Thou shalt be visited ; literally, shall there be a visitation . On whom the visitation will fall is not expressed; but the context shows that it is on the enemies of Judah. The terrible nature of the visitation is signified by an enumeration of the most fearful of God's judgments—"thunder, earthquake, great noise, whirlwind, tern-pest, and a flame of devouring fire." All the expressions are probably metaphorical. read more
Her munition ; i.e. her defenses the walls and towers in which she put her trust (comp. Isaiah 29:3 ). As a dream of a night vision . "The baseless fabric of a vision," when it has once passed by, "leaves not wrack behind." The entire host of the "terrible ones" would melt away and disappear, as a night vision before the light of day—it would dissolve into nothing, vanish, leave no trace. read more
Moreover - These verses Isaiah 29:5, Isaiah 29:7-8 contain a beautiful description of the destruction of the army of Sennacherib. Though they had laid the plan of a regular siege; though the city, in itself, would not be able to hold out against them, and all was alarm and conscious imbecility within; yet in an instant the siege would be raised, and the advancing hosts of the Assyrians would all be gone.The multitude of thy strangers - The multitude of the strangers that shall besiege thee;... read more
Thou shalt be visited - This is an address to the mighty army of the Assyrian. Such transitions are not uncommon in the writings of Isaiah. His eye seems to have been directed in vision to the hosts of Sennacherib, and to their sudden dispersion and destruction Isaiah 29:5, and by a sudden, but not unnatural transition, he turns and addresses the army itself, with the assurance that it should be punished (compare Isaiah 30:30).With thunder ... - The army of the Assyrian was cut off by an angel... read more
And the multitude of all the nations - The Assyrians, and their allied hosts.And her munition - Her fortresses, castles, places of strength 2 Samuel 5:7; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Ezekiel 19:9.Shall be as a dream of a night vision - In a dream we seem to see the objects of which we think as really as when awake, and hence, they are called visions, and visions of the night Genesis 46:2; Job 4:13; Job 7:14; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 7:1, Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:15. The specific idea here... read more
Isaiah 29:5-7. Moreover Or, rather, But, the multitude of thy strangers Of the strangers that encamp and fight against thee; shall be like small dust Dispersed by the least breath of air; and the multitude of the terrible ones Of the Assyrian army, terrible for courage and ferocity; shall be as the chaff that passeth away Which is quickly carried away by the wind. Yea, at an instant, suddenly This dissipation and destruction of thine enemies shall be as instantaneous as it is... read more
God saves Jerusalem (29:1-24)Isaiah then presents a frightening picture of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (called ‘Ariel’ in RSV and NIV, and ‘God’s altar’ in GNB). The people think that their city is safe and that the cycle of annual festivals will go on indefinitely. Suddenly, they find their lives threatened by a terrible siege. Throughout the city people are distressed and humiliated, as the doomed city cries out to God, as it were, from the grave (29:1-4).The enemy armies think their... read more
strangers: i.e. adversaries. like, &c. . . . as, &c. Figure of speech Hyperbole. terrible ones = tyrants. read more
visited. These judgments (in Isaiah 29:6 ) refer to the deliverance from Jerusalem's enemies. the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:5-8
The disappointment that awaits God's enemies. All the enemies of God have, some day or other, an awaking. The designs which they cherish, the selfish hopes in which they indulge, are mere dreams. Even when the dreams are realized the result is disappointing. No man ever yet found the pleasure of success equal to his expectation. If there is a little satisfaction at first, fruition soon begets satiety. "Vanity of vanities," says the preacher, "all is vanity." But, for the most part, the... read more