Isaiah 33

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:9

The earth mourneth - The land through which he has passed. For the sense of this phrase, see the note at Isaiah 24:4.Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down - For the situation of Lebanon, see the note at Isaiah 10:34. Lebanon was distinguished for its ornaments of beautiful cedars. Here iris represented as being stript of these ornaments, and as covered with shame on that account. There is not any direct historical evidence that Sennacherib had advanced to Lebanon, though there are some intimations... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:10

Now - This verse commences another transition. In the previous verses, the desolation of the land had been described, and the hopelessness of obtaining any terms of favor from Sennacherib, or of binding him to any compact, bad been stated. In this state of things, when inevitable ruin seemed to be coming upon the nation, God said that he would interpose.Will I rise - To vengeance; or to punish the invading host. The emphasis in this passage should be placed on ‘I,’ indicating that Yahweh would... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:11

Ye shall conceive chaff - An address of God to the Assyrians. The figure is one that denotes that their counsels would be in vain. Chaff and stubble are used in the Scriptures, in contrast with grain, to denote anything which is not solid, nutritious, or substantial; then anything which is frivolous, useless, vain. A similar image occurs in Isaiah 26:18 (see the note on that place; compare Isaiah 59:4).Your breath as fire shall devour you - The word ‘breath’ here (רוח rûach, spirit) is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:12

And the people - In the army of Sennacherib.As the burnings of lime - As if placed in a burning lime-kiln, where they must certainly be destroyed (see Isaiah 30:33; compare Amos 2:1).As thorns cut up - As thorns, or small brushwood, that has been long cut up and perfectly dried are speedily consumed, so shall it be with the Assyrian army. This is an image like many that are employed, denoting that the destruction of the army of the Assyrians would be sudden and entire. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:13

Hear, ye that are far off - This is an address of Yahweh, indicating that the destruction of the Assyrian army would be so signal that it would be known to distant nations, and would constitute an admonition to them.Ye that are near - Ye Jews; or the nations immediately adjacent to Judea. The phrase ‘far and near,’ is equivalent to all. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:14

The sinners in Zion are afraid - This verse is evidently designed to describe the alarm that was produced in Jerusalem on impenitent sinners and hypocrites by a view of the judgment of God on the army of Sennacherib. They would see his wrath on his enemies then, and in view of the terrors of his indignation in relation to that army they would be alarmed, and would ask how it would be possible for them to endure such wrath forever. If the effect of the wrath of God even for a night, when it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:15

He that walketh righteously - In this and the following verses the prophet presents, in contrast, the confidence and the security of the righteous. He first, in this verse, describes the characteristics of the righteous, and in the following verses their confidence in God, and their security and safety. The first characteristic of the righteous man is that he walks righteously; that is, he lives righteously; he does right.And speaketh uprightly - The second characteristic - his words are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:16

He shall dwell on high - See the margin. Heights, or high places, were usually places of safety, being, inaccessible to an enemy. The sense here is, that such a man as is described in Isaiah 33:15, should be preserved from alarm and danger, as if his habitation were on a lofty cliff or rock. The particular and special meaning is, that he should be safe from the anger, wrath, and consuming fire, which the sinner and the hypocrite dreaded Isaiah 33:14.The munitions of rocks - The literal... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:17

Thine eyes - The eyes of the righteous, described in Isaiah 33:15.Shall see the king in his beauty - Some understand this of the Assyrian king. Thus Kimchi understands it, and supposes it means that they shall see him at the walls of Jerusalem; that is, shall see him destroyed. Vitringa supposes it means Yahweh himself as the king of his people, and that they should see him in his glory. Others suppose it relates to the Messiah. But the immediate connection requires us to understand it of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:18

Thine heart - The heart of the people of Jerusalem.Shall meditate terror - This is similar to the expression in Virgil:- forsan et haec olim meminisse jurabit.AEn. ii. 203.The sense here is, ‘You shall hereafter think over all this alarm and distress. When the enemy is destroyed, the city saved, and the king shall reign in magnificence over all the nation then enjoying peace and prosperity, you shall recall these days of terror and alarm, and shall then ask with gratitude and astonishment,... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 33:18

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