Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 9:13
13-17. Second strophe. turneth not—the design of God's chastisements; not fulfilled in their case; a new cause for punishment (Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 5:3). read more
13-17. Second strophe. turneth not—the design of God's chastisements; not fulfilled in their case; a new cause for punishment (Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 5:3). read more
14. head and tail—proverbial for the highest and lowest (Deuteronomy 28:13; Deuteronomy 28:44). branch and rush—another image for the same thought (Deuteronomy 28:44- :). The branch is elevated on the top of the tree: the rush is coarse and low. read more
15. ancient—the older. honourable—the man of rank. prophet . . . lies, . . . tail—There were many such in Samaria (1 Kings 22:6; 1 Kings 22:22; 1 Kings 22:23; compare as to "tail," 1 Kings 22:23- :). read more
16. leaders, &c.—(See :-, Margin, and see on :-.) read more
17. no joy—the parallelism, "neither . . . mercy," shows that this means, He shall have no such delight in their youthful warriors, however much they be the nation's delight and reliance, as to save them from the enemy's sword (Isaiah 31:8; compare Jeremiah 18:21). fatherless, c.—not even the usual objects of His pity (Psalms 10:14 Psalms 10:18; Psalms 68:5; Jeremiah 49:11; Hosea 14:3) shall be spared. hypocrite—rather, a libertine, polluted [HORSLEY]. folly—wickedness (Hosea 14:3- :).... read more
18-21. Third strophe. burneth—maketh consumption, not only spreading rapidly, but also consuming like fire: sin is its own punishment. briers . . . thorns—emblem of the wicked; especially those of low rank (Isaiah 27:4; 2 Samuel 23:6). forest—from the humble shrubbery the flame spreads to the vast forest; it reaches the high, as well as the low. mount up like . . . smoke—rather. "They (the thickets of the forest) shall lift themselves proudly aloft [the Hebrew is from a Syriac root, a cock,... read more
19. darkened—namely, with smoke (Isaiah 9:18). The Septuagint and Chaldee render it, "is burnt up," so MAURER, from an Arabic root meaning "suffocating heat." no man . . . spare . . . brother—intestine discord snapping asunder the dearest ties of nature. read more
20. hungry—not literally. Image from unappeasable hunger, to picture internal factions, reckless of the most tender ties ( :-), and insatiably spreading misery and death on every side (Jeremiah 19:9). eat—not literally, but destroy (Psalms 27:2; Job 19:22). flesh of . . . arm—those nearest akin: their former support (helper) (Job 19:22- :) [MAURER]. read more
21. Manasseh, Ephraim—the two sons of Joseph. So closely united as to form between them but one tribe; but now about to be rent into factions, thirsting for each other's blood. Disunited in all things else, but united "together against their brother Judah" (2 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 15:30). read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 9:12
12. Syrians—Though now allies of Ephraim, after Rezin's death they shall join the Assyrians against Ephraim. "Together," in :-, refers to this. Conquering nations often enlist in their armies the subject races (Isaiah 22:6; compare 2 Kings 16:9; Jeremiah 35:11), [ABEN EZRA, GESENIUS]. HORSLEY less probably takes "Syrians before," as the Syrians to the east, that is, not Rezin's subjects, but the Assyrians: "Aram" being the common name of Syrians and Assyrians. Philistines—of Palestine.... read more