For, lo, I begin H2490 to bring evil H7489 on the city H5892 which is called H7121 by my name, H8034 and should ye be utterly H5352 unpunished? H5352 Ye shall not be unpunished: H5352 for I will call H7121 for a sword H2719 upon all the inhabitants H3427 of the earth, H776 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
Behold, the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 cometh H935 from far, H4801 burning H1197 with his anger, H639 and the burden H4858 thereof is heavy: H3514 his lips H8193 are full H4390 of indignation, H2195 and his tongue H3956 as a devouring H398 fire: H784 And his breath, H7307 as an overflowing H7857 stream, H5158 shall reach to the midst H2673 of the neck, H6677 to sift H5130 the nations H1471 with the sieve H5299 of vanity: H7723 and there shall be a bridle H7448 in the jaws H3895 of the people, H5971 causing them to err. H8582 Ye shall have a song, H7892 as in the night H3915 when a holy H6942 solemnity H2282 is kept; H6942 and gladness H8057 of heart, H3824 as when one goeth H1980 with a pipe H2485 to come H935 into the mountain H2022 of the LORD, H3068 to the mighty One H6697 of Israel. H3478 And the LORD H3068 shall cause his glorious H1935 voice H6963 to be heard, H8085 and shall shew H7200 the lighting down H5183 of his arm, H2220 with the indignation H2197 of his anger, H639 and with the flame H3851 of a devouring H398 fire, H784 with scattering, H5311 and tempest, H2230 and hailstones. H68 H1259
Behold, the LORD H3068 maketh the earth H776 empty, H1238 and maketh it waste, H1110 and turneth H5753 it upside down, H6440 and scattereth abroad H6327 the inhabitants H3427 thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, H5971 so with the priest; H3548 as with the servant, H5650 so with his master; H113 as with the maid, H8198 so with her mistress; H1404 as with the buyer, H7069 so with the seller; H4376 as with the lender, H3867 so with the borrower; H3867 as with the taker of usury, H5383 so H834 with the giver of usury H5378 to him. The land H776 shall be utterly H1238 emptied, H1238 and utterly H962 spoiled: H962 for the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 this word. H1697 The earth H776 mourneth H56 and fadeth away, H5034 the world H8398 languisheth H535 and fadeth away, H5034 the haughty H4791 people H5971 of the earth H776 do languish. H535 The earth H776 also is defiled H2610 under the inhabitants H3427 thereof; because they have transgressed H5674 the laws, H8451 changed H2498 the ordinance, H2706 broken H6565 the everlasting H5769 covenant. H1285 Therefore hath the curse H423 devoured H398 the earth, H776 and they that dwell H3427 therein are desolate: H816 therefore the inhabitants H3427 of the earth H776 are burned, H2787 and few H4213 men H582 left. H7604 The new wine H8492 mourneth, H56 the vine H1612 languisheth, H535 all the merryhearted H8056 H3820 do sigh. H584 The mirth H4885 of tabrets H8596 ceaseth, H7673 the noise H7588 of them that rejoice H5947 endeth, H2308 the joy H4885 of the harp H3658 ceaseth. H7673 They shall not drink H8354 wine H3196 with a song; H7892 strong drink H7941 shall be bitter H4843 to them that drink H8354 it. The city H7151 of confusion H8414 is broken down: H7665 every house H1004 is shut up, H5462 that no man may come in. H935 There is a crying H6682 for wine H3196 in the streets; H2351 all joy H8057 is darkened, H6150 the mirth H4885 of the land H776 is gone. H1540 In the city H5892 is left H7604 desolation, H8047 and the gate H8179 is smitten H3807 with destruction. H7591 When thus it shall be in the midst H7130 of the land H776 among H8432 the people, H5971 there shall be as the shaking H5363 of an olive tree, H2132 and as the gleaning grapes H5955 when the vintage H1210 is done. H3615 They shall lift up H5375 their voice, H6963 they shall sing H7442 for the majesty H1347 of the LORD, H3068 they shall cry aloud H6670 from the sea. H3220 Wherefore glorify H3513 ye the LORD H3068 in the fires, H217 even the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 in the isles H339 of the sea. H3220 From the uttermost part H3671 of the earth H776 have we heard H8085 songs, H2158 even glory H6643 to the righteous. H6662 But I said, H559 My leanness, H7334 my leanness, H7334 woe H188 unto me! the treacherous dealers H898 have dealt treacherously; H898 yea, the treacherous dealers H898 have dealt very H899 treacherously. H898 Fear, H6343 and the pit, H6354 and the snare, H6341 are upon thee, O inhabitant H3427 of the earth. H776 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth H5127 from the noise H6963 of the fear H6343 shall fall H5307 into the pit; H6354 and he that cometh up H5927 out of the midst H8432 of the pit H6354 shall be taken H3920 in the snare: H6341 for the windows H699 from on high H4791 are open, H6605 and the foundations H4146 of the earth H776 do shake. H7493 The earth H776 is utterly H7489 broken down, H7489 the earth H776 is clean H6565 dissolved, H6565 the earth H776 is moved H4131 exceedingly. H4131 The earth H776 shall reel H5128 to and fro H5128 like a drunkard, H7910 and shall be removed H5110 like a cottage; H4412 and the transgression H6588 thereof shall be heavy H3513 upon it; and it shall fall, H5307 and not rise H6965 again. H3254 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that the LORD H3068 shall punish H6485 the host H6635 of the high ones H4791 that are on high, H4791 and the kings H4428 of the earth H127 upon the earth. H127 And they shall be gathered together, H622 as prisoners H616 are gathered H626 in the pit, H953 and shall be shut up H5462 in the prison, H4525 and after many H7230 days H3117 shall they be visited. H6485 Then the moon H3842 shall be confounded, H2659 and the sun H2535 ashamed, H954 when the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 shall reign H4427 in mount H2022 Zion, H6726 and in Jerusalem, H3389 and before his ancients H2205 gloriously. H3519
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 34
Commentary on Isaiah 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 34
Isa 34:1-17. Judgment on Idumea.
The thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth chapters form one prophecy, the former part of which denounces God's judgment against His people's enemies, of whom Edom is the representative; the second part, of the flourishing state of the Church consequent on those judgments. This forms the termination of the prophecies of the first part of Isaiah (the thirty-sixth through thirty-ninth chapters being historical) and is a kind of summary of what went before, setting forth the one main truth, Israel shall be delivered from all its foes, and happier times shall succeed under Messiah.
1. All creation is summoned to hear God's judgments (Eze 6:3; De 32:1; Ps 50:4; Mic 6:1, 2), for they set forth His glory, which is the end of creation (Re 15:3; 4:11).
that come forth of it—answering to "all that is therein"; or Hebrew, "all whatever fills it," Margin.
2. utterly destroyed—rather, "doomed them to an utter curse" [Horsley].
delivered—rather, "appointed."
3. cast out—unburied (Isa 14:19).
melted—washed away as with a descending torrent.
4. (Ps 102:26; Joe 2:31; 3:15; Mt 24:29).
dissolved—(2Pe 3:10-12). Violent convulsions of nature are in Scripture made the images of great changes in the human world (Isa 24:19-21), and shall literally accompany them at the winding up of the present dispensation.
scroll—Books were in those days sheets of parchment rolled together (Re 6:14).
fall down—The stars shall fall when the heavens in which they are fixed pass away.
fig tree—(Re 6:13).
5. sword—(Jer 46:10). Or else, knife for sacrifice for God does not here appear as a warrior with His sword, but as one about to sacrifice victims doomed to slaughter [Vitringa]. (Eze 39:17).
bathed—rather "intoxicated," namely, with anger (so De 32:42). "In heaven" implies the place where God's purpose of wrath is formed in antithesis to its "coming down" in the next clause.
Idumea—originally extending from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea; afterwards they obtained possession of the country east of Moab, of which Bozrah was capital. Petra or Selah, called Joktheel (2Ki 14:7), was capital of South Edom (see on Isa 16:1). David subjugated Edom (2Sa 8:13, 14). Under Jehoram they regained independence (2Ch 21:8). Under Amaziah they were again subdued, and Selah taken (2Ki 14:7). When Judah was captive in Babylon, Edom, in every way, insulted over her fallen mistress, killed many of those Jews whom the Chaldeans had left, and hence was held guilty of fratricide by God (Esau, their ancestor, having been brother to Jacob): this was the cause of the denunciations of the prophets against Edom (Isa 63:1, &c.; Jer 49:7; Eze 25:12-14; 35:3-15; Joe 3:19; Am 1:11, 12; Ob 8, 10, 12-18; Mal 1:3,4). Nebuchadnezzar humbled Idumea accordingly (Jer 25:15-21).
of my curse—that is, doomed to it.
to judgment—that is, to execute it.
6. filled—glutted. The image of a sacrifice is continued.
blood … fat—the parts especially devoted to God in a sacrifice (2Sa 1:22).
lambs … goats—sacrificial animals: the Idumeans, of all classes, doomed to slaughter, are meant (Zep 1:7).
Bozrah—called Bostra by the Romans, &c., assigned in Jer 48:24 to Moab, so that it seems to have been at one time in the dominion of Edom, and at another in that of Moab (Isa 63:1; Jer 49:13, 20, 22); it was strictly not in Edom, but the capital of Auranitis (the Houran). Edom seems to have extended its dominion so as to include it (compare La 4:21).
7. unicorns—Hebrew, reem: conveying the idea of loftiness, power, and pre-eminence (see on Job 39:9), in the Bible. At one time the image in the term answers to a reality in nature; at another it symbolizes an abstraction. The rhinoceros was the original type. The Arab rim is two-horned: it was the oryx (the leucoryx, antelope, bold and pugnacious); but when accident or artifice deprived it of one horn, the notion of the unicorn arose. Here is meant the portion of the Edomites which was strong and warlike.
come down—rather, "fall down," slain [Lowth].
with them—with the "lambs and goats," the less powerful Edomites (Isa 34:6).
bullocks … bulls—the young and old Edomites: all classes.
dust—ground.
8. recompenses for the controversy of Zion—that is, the year when God will retaliate on those who have contended with Zion. Her controversy is His. Edom had thought to extend its borders by laying hold of its neighbor's lands and has instigated Babylon to cruelty towards fallen Judah (Ps 137:7; Eze 36:5); therefore Edom shall suffer the same herself (La 4:21, 22). The final winding up of the controversy between God and all enemies of Him and His people is also foreshadowed (Isa 61:2; 63:4; 66:14-16; Mal 4:1, 3; 2Th 1:7, 8, 9; Re 11:18; 18:20; 19:2).
9. Images from the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ge 19:24-28; so De 29:23; Jer 49:17, 18).
10. It—The burning pitch, &c. (Isa 34:9).
smoke … for ever—(Re 14:11; 18:18; 19:3).
generation to generation—(Mal 1:4).
none … pass through—Edom's original offense was: they would not let Israel pass through their land in peace to Canaan: God recompenses them in kind, no traveller shall pass through Edom. Volney, the infidel, was forced to confirm the truth of this prophecy: "From the reports of the Arabs, southeast of the Dead Sea, within three days' journey are upwards of thirty ruined towns, absolutely deserted."
11. cormorant—The Hebrew is rendered, in Ps 102:6, "pelican," which is a seafowl, and cannot be meant here: some waterfowl (katta, according to Burckhardt) that tenants desert places is intended.
bittern—rather, "the hedgehog," or "porcupine" [Gesenius] (Isa 14:23).
owl—from its being enumerated among water birds in Le 11:17; De 14:16. Maurer thinks rather the heron or crane is meant; from a Hebrew root, "to blow," as it utters a sound like the blowing of a horn (Re 18:2).
confusion—devastation.
line … stones—metaphor from an architect with line and plummet-stone (see on Isa 18:2; Isa 28:17); God will render to it the exact measure of justice without mercy (Jas 2:13; 2Ki 21:13; La 2:8; Am 7:7, 8).
emptiness—desolation. Edom is now a waste of "stones."
12. Rather, "As to her nobles, there shall be none there who shall declare a kingdom," that is, a king [Maurer]; or else, "There shall be no one there whom they shall call to the kingdom" [Rosenmuller] (Isa 3:6, &c.). Idumea was at first governed by dukes (Ge 36:15); out of them the king wan chosen when the constitution became a monarchy.
13. dragons—(See on Isa 13:21; Isa 13:22).
court for owls—rather, "a dwelling for ostriches."
14. wild beasts of the desert … island—rather, "wild cats … jackals" (Isa 13:21).
screech owl—rather, "the night specter"; in Jewish superstition a female, elegantly dressed, that carried off children by night. The text does not assert the existence of such objects of superstition, but describes the place as one which superstition would people with such beings.
15. great owl—rather, "the arrow snake," so called from its darting on its prey [Gesenius].
lay—namely, eggs.
gather under her shadow—rather, "cherishes" her young under, &c. (Jer 17:11).
16. book of the Lord—the volume in which the various prophecies and other parts of Scripture began henceforward to be collected together (Isa 30:8; Da 9:2).
Seek—(so Isa 8:16, 20; Joh 5:39; 7:52).
no one … fail—of these prophecies (Mt 5:18).
none shall want … mate—image from pairing of animals mentioned, Isa 34:15 ("mate"); no prediction shall want a fulfilment as its companion. Or rather, "none of these wild animals (just spoken of) shall be wanting: none shall be without its mate" to pair and breed with, in desolate Idumea.
my … his—Such changes of person are frequent in Hebrew poetry.
them—the wild beasts.
17. cast … lot—As conquerors apportion lands by lot, so Jehovah has appointed and marked out ("divided") Edom for the wild beasts (Nu 26:55, 56; Jos 18:4-6).