5 For my sword H2719 shall be bathed H7301 in heaven: H8064 behold, it shall come down H3381 upon Idumea, H123 and upon the people H5971 of my curse, H2764 to judgment. H4941
Whereas Edom H123 saith, H559 We are impoverished, H7567 but we will return H7725 and build H1129 the desolate places; H2723 thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 They shall build, H1129 but I will throw down; H2040 and they shall call H7121 them, The border H1366 of wickedness, H7564 and, The people H5971 against whom the LORD H3068 hath indignation H2194 for H5704 ever. H5769
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 For three H7969 transgressions H6588 of Edom, H123 and for four, H702 I will not turn away H7725 the punishment thereof; because he did pursue H7291 his brother H251 with the sword, H2719 and did cast off H7843 all pity, H7356 and his anger H639 did tear H2963 perpetually, H5703 and he kept H8104 his wrath H5678 for ever: H5331 But I will send H7971 a fire H784 upon Teman, H8487 which shall devour H398 the palaces H759 of Bozrah. H1224
For this is the day H3117 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts, H6635 a day H3117 of vengeance, H5360 that he may avenge H5358 him of his adversaries: H6862 and the sword H2719 shall devour, H398 and it shall be satiate H7646 and made drunk H7301 with their blood: H1818 for the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 hath a sacrifice H2077 in the north H6828 country H776 by the river H5104 Euphrates. H6578
Who is this that cometh H935 from Edom, H123 with dyed H2556 garments H899 from Bozrah? H1224 this that is glorious H1921 in his apparel, H3830 travelling H6808 in the greatness H7230 of his strength? H3581 I that speak H1696 in righteousness, H6666 mighty H7227 to save. H3467
Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because that Edom H123 hath dealt H6213 against the house H1004 of Judah H3063 by taking H5358 vengeance, H5359 and hath greatly H816 offended, H816 and revenged H5358 himself upon them; Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 I will also stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 upon Edom, H123 and will cut off H3772 man H120 and beast H929 from it; and I will make H5414 it desolate H2723 from Teman; H8487 and they of Dedan H1719 shall fall H5307 by the sword. H2719 And I will lay H5414 my vengeance H5360 upon Edom H123 by the hand H3027 of my people H5971 Israel: H3478 and they shall do H6213 in Edom H123 according to mine anger H639 and according to my fury; H2534 and they shall know H3045 my vengeance, H5360 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
And say H559 to the land H127 of Israel, H3478 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth H3318 my sword H2719 out of his sheath, H8593 and will cut off H3772 from thee the righteous H6662 and the wicked. H7563 Seeing H3282 then that I will cut off H3772 from thee the righteous H6662 and the wicked, H7563 therefore shall my sword H2719 go forth H3318 out of his sheath H8593 against all flesh H1320 from the south H5045 to the north: H6828 That all flesh H1320 may know H3045 that I the LORD H3068 have drawn forth H3318 my sword H2719 out of his sheath: H8593 it shall not return H7725 any more.
Concerning Edom, H123 thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Is wisdom H2451 no more in Teman? H8487 is counsel H6098 perished H6 from the prudent? H995 is their wisdom H2451 vanished? H5628 Flee H5127 ye, turn back, H6437 dwell H3427 deep, H6009 O inhabitants H3427 of Dedan; H1719 for I will bring H935 the calamity H343 of Esau H6215 upon him, the time H6256 that I will visit H6485 him. If grapegatherers H1219 come H935 to thee, would they not leave H7604 some gleaning grapes? H5955 if thieves H1590 by night, H3915 they will destroy H7843 till they have enough. H1767 But I have made Esau H6215 bare, H2834 I have uncovered H1540 his secret places, H4565 and he shall not be able H3201 to hide H2247 himself: his seed H2233 is spoiled, H7703 and his brethren, H251 and his neighbours, H7934 and he is not. Leave H5800 thy fatherless children, H3490 I will preserve them alive; H2421 and let thy widows H490 trust H982 in me. For thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, they whose judgment H4941 was not to drink H8354 of the cup H3563 have assuredly H8354 drunken; H8354 and art thou he that shall altogether H5352 go unpunished? H5352 thou shalt not go unpunished, H5352 but thou shalt surely H8354 drink H8354 of it. For I have sworn H7650 by myself, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that Bozrah H1224 shall become a desolation, H8047 a reproach, H2781 a waste, H2721 and a curse; H7045 and all the cities H5892 thereof shall be perpetual H5769 wastes. H2723 I have heard H8085 a rumour H8052 from the LORD, H3068 and an ambassador H6735 is sent H7971 unto the heathen, H1471 saying, Gather ye together, H6908 and come H935 against her, and rise up H6965 to the battle. H4421 For, lo, I will make H5414 thee small H6996 among the heathen, H1471 and despised H959 among men. H120 Thy terribleness H8606 hath deceived H5377 thee, and the pride H2087 of thine heart, H3820 O thou that dwellest H7931 in the clefts H2288 of the rock, H5553 that holdest H8610 the height H4791 of the hill: H1389 though thou shouldest make thy nest H7064 as high H1361 as the eagle, H5404 I will bring thee down H3381 from thence, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Also Edom H123 shall be a desolation: H8047 every one that goeth H5674 by it shall be astonished, H8074 and shall hiss H8319 at all the plagues H4347 thereof. As in the overthrow H4114 of Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 and the neighbour H7934 cities thereof, saith H559 the LORD, H3068 no man H376 shall abide H3427 there, neither shall a son H1121 of man H120 dwell H1481 in it. Behold, he shall come up H5927 like a lion H738 from the swelling H1347 of Jordan H3383 against the habitation H5116 of the strong: H386 but I will suddenly H7280 make him run away H7323 from her: and who is a chosen H977 man, that I may appoint H6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? H3259 and who is that shepherd H7462 that will stand H5975 before H6440 me? Therefore hear H8085 the counsel H6098 of the LORD, H3068 that he hath taken H3289 against Edom; H123 and his purposes, H4284 that he hath purposed H2803 against the inhabitants H3427 of Teman: H8487 Surely the least H6810 of the flock H6629 shall draw them out: H5498 surely he shall make their habitations H5116 desolate H8074 with them. The earth H776 is moved H7493 at the noise H6963 of their fall, H5307 at the cry H6818 the noise H6963 thereof was heard H8085 in the Red H5488 sea. H3220 Behold, he shall come up H5927 and fly H1675 as the eagle, H5404 and spread H6566 his wings H3671 over Bozrah: H1224 and at that day H3117 shall the heart H3820 of the mighty men H1368 of Edom H123 be as the heart H3820 of a woman H802 in her pangs. H6887
Ye Ethiopians H3569 also, ye H1992 shall be slain H2491 by my sword. H2719
The vision H2377 of Obadiah. H5662 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 concerning Edom; H123 We have heard H8085 a rumour H8052 from the LORD, H3068 and an ambassador H6735 is sent H7971 among the heathen, H1471 Arise H6965 ye, and let us rise up H6965 against her in battle. H4421 Behold, I have made H5414 thee small H6996 among the heathen: H1471 thou art greatly H3966 despised. H959 The pride H2087 of thine heart H3820 hath deceived H5377 thee, thou that dwellest H7931 in the clefts H2288 of the rock, H5553 whose habitation H3427 is high; H4791 that saith H559 in his heart, H3820 Who shall bring me down H3381 to the ground? H776 Though thou exalt H1361 thyself as the eagle, H5404 and though thou set H7760 thy nest H7064 among the stars, H3556 thence will I bring thee down, H3381 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 If thieves H1590 came H935 to thee, if robbers H7703 by night, H3915 (how art thou cut off!) H1820 would they not have stolen H1589 till they had enough? H1767 if the grapegatherers H1219 came H935 to thee, would they not leave H7604 some grapes? H5955 How are the things of Esau H6215 searched out! H2664 how are his hidden H4710 things sought up! H1158 All the men H582 of thy confederacy H1285 have brought H7971 thee even to the border: H1366 the men H582 that were at peace H7965 with thee have deceived H5377 thee, and prevailed H3201 against thee; they that eat thy bread H3899 have laid H7760 a wound H4204 under thee: there is none understanding H8394 in him. Shall I not in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 even destroy H6 the wise H2450 men out of Edom, H123 and understanding H8394 out of the mount H2022 of Esau? H6215 And thy mighty H1368 men, O Teman, H8487 shall be dismayed, H2865 to the end that every one H376 of the mount H2022 of Esau H6215 may be cut off H3772 by slaughter. H6993 For thy violence H2555 against thy brother H251 Jacob H3290 shame H955 shall cover H3680 thee, and thou shalt be cut off H3772 for ever. H5769 In the day H3117 that thou stoodest H5975 on the other side, in the day H3117 that the strangers H2114 carried away captive H7617 his forces, H2428 and foreigners H5237 entered H935 into his gates, H8179 and cast H3032 lots H1486 upon Jerusalem, H3389 even thou wast as one H259 of them. But thou shouldest not have looked H7200 on the day H3117 of thy brother H251 in the day H3117 that he became a stranger; H5235 neither shouldest thou have rejoiced H8055 over the children H1121 of Judah H3063 in the day H3117 of their destruction; H6 neither shouldest thou have spoken H6310 proudly H1431 in the day H3117 of distress. H6869 Thou shouldest not have entered H935 into the gate H8179 of my people H5971 in the day H3117 of their calamity; H343 yea, thou shouldest not have looked H7200 on their affliction H7451 in the day H3117 of their calamity, H343 nor have laid H7971 hands on their substance H2428 in the day H3117 of their calamity; H343 Neither shouldest thou have stood H5975 in the crossway, H6563 to cut off H3772 those of his that did escape; H6412 neither shouldest thou have delivered up H5462 those of his that did remain H8300 in the day H3117 of distress. H6869
Son H1121 of man, H120 prophesy, H5012 and say, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Say, H559 A sword, H2719 a sword H2719 is sharpened, H2300 and also furbished: H4803 It is sharpened H2300 to make a sore H2874 slaughter; H2873 it is furbished H4178 that it may glitter: H1300 should H176 we then make mirth? H7797 it contemneth H3988 the rod H7626 of my son, H1121 as every tree. H6086 And he hath given H5414 it to be furbished, H4803 that it may be handled: H3709 H8610 this sword H2719 is sharpened, H2300 and it is furbished, H4178 to give H5414 it into the hand H3027 of the slayer. H2026
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
If I whet H8150 my glittering H1300 sword, H2719 and mine hand H3027 take hold H270 on judgment; H4941 I will render H7725 vengeance H5359 to mine enemies, H6862 and will reward H7999 them that hate H8130 me. I will make mine arrows H2671 drunk H7937 with blood, H1818 and my sword H2719 shall devour H398 flesh; H1320 and that with the blood H1818 of the slain H2491 and of the captives, H7633 from the beginning H7218 of revenges H6546 upon the enemy. H341
Butter H2529 of kine, H1241 and milk H2461 of sheep, H6629 with fat H2459 of lambs, H3733 and rams H352 of the breed H1121 of Bashan, H1316 and goats, H6260 with the fat H2459 of kidneys H3629 of wheat; H2406 and thou didst drink H8354 the pure H2561 blood H1818 of the grape. H6025
Lest there should be H3426 among you man, H376 or woman, H802 or family, H4940 or tribe, H7626 whose heart H3824 turneth away H6437 this day H3117 from the LORD H3068 our God, H430 to go H3212 and serve H5647 the gods H430 of these nations; H1471 lest there should be H3426 among you a root H8328 that beareth H6509 gall H7219 and wormwood; H3939 And it come to pass, when he heareth H8085 the words H1697 of this curse, H423 that he bless H1288 himself in his heart, H3824 saying, H559 I shall have peace, H7965 though H3588 I walk H3212 in the imagination H8307 of mine heart, H3820 to add H5595 drunkenness H7302 to thirst: H6771 The LORD H3068 will H14 not spare H5545 him, but then the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 and his jealousy H7068 shall smoke H6225 against that man, H376 and all the curses H423 that are written H3789 in this book H5612 shall lie H7257 upon him, and the LORD H3068 shall blot out H4229 his name H8034 from under heaven. H8064 And the LORD H3068 shall separate H914 him unto evil H7451 out of all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 according to all the curses H423 of the covenant H1285 that are written H3789 in this book H5612 of the law: H8451
Cursed H779 be the man H376 that maketh H6213 any graven H6459 or molten image, H4541 an abomination H8441 unto the LORD, H3068 the work H4639 of the hands H3027 of the craftsman, H2796 and putteth H7760 it in a secret H5643 place. And all the people H5971 shall answer H6030 and say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that setteth light H7034 by his father H1 or his mother. H517 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that removeth H5253 his neighbour's H7453 landmark. H1366 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that maketh the blind H5787 to wander H7686 out of the way. H1870 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that perverteth H5186 the judgment H4941 of the stranger, H1616 fatherless, H3490 and widow. H490 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his father's H1 wife; H802 because he uncovereth H1540 his father's H1 skirt. H3671 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with any manner of beast. H929 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his sister, H269 the daughter H1323 of his father, H1 or the daughter H1323 of his mother. H517 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that lieth H7901 with his mother in law. H2859 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that smiteth H5221 his neighbour H7453 secretly. H5643 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that taketh H3947 reward H7810 to slay H5221 an innocent H5355 person. H5315 H1818 And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543 Cursed H779 be he that confirmeth H6965 not all the words H1697 of this law H8451 to do H6213 them. And all the people H5971 shall say, H559 Amen. H543
If any man G1536 love G5368 not G3756 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 let him be G2277 Anathema G331 Maranatha. G3134
And G2532 he had G2192 in G1722 his G846 right G1188 hand G5495 seven G2033 stars: G792 and G2532 out of G1537 his G846 mouth G4750 went G1607 a sharp G3691 twoedged G1366 sword: G4501 and G2532 his G846 countenance G3799 was as G5613 the sun G2246 shineth G5316 in G1722 his G846 strength. G1411
Having G2192 eyes G3788 full G3324 of adultery, G3428 and G2532 that cannot cease from G180 sin; G266 beguiling G1185 unstable G793 souls: G5590 an heart G2588 they have G2192 exercised G1128 with covetous practices; G4124 cursed G2671 children: G5043
For G1063 as many as G3745 are G1526 of G1537 the works G2041 of the law G3551 are G1526 under G5259 the curse: G2671 for G1063 it is written, G1125 Cursed G1944 is every one G3956 that G3739 continueth G1696 not G3756 in G1722 all things G3956 which G3588 are written G1125 in G1722 the book G975 of the law G3551 to do G4160 them. G846
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).