Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations.

“This is . . . purpose . . . whole earth--A hint that the prophecy embraces the present world of all ages in its scope, of which the purpose concerning Babylon and Assyria, the then representatives of the world power, is but a part.”

In the year that King Ahaz died, this burden was received:

“PROPHECY AGAINST PHILISTIA. To comfort the Jews, lest they should fear that people; not in order to call the Philistines to repentance, since the prophecy was probably never circulated among them.”

Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken.

“Uzziah was doubtless regarded by the Philistines as a biting "serpent." But though the effects of his bite have been got rid of, a more deadly viper, or "cockatrice" (literally, "viper's offspring," as Philistia would regard him), namely, Hezekiah awaits you (2Ki 18:8).”

Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be…

“Compare Ps 72:4, "Children of the needy," expressing those "needy in condition." feed--image from a flock feeding in safety. root--radical destruction. He shall slay--Jehovah shall. The change of person, "He" after "I," is a common Hebraism.”

This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

“Same town as Dimon (Isa 15:9). to weep--at the sudden calamity. over Nebo--rather "in Nebo"; not "on account of" Nebo (compare Isa 15:3) [MAURER]. The town Nebo was adjacent to the mountain, not far from the northern shore of the Dead Sea.”

Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.

“Jahaz--east of Jordan, in Reuben. Near it Moses defeated Sihon. therefore--because of the sudden overthrow of their cities. Even the armed men, instead of fighting in defense of their land, shall join in the general cry. life, &c.--rather, "his soul is grieved" (1Sa 1:8) [MAURER].”

My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah.

“Ministers, in denouncing the wrath of God against sinners, should do it with tender sorrow, not with exultation. fugitives--fleeing from Moab, wander as far as to Zoar, on the extreme boundary south of the Dead Sea. HORSLEY translates, "her nobility," or "rulers" (Ho 4:18).”

The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.

“For--the cause of their flight southwards (2Ki 3:19, 25). "For" the northern regions and even the city Nimrim (the very name of which means "limpid waters," in Gilead near Jordan) are without water or herbage.”

So they carry their wealth and belongings over the Brook of the Willows.

“Therefore--because of the devastation of the land. abundance--literally, "that which is over and above" the necessaries of life. brook of . . . willows--The fugitives flee from Nimrim, where the waters have failed, to places better watered.”

Send the tribute lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion.

“Type of the need of submitting to Messiah (Ps 2:10-12; Ro 12:1). from Sela to--rather, "from Petra through (literally, 'towards') the wilderness" [MAURER]. "Sela" means "a rock," Petra in Greek; the capital of Idumea and Arabia-Petræa; the dwellings are mostly hewn out of the rock.”

Let my fugitives stay with you; be a refuge for Moab from the destroyer.” When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ceased, and the oppressors have vanished from the land,

“Rather, "Let the outcasts of Moab dwell with thee" (Judah) [HORSLEY]. for the extortioner, &c.--The Assyrian oppressor probably.”

Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.

“Therefore--all hope of being allowed shelter by the Jews being cut off. foundations--that is, "ruins"; because, when houses are pulled down, the "foundations" alone are left (Isa 58:12).”

And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people.

“Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrians led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, &c., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture.”

This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.

“Damascus--put before Israel (Ephraim, Isa 17:3), which is chiefly referred to in what follows, because it was the prevailing power in the league; with it Ephraim either stood or fell (Isa 7:1-25).”

For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge.

“God of . . . salvation . . . rock-- (De 32:15, 18). plants--rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [MAURER]. set in--rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds. strange slips--cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable.”

though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout—yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable…

“As soon as thou plantest, it grows. in the morning--that is, immediately after; so in Ps 90:14, the Hebrew, "in the morning," is translated "early." but . . . shall be a heap--rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone" [HORSLEY].”

All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will…

“Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the common enemy, 713 B.C. See notes on the twenty-second chapter, where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to Ethiopia is observable.”

“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

“NEWTON refers it to the civil wars between Apries and Amasis at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion; also between Tachos, Nectanebus, and the Mendesians, just before Ochus subdued Egypt. kingdom against kingdom--The Septuagint has "nome against nome"; Egypt was divided into forty-two nomes or districts.”

The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.

“A public record is kept at Cairo of the daily rise of the water at the proper time of overflow, namely, August: if it rises to a less height than twelve cubits, it will not overflow the land, and famine must be the result.”

The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither.

“HORSLEY, with the Septuagint, translates, "And waters from the sea shall be drunk"; by the failure of the river water they shall be reduced to sea water.”

The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?

“I am . . . son of the wise . . . kings--Ye have no advice to suggest to Pharaoh in the crisis, notwithstanding that ye boast of descent from wise and royal ancestors. The priests were the usual "counsellors" of the Egyptian king.”

The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

“Greek, Memphis (Ho 9:6); on the western bank of the Nile, capital of Lower Egypt, second only to Thebes in all Egypt: residence of the kings, until the Ptolemies removed to Alexandria; the word means the "port of the good" [PLUTARCH].”

The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.

“HORSLEY translates, "with respect to all His (God's) work"; they misinterpreted God's dealings at every step.”

Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it,

“GESENIUS takes "Tartan" as a title. Ashdod--called by the Greeks Azotus (Ac 8:40); on the Mediterranean, one of the "five" cities of the Philistines.”

Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,

“Rather, join "three years" with "sign," a three years' sign, that is, a sign that a three years' calamity would come on Egypt and Ethiopia [BARNES], (Isa 8:18). This is the only instance of a strictly symbolical act performed by Isaiah.”