Notes on Isaiah: Notes, critical, explanatory, and practical, on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 9781463227845

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Notes on Isaiah

Gorgias Occasional Historical Commentaries

7

Gorgias Occasional Historical Commentaries is a series that seeks to reprint historically important biblical commentaries. Rather than seeking to cover each book of the Bible as a standard commentary series would do, this series strives to bring back to the community of biblical scholars works that have had impact on subsequent biblical studies but which have been difficult to locate for decades or more because they have gone out of print.

Notes on Isaiah

Notes, critical, explanatory, and practical, on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Volume 1

Albert Barnes

« % gorgia* press

2011

Gorgias Press IXC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright© 2011 by Gorgias Press IXC Originally published in 1847 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. 2011

ISBN 978-1-61719-329-3

ISSN 1935-4398

Reprinted from the 1847 New York edition.

Printed in the United States of America

EDITOR'S

PREFACE.

So long as the church endures, shall the genius and eloquence of the son of Amoz be held in admiration. On the ruins of once flourishing empires and cities, his credentials are written; and the more these ruins are explored, and compared with his prophetic pages, the deeper will the conviction grow, that the inspiration of God is there. In a sceptical age like the present, it cannot but be of great advantage to direct the minds of our youth to demonstrations like these. B u t Isaiah has still nobler themes than the downfall of empires. The grand subjects of this " f i f t h evangelist " are the person and character, and reign and glory of Christ; the triumphs of the church ; the restoration of the Jews ; and conversion of the world ; and these are presented in a style that is by turns simple, beautiful, tender, sublime, impetuous. The majesty of Isaiah has never been surpassed. This exposition of the prophet originally appeared in three large octavos ; it was subsequently condensed by the author, and re-issued in two volumes of smaller size. From this second and latest edition, the present reprint has been made. The reader will recognize in it the same easy and perspicuous style, the same racy illustrations, the same prevailing good sense, and general fullness of exposition, that have made the author the most popular of modern commentators. He makes 110 pretence, indeed, to very profound or original criticism. B u t while there is necessarily less of this than in works written professedly for the scholar, there is much more of it than is usually found in popular commentaries. The sense of the original is always carefully ascertained, and made the basis of exposition ; but while the merely philological inquiry is, for the most part, carried so far as to satisfy, it is never pushed to the length of tedium or fatigue. Thus a happy medium has been secured, and a commentary produced, acceptable alike to the scholar and the Christian. It is, perhaps, not too much to say that it is the most readable and generally useful commentary on Isaiah in the English language. The scholarship of Alexander is doubtless more exact and profound, and his exegesis more independent; but his book is for scholars, and for scholars alone. It deals principally in philological criticism; its avowed aim is briefly to present the true sense, along with a condensed historical synopsis of opinion. Very nearly the same may be said of Henderson, Lowth, Stock, and Noyes. The illustration in all of them is too scant to satisfy, and the public instructor in search of available materials for lectures on Isaiah, will consult them in v a i n ; but in these volumes will be found, in union with judicious criticism, a satisfying copiousness of illustration. In the archaeological department

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EDITOR'S PREFACE.

particularly, the author excels, having added to the stoves of Gesenius and other diligent cultivators of this field, much additional matter from the works of modern travellers. This feature of the book greatly enhances its value, and lends to it a peculiar charm ; it is especially fitted to captivate the young, and allure them to studies which t h e y are hut too apt to imagine repulsive and dry. T h e author, indeed, has been blamed for disproportionate attention to this part of his subject; but readers generally will thank him for that attention, and think with himself that it is perhaps the capital excellence of the work. Y e t the author has b y no means prosecuted this part of his subject to the injury of other parts. T h e Messianic prophecies, which form so marked a portion of Isaiah, have due care bestowed on them, and the evangelical interpretation is throughout skilfully and successfully maintained. The author, indeed, does not exalt anything into a t y p e or prediction of Christ merely because it occurs in the writings of a prophet; but, on the other hand, he has no rationalistic bias inclining him to explain away such prophecies as the Church has all along applied to the Messiah. His good sense never forsakes him. The sobriety of his judgment is seen in the manner in which he deals with the questions of the literal restoration of the Jews, and the personal reign of Christ. I f the advocates of these doctrines are not satisfied with his conclusions, they will seldom, or never find reason to complain of his candour. T h e peculiarities of this edition are the careful revision to which the t e x t has been subjected ; additional Notes where these were required; references to supplementary Notes in former volumes, under those places where the author's views were supposed to be at variance with the received theology of our church and country ; to which must be added very many additional pictorial illustrations. Numerous errors, in the Hebrew text particularly, had crept into the American edition; these have been corrected; and care has been taken to present the pointed Hebrew throughout with due accuracy. T h e supplementary Notes would have been perhaps more numerous, but for the fact that the author's peculiarities had been reviewed at length in the New Testament volumes, and therefore a simple reference seemed all that was needed. The aim, from the first, has been to supply no more Notes than were absolutely required, that the author might appear in his own dress, with as little foreign admixture as possible. M a y this work be abundantly blessed. M a y it revive in our land, and especially in our youth, a taste for the literature of the Bible, deepen in their minds the conviction of its inspiration, and dispose them to its study.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TO

BARNES' NOTES ON ISAIAH.

VOL. I .

NO. 1 . V I E W S OF T Y E E

PAG IS

..to face

2. Lodge in a Garden of Cucumbers .3. Helix Janthina 4. Turpentine Tree (Pistaeiaterebinthus). 5. Modern Oriental Plough 6. Ancient Egyptian Chariot.. 7. Lebanon and its Cedars 8. Great Ternate Bat (Pteropus Edwardsii) 9. Modern Egyptian Anklets 10. The Clmmarah 11. Ancient Bracelets 12. Face-veils and Walking Wrappers of Modern Egypt 13. The Kussah, or Head-band 14. Ornamented Head-dress 15. The Khizam, or Nose-jewel of Modern Egypt 16. Ancient Metal Mirrors 17. Lady adorned with the Safa and Turban 18. Judea Medals of Captivity 19. Watch-tower in a Vineyard 20. The Harp, or Kinnor 21. Lyre, from an Ancient Sculpture 22. Lyre, from the Medals of Simon Maccabeus,.... 23. Eastern Lyre 24. Tambourines of Eastern origin 25. Greek Flute-players 26. Double Flute-player, from a painting at Pompeii 27. Zimb, or Dog-fly of Abyssinia 28. Pool of Siloam 29. Sycamore-tree (Ficus syeomorus)

Title-page. .....64 72 79 86 89 92 96 103 105 105 106 ...107 107 .....108 109 Ill 112 119 125 126 .....126 126 .....127 128 129 169 176 196

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO'

30. The Pyramids of Ghizeh, Lower Egypt 31. The Bittern (Ardea stellaris) 32. View o f P e t r a (Sela) from the top of the Theatre 33. Ruins of a Triumphal Arch (Petra) 34. Temple in the Rock (Petra) 35. Entrance to a rock-hewn Tomb (Petra) 36. Papyrus {Cyperus papyrus) 37. Egyptian Pottery-Float on the Nile 38. Fishing with the Hook 39. Fishing with the Net 40. Fibres of Linen and Cotton magnified 41. Plain and Obelisk of Heliopolis 42. Group of Oriental "Watch-towers 43. Ancient Leather Shields.. 44. House-tops in the East 45. Tombs in the Rock at Naski Roustan 46. Crocodile (Crocodilus vulgaris) 47. Fig-tree (Ficus carica) 48. Egyptian Wheat (Triticum compositum) 49. Millet (Holms sorghum) 50. Thrashing with the Sledge 51. Treading out Corn by Horses 52. Viper (El Effah) 53. Ancient Roll and Seal 54. Ancient Styles 55. Loenst (Gryllus migratorius) 56. Arabs Pitching their Tent 57. Gazelles (Antilope dorcas) 58. Cormorant. 59. Egyptian Vulture (Nephronpercnopterus) 60. Ash Vulture ( V u l t u r cinereus)

PAGE

275 279 295 296 297 297 317 318 332 332 333 339 351 352 363 372 414 423 .432 433 434 435 450 451 451 479 186 195 197 ...499 500

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

IT is with unaffected diffidence that this work is offered to the patronage of the Christian public. It has been prepared amidst the toils and responsibilities of a most laborious pastoral charge, and at such intervals as could be secured without seeming to infringe on the direct and immediate duties demanded in my station. Those hours haye been, with scarcely an exception, the early morning hours ; and whatever may be the manner in which this book may be received by the public, whether it shall or shall not contribute in any degree to advance the knowledge of the truth, and the love of the sacred Scriptures, its preparation, by requiring me to commence each day "with the direct contemplation of an interesting portion of inspired truth, has for four years constituted one of the most delightful parts of my work. It is the production of many a laborious, but many a pleasant, hour; and while I desire to render thanks to the Giver of life and health, that he has granted me strength to engage in these studies, I shall ever look back with gratitude to the deeply interesting moments in which I have been endeavouring to illustrate the ' Visions of Isaiah.' When I commenced the work, I designed nothing farther than an enlargement of Lowth on Isaiah. It occurred to me that it might be useful to retain his Notes as a basis, with some additional illustrations. But this plan was soon abandoned; and no other use has been made of Lowth than that which is common with other writers. Valuable as are his Notes, and beautiful as is his version, yet it was soon perceived, or thought to be perceived, that greater usefulness might be secured by enlarging the plan, and making a work entirely new. Very valuable helps have been furnished, since the time of Lowth, for the illustration of the Hebrew prophets ; and it was deemed desirable to avail myself of them all, so far as it was in my power. Most of those helps will be found enumerated in the list of works on Isaiah, at the close of the Introduction, § 8. Some of the reasons which led to the wish to illustrate Isaiah, are the following: (1.) He is one of the most beautiful and sublime of the sacred writers. (2.) In some respects his writings are among the most difficult portions of the Old Testament. (3.) His prophecies are so closely connected with interesting historical events, and furnish so much opportunity of illustration from archaeology, oriental customs, and the investigations of modern travellers, that it is highly desirable that all the light should be thrown upon them which is possible from these sources. (4.) The fulfilment of prophecy is perhaps more clear, I sftT A K , I.

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PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

minute, and striking in Isaiah than in any other of the prophets; and a commentary, therefore, on his writings, compared with the present state of the countries to which his prophecies refer, as reported by modern travellers, and especially with the record of the life, and doctrines, and death of Christ, will constitute itself a demonstration of the divine origin of the sacred Scriptures, and may be made one of the best antidotes against infidelity. It is impossible, it is believed, with an honest mind, to compare the predictions of Isaiah respecting Babylon, Moab, Tyre, and Idumea, with the travels of Volney, Burckhardt, Seetzen, Sir R. K. Porter, Maundrell, Laborde, and Stephens, without the fullest conviction that he who uttered these predictions, two thousand and five hundred years since, was divinely inspired. It is impossible to believe that this could have been the result of political sagacity; it is equally impossible to believe that it could have been produced by chance or conjecture. And, in like manner, it is impossible to compare his full, minute, and glowing descriptions of the Messiah, with the life of the Lord Jesus Christ; to collate minutely and critically, for example, the prophecies in the ixth, the xith, the xxxvth, the liid, the liiid chapters, with what actually occurred in the life, the sufferings, and the death of the Redeemer, without the fullest conviction that he was permitted to see, in distinct vision, events which were to take place in future times. No man can be a close student of Isaiah, and remain an infidel; no man can study his writings with prayer, who will not find his faith confirmed, his heart warmed, his mind elevated and purified, and his affections more firmly fixed on the beauty of the everlasting truth of God. But the main reason which led to the selection of Isaiah as a subject of exposition was, his strongly evangelical character, and the fact, that he, more than any other prophet, has unfolded the future glories, and predicted the triumphs of the church on earth. He has been usually styled 'the fifth Evangelist;' and it is certain that there was vouchsafed to him a clearer view of the universal spread of the gospel, and of the blessedness of the reign of the Messiah, than was granted to any other of the ancient prophets. It was this characteristic mainly which has prompted to this attempt to make his sentiments more widely known, and more clearly understood. In an age distinguished, more than any other since that of the apostles, for efforts for the conversion of the whole world to God, nothing will so entirely fall in with the leading characteristics and efforts of the times as an attempt to establish some just views of the right interpretation of the prophecies on this subject. Men will put forth great and noble exertions when the object is clearly defined, and when they have some distinct view of what it is possible to attain. A right apprehension of what is to be on earth, will do much to form the plans and shape the efforts of those who seek the world's conversion. It will do mucli to suppress unauthorized hopes, to repress wild and visionary schemes, and to secure well-founded and judicious efforts to accomplish the object. A correct understanding of the prophecies, therefore, is necessary to direct those who are forming plans for the conversion of the world, and to uphold the hands and to encourage the hearts of those who are engaged in practically executing the work. There is one advantage on this subject, in contemplating the entire prophe-

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

3

cies in a book, above what would arise from selecting the portions which relate to the final triumph of the gospel, and forming a commentary on them exclusively. As the predictions now stand in the prophets, they are intermingled with predictions respecting other events which have been strikingly and clearly fulfilled. The mind is carried forward therefore amidst demonstrations ; the certain conviction of the mind that the predictions respecting Babylon, Tyre, Moab, and Idumea have been fulfilled, is carried to the contemplation of the predictions respecting things yet to come. The mind ranges amidst proofs of the divine origin of the book which is examined; and these proofs strengthen the faith in regard to the events which are yet to come. He performs some service for his generation, who contributes in any degree to unfold the meaning of the ancient predictions, and to show to the Christian church what the world yet will be ; and he who contributes in any manner so to blend the arguments for the past fulfilment of prophecy with the predictions of what is yet to be on earth, does not live entirely in vain. It is doubtless with this view that the predictions respecting the Messiah, and the final universal triumph of the gospel, are scattered along and intermingled with predictions that relate to events that would be of more immediate fulfilment. The student of the prophecies thus walks a,midst the monuments of their truth which time has set up along his way;—not much unlike the traveller who is seeking a distant land amidst much that is obscure and uncertain; who encounters rapid streams and lofty crags and hills; whose paths lead through dense and entangled forests; but who yet finds every now and then monuments erected which show him that the road has been travelled, and which prove that the same path which others have trod will lead him to the place which he desires to reach. He who has attentively examined Isaiah, and compared the predictions respecting events which are now passed, with their fulfilment, is not likely to be a man whose faith will be shaken in regard to the reality of the inspiration of the Book of God, or to the final prevalence of religion all over the world. As an illustration of the influence of Isaiah in forming the opinions of Christians in regard to the character of the better days which are to bless the world, we may advert to the fact that the views of most Christians respecting the Millennium are probably derived from this prophet; and that even after the revelations of the New Testament, if we wish to obtain full and clear conceptions of what the world is yet to be under the reign of the Prince oi Peace, we instinctively turn to the glowing visions of the son of Amoz. It has been one of the constant and earnest prayers of the author of these Notes, that his labours may contribute to the confirmation of the faith of Christians in respect to the final triumph of Christianity; and to the augmentation of their zeal in spreading the gospel around the world. In the fulfilment of this design, as well as to exhibit the true meaning of the prophet, I have availed myself of all the helps within my reach, to show that the prophecies pertaining to events already passed, have been minutely and strikingly fulfilled. In these portions of the book, my first aim has been to settle, as well as I could, the exact sense of the prophet by philological investigation, and then to adduce the testimony of modern travellers in regard to the present condition of the countries so described. Modern travellers have

4

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

contributed much to the confirmation of the truth of the prophetic statements; and if these Notes have any value above what is found in the common expositions of Isaiah, it is probably in this respect. In illustration of this, reference may be made to the prophecies respecting Babylon, Moab, Damascus, Tyre and Idumea, in the xiiith, xivth, xvth, xvith, xviith, xxxiiid, and xxxivtli chapters. In the preparation of these Notes I have availed myself of all the aids within my reach. The books from which I have derived most assistance are Walton's Polyglott ; the Critici Sacri; Poole's Synopsis; Calmet's Dictionary; Vitringa; Kosenmuller; Calvin; Gesenius; Jerome; Bochart's Hierozoicon ; Taylor's Heb. Con.; Lowth's and Noyes' Versions ; Keith on the Prophecies ; Newton on the Prophecies ; Hengstenberg's Christology; and the writings of oriental travellers to which I have had access. I have also derived considerable aid from the Biblical Repository, and from Prof. Bush's Scripture Illustrations. This work is committed now to the Christian public with the fervent prayer that it may do good. The public—for whose favourable regards thus far in life I have had abundant reason to be grateful—will receive kindly what is kindly meant. It is not right to deprecate criticism, for every man who makes a book subjects himself, of his own choice, to the free remarks of all who may choose to notice bis productions. His works, henceforward, whatever they may be, belong not to himself alone, but to the public at large ; and no author has a right to complain if his style, his opinions, his arguments, his illustrations, are freely examined. For such examination he should be grateful, come from what quarter it may—if it help him to amend his style, to correct his errors, to suggest better illustrations, to remove obscurity, to advance sounder arguments, and in any way to make his works more worthy of the patronage of the public. He has a right to demand only that criticisms should be in the spirit of Christian love—that they should not be made for the sake of criticism, and that they should not be carping or petulant. He has a right to ask that those who examine his positions should presume that he has bestowed labour and thought on them, and that labour and thought should be reciprocated in judging of them before they are condemned. He has a right to expect that assertion in regard to his opinions should not be deemed sufficient to supply the place of argument; and that the uttering of an opinion ex cathedra should not be allowed to take the place of a candid and prayerful investigation of the meaning of words, and phrases, andfiguresof speech; of a careful inquiry into whatever in archaeology, philology, geography, or travels, may throw light on the meaning of God's word. Argument should meet argument; thought conflict with thought; and truth should be elicited by manly, liberal, and candid discussion. The only object should be truth; and every author should be thankful to any man who will suggest to him what he had forgotten; communicate what to him was unknown ; correct or refute what was erroneous ; and thus make him more useful to his fellow-men. It is not improper, however, as a matter of mere justice to myself, to suggest one other thing to those who may be disposed to examine this work. A man burdened with the cares and toils of a pastoral office, has not the advan-

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

5

tages of preparing a work for the public which they have who are favoured with the entire command of their time, or whose professional duties require them to pursue a course of study that shall be in accordance with what they may choose to submit to the press. The pastors of the churches, for whose use more especially this work is intended, will know how to appreciate this remark; and they who know the toils of that office will not judge unkindly or seyerely of what is designed as a means of enlarging the sphere of usefulness in which a man is placed; or of contributing in any, the humblest degree, to illustrate the truth of the Bible, to confirm the churches in its inspiration, to unfold its beauties, and to aid in the exposition of truth. Lord Bacon has said,' I HOLD EVERY MAN TO B E A DBBTOE TO HIS PIIOFESSION and they who appreciate the force of this remark will look with kindness on every effort to enlarge the sphere of the usefulness of those who are by their office expositors of the word of God. With these remarks, this work is committed to the world. The desires of my heart will be gratified if it is the means, in any degree, of confirming the faith of man in the inspiration of the Divine oracles, and of hastening the triumphs of that day when ' the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose,' and when ' the ransomed of J E H O V A H shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads.' Isa. xxxv. 1, 10. ALBERT BARNES. Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1838.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

SINCE the publication of the first edition of this work, I hare twice carefully revised it. In doing this, while the main features of the exposition have been retained, I have endeavoured to render it more worthy of the patronage of the Christian public. I have availed myself of all the criticisms made on it which I have seen, and have adopted all the suggestions which appeared to me to be well founded. My principal aim has been to condense the work as much as possible, by removing redundant words, and by excluding whatever did not contribute to the elucidation of the Prophet. The work was originally published in three large octavo volumes. By using a different type ; by the omission of the 'New Translation' inserted in the former edition, and by the abridgments which have been made, I am now able to present it in a much narrower compass, and at a price which will make it much more easy to procure it. It may perhaps be of interest to some to know that in revising it, I have stricken out matter, besides the ' New Translation,' to the amount of about one hundred and twenty octavo pages, and have introduced new matter to the amount of about fifty pages. In a few places additions of considerable extent have been made. For the new matter I am under special obligations to the Biblical Researches of Dr. Robinson, and Mr. Smith, and to the work of "Wilkinson on the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians. By the aid of the * Researches' I have been enabled to correct several places relating to the geography of Palestine, and to throw important light on several passages of the Prophet. I have, in fact, incorporated in the Notes all that I have found in that invaluable work which seemed to me to illustrate in any way the writings of Isaiah, and as nothing better can be hoped for on the Holy Land, this part of the work may be considered to be complete. The favourable manner in which the first edition was received made it obligatory on me to do all that I could to make it more worthy of patronage, and again I commit it to the world, with the hope that it may contribute in some degree to the illustration of this sublime and beautiful portion of' the inspired volume.

ALBERT BARNES. Washington Square, Philadelphia, June 23, 1845.

INTRODUCTION.

§ 1. Division of the Boohs of the Old Testament. THE Jews early divided the books of the Old Testament into three parts—the Law, the Prophets, and the Sagiographa, or holy writings. The Law comprised the five books of Moses; and the priority was given to this division because it was the first composed, as well as on account of its containing their civil and ecclesiastical constitution, and their oldest historical records. The Prophets comprised the second and the largest division of the sacred writings of the Jews. This portion comprehended the books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, which were called the former prophets ; and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the books from Hosea to Malachi, which were called the latter prophets. Daniel has been excluded from this portion by the later Jews, and assigned to the third division, because they regard him not as a prophet, but as an historical writer. Formerly his work was doubtless included in the second division. The third portion, the Hagiographa, comprises the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles. This division of the Old Testament is as old as the time of our Saviour, for he refers to it in Luke xxiv. i i . The Jews attribute the arrangement and division of the canonical books to Ezra. They say that he was assisted in this by one hundred and twenty men who constituted ' a great Synagogue that Daniel, and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were of this number; and that Haggai and Zechariah, together with Simon the Just, also were connected with it. But this statement is known to be erroneous. From the time of Daniel to the time of Simon the Just, not less than two hundred and fifty years intervened (Alexander on the Canon, pp. 26, 27); and of course all these persons could not have been present. It is not, however, improbable that Ezra may have been assisted by learned and pious men who aided him in the work. What Ezra did is indeed unknown. It is the general opinion that he collected and arranged the books which now compose the Old Testament; that perhaps he wrote some of the historical books, or compiled them from fragments of history and documents that might have been in the public archives (comp. the A N A L Y S I S of Isa. ch. xxxvi.); and that he gave a finish and arrangement to the whole. As Ezra was an inspired man, the arrangement of the sacred books, and the portions which he may have added, have thus the sanction of Divine authority. There is no evidence, however, that Ezra completed the canon of

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INTRODUCTION.

the Old Testament. Malachi lived after him, and in the first book of Chronicles (ch. iii.) the genealogy of the sons of Zerubbabel is carried down to the time of Alexander the Great—about one hundred and thirty years subsequent to the time of Ezra. The probability is, therefore, that Ezra commenced the arrangement of the books, and that the eanon of the Old Testament was completed by some other hand. The ' prophets' were divided into the former and the latter. Among the latter, Isaiah has uniformly held the first place and rank. This has been assigned him not because he prophesied before all the others. He indeed preceded Ezekiel and Jeremiah, but Jonah, Amos, and Ilosea were his contemporaries. The precedence has been given to Ms prophecies over theirs, probably for two reasons; first, on account of their length, dignity, and comparative value ; and secondly, because formerly the minor prophets were bound in one volume, or written on one roll of parchment, and it was convenient to place them together, and they all had a place, therefore, after Isaiah. At all times his prophecies have been regarded as the most important of any in the Old Testament; and by common consent they have been deemed worthy of the principal place among the Jewish writings. § 2. Life of Isaiali, and the Characteristics of his

Writings.

Of the time in which Tsaiah lived, little more is known than he has himself told us. In the superscription to his book (ch. i. 1), we are told that he was the son of Amoz, and that he discharged the prophetic office under the reign of the kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. In regard to those times, and the character of the period in which they reigned, see Introduction, § 3. It is evident also from the prophecies themselves, that he delivered them during the reign of these kings. In ch. vi. 1, it is expressly said that he had a vision of J E H O V A H in the year in which Uzziah died. Of course he must have commenced his prophetic labours at least as early as during the last year of that king. If that chapter or vision was not designed as an inauguration of the prophet, or an induction into the prophetic office' (see Notes on the chapter), and if his prophecies were collected and arranged as they were delivered, then it will follow that the previous chapters (i.-v.) may have been delivered in the reign of Uzziah, and perhaps some time before his death. There is no express mention made of his uttering any prophecies in the time of Jotham. Hengstenberg and others suppose that the prophecies in ch. ii.-v. were delivered during his reign. But of this there is no conclusive evidence. He might not have recorded anything during his reign ; though he may, as a public preacher, have been engaged in the prophetic office in another mode. His writings themselves contain evidence that he was engaged in the prophetic office in the reign of Ahaz. See ch. vii., seq. That he was engaged in the prophetic office during the reign of Hezekiah we learn from chs. xxxvi.-xxxix. We have an explicit statement that he was occupied in his prophetic work until the fifteenth year of Hezekiah, at the commencement of which the ambassadors from Babylon came up to Jerusalem to congratulate him on his recovery from his illness; ch.xxxix. Uzziah died, according to Calmet, 754 years before Christ. Isaiah

INTRODUCTION.

9

must therefore have occupied the prophetic office at least from 754 years before Christ to 707 years before Christ, or forty-seven years ; that is, under Uzziah one year, under Jotham sixteen years, under A i m sixteen years, and under Hezekiah fourteen years. It is not known at what age he entered on the prophetic office. I t is probable that he lived much longer than to the fifteenth year of Hezekiah. In 2 Chron. xxxii. 32, it is said that < the rest of the acts of Hezekiah ' were ' written in the vision of Isaiah ;' and this statement obviously implies that he survived him, and wrote the acts of his reign up to his death. As Hezekiah lived fourteen or fifteen years after this (Isa. xxxviii. 5. comp. 2 Kings xviii. 2), this would make the period of his public ministry to extend to at least sixty-one or sixty-two years. If he survived Hezekiah, he probably lived some time during the reign of Manasseh. This supposition is confirmed, not indeed by any direct historical record in the Old Testament, but by all the traditional accounts which have been handed down to us. The testimony of the Jews, and of the early fathers, is uniform that he was put to death by Manasseh by being sawn asunder. The main alleged offence was, that he had said that he had seen JEHOVAH, and that for this he ought to die, in accordance with the law of Moses (Ex. xxxiii. 20), ' No man shall see me and live.' If he lived to the time of Manasseh, and especially if he prophesied under him, it is probable the true reason why he was put to death was, that he was offensive to the monarch and his court. The circumstances which render the supposition probable that he lived under Manasseh, and that he was put to death by him by being sawn asunder, are the following. (1.) The fact which has been stated above that he lived to complete the record of the reign of Hezekiah, and of course survived him. (2.) The testimony of the Jewish writers. There is, indeed, much that is fabulous in their writings, and even in connection with the truths which they record, there is much that is puerile and false ; but there is no reason to doubt the main fads which they relate. Josephus, indeed, does not expressly state that he was slain by Manasseh, but he gives an account of the reign of Manasseh which renders it probable that if Isaiah were then alive he would have been put to death. Thus he says (Ant. B. x. ch. iii. § 1) that ' he barbarously slew all the righteous men that were among the Hebrews ; nor would he spare the prophets, for he every day slew some of them, till Jerusalem was overflown with blood.' In the Talmud the following record occurs :—' Manasseh put Isaiah to death. The Rabbi said, he condemned him, and put him to death ; for he said to him, Moses, thy Lord said, No man shall see me and live (Ex. xxxiii. 20), but thou hast said, I saw the Lord upon a throne high and lifted up (Isa. vi. 1). Moses, thy Lord said, Who will make the Lord so near that we can call to him ; but thou hast said, Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near (Iv. 6). Moses, thy Lord said, The number of thy days win I fulfil (Ex. xxii. 26); but thou hast said, I win add to thy days fifteen years (xxxviii. 5),' etc. See Gesenius Einlei. p. 12. The testimony of the Jews on this subject is uniform. Miehaelis (Preface to Isaiah) has referred to the following places in proof on this point. Tract. Talmud. Jabhamoth, fol. 49; Sanhédrin, fol. 103; Jalkut, part ii. fol. 38; SclialscUleth HaTchab. fol. 19. Raschi and Abarbanel in their commentaries give the same statement. (3.)

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INTRODUCTION.

The testimony of the early Christian writers is the same. Justin Martyr, in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew (p. 349), speaking of Isaiah, says, 2» rgun ^aXai is-giners, ' whom ye sawed asunder with a wooden saw.'—Tertullian (da patientia, c. 14) says, His patientiae viribus secatur Esaias.—Lactantius (lib. iv. e. 2) says, Esais, quem ipsi Judaei serra consectum crudelissime necaverunt. —Augustine (de Civit. Dei, lib. 18, c. 24) says, ' the prophet Isaiah is reputed to have been slain by the impious King Manasseh.' Jerome (on Isa. lrii. 1) says, that the prophet prophesied in that passage of his own death, for ' it is an undisputed tradition among us, that he was sawn asunder by Manasseh, with a wooden saw.' These passages and others from the Jewish writers, and from the fathers, are to be found in Michaelis' Preface to Isaiah; in Gesenius' Introduction ; and in Carpzov. Crit. Sacr. In a matter of simple fact, there seems to be no reason to call this testimony in question. I t is to be remembered that Jerome was well acquainted with Hebrew, that he dwelt in Palestine, and no doubt has given the prevalent opinion about the death of Isaiah. (4.) The character of Manasseh was such as to make it probable that if Isaiah lived at all during his reign, he would seek his death. In 2 Kings xxi. 16, it is said of him that he ' shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another.' This account is in entire accordance with that of Josephus, quoted above. In the early part of his reign, it is recorded that he did evil, and especially that he reared the high places and the altars of idolatry wliieh Hezekiah had destroyed, and endeavoured to restore again the abominations which had existed in the time of Ahab. 2 Kings xxi. 2, 3. It is scarcely credible that such a man as Isaiah would see all this done without some effort to prevent it; and it is certain that such an effort would excite the indignation of Manasseh. If, however, he cut off the righteous men of Jerusalem, as Josephus testifies, and as the author of the books of Kings would lead us to believe, there is every probability that Isai§h.would also fall a sacrifice to his indignation. It is not necessary in oMer to this to suppose that Isaiah appeared much in public; or that, being then an old man, he should take a prominent part in the transactions of'lhat period. That we have no recorded prophecy of that time, as we have —because this was often done by the inspired prophets ; (4) to rave, as e. g. to utter the frantic ravings of the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings xviii. 29 ; 1 Sam. xviii. 10. This latter meaning is in accordance with the customs among the heathen, where the prophet or the prophetess professed to be full of the divine influence, and where that influence was manifested by writbings and contortions of the body, or by a pretended suspension of the powers of conscious agency, and the manifestation of conduct not a little resembling the ravings of delirium, lience the Greeks applied the word puona, mantis (from ¡jMivotia.t to be mad, to rave, to be delirious) to the frenzied manner of the soothsayers, prophetic oracles, ¡3 rfw^J for i j s n s , means to appear in his temple as a worshipper. The phrase occurs in this sense in the following places: Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24; Deut. xxxi. 11; I Sam. i. 22; Ps. xlii. 3. f Who hath required this. The Jews were required to appear there to worship God (Exod. xxiii. 17; Deut. xvi. 16); but it was not required that they should appear with that spirit and temper. A similar sentiment is expressed in Ps. 1. 16. 1f At your hand. From you. The emphasis in this expression is to be laid on your. ' Who has asked it of you?' It was indeed the duty of the humble, and the sincere, to tread those courts, but who had required such hypocrites as they were to do it? God sought the offerings of pure worshippers, not those of the hypocritical and the profane. II To tread my courts. The courts of the temple were the different areas or open spaces which surrounded it. None entered the temple itself but the priests. The people worshipped God in the courts assigned them around the temple. In one of those courts was the altar of burnt-offerings ; and the sacrifices were all made there; see Notes on Matt. xxi. 12. To tread his courts was an expression therefore, equivalent to, to worship. To tread the courts of the Lord here, has the idea of profanation. Who has required you to tread those courts with this hollow, heartless service? I t is often used in the sense of treading down, or trampling on, 2 Kings vii. 1720; Dan. viii 7-10; Isa. lxiii. 3-16.

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13 B r i n g no more vain oblations: t h e ealling of assemblies, I cannot a incense is a n abomination unto a w a y w i t h ; it is 1 iniquity, even t h o m e ; t h e new moons and s a b b a t h s , solemn meeting. 1 or, grief.

13. Bring no more. God does not intend absolutely to forbid this kind of worship, but lie expresses his strong abhorrence of the manner in which it was done. He desired a better state of mind; he preferred purity of heart to all this external homage. If Vain. ileb. 'offering of vanity—Siva shav— offerings which were hollow, false, deceitful, and hypocritical. If Oblations. itHM mlnhhath. This word properly denotes a gift, or present, of any kind (Gen. xxxii. 13), and then especially a present or offering to the Deity, Gen. iy. 3-5. It does not denote a bloody offering, but what is improperly rendered in the Old Testament, a meat-offering (J>;',-, ii. 1; vi. 14; ix. 17)—an offering made of flour or fruits, with oil and frankincense. A small part of it was burned upon the altar, and the remainder was eaten by Aaron and his sons with salt, Lev. ii. 1, 9, 13. The proper translation would have been meal or flour-offering rather than meatoffering, since the word meat with us now denotes animal food only, ^f Incense. More properly frankincense. This is an aromatic or odoriferous gum, which is obtained from a tree called Thurifera. Its leaves were like those oi a pear-tree. I t grew around Mount Lebanon, and in Arabia. The gum was obtained by making incisions in the bark in doge ays. I t was much used in worship, not only by the Jews, but by the heathen. When burned, it produced an agreeable odour; and hence it is called a sacrifice of sweet smell, an odour acceptable to God; comp. Phil iv. 18. That which was burned among the Jews was prepared in a peculiar manner, with a mixture of sweet spices. I t was oifered by the priest alone, and it was not lawful to prepare it in any other way than that prescribed by the law; see Ex. xxx. 34, D—means thei scoriae, or baser metal, which is separated from the purer in smelting. I t is of little or no value ; and the expression means, that the rulers had become: debased and corrupt, as if pure silver had been converted wholly to dross. 1f Thy wine. Wine was regarded as the most pure and valuable drink among the ancients. It is used, therefore, to express that which should have been most valued and esteemed among them —to wit, their rulers, if Mixed with water. Diluted, made weak. According to Gesenius, the word rendered mixed—VlhB mahul—is from Vtia mahal, the same as mul, to circumcise ; and hence, by a figure common with the Arabians, to adulterate, or dilute wine. The word does not occur in this sense elsewhere in the Scriptures, but the connection evidently requires it to be so understood. Wine mixed with water is that which is weakened, diluted, rendered comparatively useless. So with the rulers and judges. They had lost the strength and purity of their integrity, by intermingling those things which tended to weaken and destroy their virtue, pride, the love of gifts, and bribes, «fee. Divested of the figure, the passage means, that the rulers had become wholly corrupt. 23. Thy princes, &c. This is an explanation of the previous verse. Princes mean here those attached to the royal family; those who by rank, or office, had an influence over the

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one loveth gifts, and followeth after 24 Therefore saith the Lord, the rewards: they judge not the father- L O R D of hosts, the mighty One of less, neither doth the cause of . the Israel, Ah, I will ease " me of mine widow come unto them. a Deut.28,63; Eze.5.13. people. Rebellious. Against God. The corruption of a nation commonly begins with the rulers. Companions of thieves. That is, they connive at the doings of robbers; they do not bring them to justice ; they are their accomplices, and are easily bribed to acquit them. Every one loveth gifts. Every magistrate can be bribed. If Followeth after rewards. C]"^. This word denotes the act of pursuing after in order to obtain something; and means here that they made it an object to obtain rewards by selling or betraying justice. They sell justice to the highest bidder. No more distressing condition of a people can be conceived than this, where justice could not be secured between man and man, and where the wicked could oppress the poor, the widow, and the orphan, as much as they pleased, because they knew they could bribe the judge. 1f They judge not. They do not render justice t o ; ver. 17. The Chaldee has well expressed the sense of a part of this verse : ' They say, each one to his neighbour, Favour me in my judgment, or do me good in it, and I will recompense you in your cause.' If The cause of the widow come unto them. Or, rather, come before them. They would not take up her cause, but rather the cause of those who were esteemed able to offer a bribe, and from whom a gift might be expected, if a decision was made in their favour. 24. Therefore saith the Lord, £a. The prophet having stated the guilt of the nation, proceeds to show the consequences of their crimes ; or to foretell what would happen. The name of God is repeated, to attract attention ; to fill the mind with awe ; and to give emphasis to the solemn sentence which was about to be uttered. If The Lord. •PIN. This word properly denotes master, lord, owner. Gen. xxiv. 9 : Lord over his whole house. 1 Kings xvi. 24 : Owner of the hill Samaria. I t is applied hereto JEHOVAH,not as a peculiar title, or as one of the names which he

assumes to himself, but as owner, proprietor, master, ruler of the nation. The word, when applied to God as one of his peculiar titles, has the form of au ancient plural termination, i j i s Mdnai. The root is probably l>n dhun, to judge, which in ancient times was also closely connected with the idea of ruling. % The Lord of hosts. JEHOVAH—ruling in the hosts of heaven, and therefore able to accomplish his threatenings ; Note, ver. 9. The mighty One of Israel. He who had been their defender in the days of their peril; who had manifested his mighty power in overthrowing their enemies ; and who had shown, therefore, that he was able to inflict vengeance on them. If Ah. "iVl, This is an expression of threatening. I t is that which is used when an affrmt is offered, and there is a purpose of revenge ; see ver. 4. % I will ease me. This refers to what is said in ver. 14, where God is represented as burdened with their crimes. The Hebrew word is, I will be consoled, or comforted— i.e:, by being delivered from my foes—• SW? from DHJ, in Niphil, to suffer pain, to be grieved; and hence, to have pity, to show compassion. Tn Piel, to console or comfort one's-self; to take revenge. The idea included in the word is that of grief or distress, either in beholding the sufferings of others, or from some injury received from others. Hence, in Piel, it denotes to obtain relief from that distress, either by aiding the distressed object, or by taking revenge. In both instances, the mind, by a law of its nature, finds relief. The passion expends itself on its proper object, and the mind is at ease. I t is used here in the latter sense. I t is an instance where God uses the language which men employ to denote passion, and where they obtain relief by revenge, When applied to God.it is to be understood in accordance with his nature, as implying simply, that he would punish them; comp. Note on ver. 13. I t means that he had been pained and grieved by their crimes;

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