Isaiah 17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:5

And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn ,.... The "standing" corn, as in the Hebrew text: "and reapeth the ears with his arm"; or "his arm reaps the ears" F15 וזרעו שבלים יקצור "et brachium ejus spicas demeteret", Junius & Tremellius; "demetit", Piscator, &c.; ; that is, with one hand he gathers the standing corn into his fist, and then reaps it with his other arm; and just so it should be with the people of Israel: they were like a field of standing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:6

Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it ,.... In Ephraim or Jacob; that is, in the ten tribes, a few of them should escape, a remnant should be saved; comparable, for the smallness of their number, to grapes that are gleaned after the vintage is got in: though Kimchi interprets it of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who were but few, in comparison of the ten tribes, who were many; and Jarchi explains it of Hezekiah and his company, in the midst of Jerusalem, who were but few; and observes, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:7

At that day shall a man look to his Maker ,.... The one only living and true God, who has made him, and not he himself, nor any other creature; that is, such as are left, as before described, the remnant, according to the election of grace; these shall look to God for help and assistance, for supply, support, and protection; and to Christ particularly, who is the Maker of all things, without whom was not any thing made that is made, for all spiritual blessings; for righteousness and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:8

And he shall not took to the altars, the work of his hands ,.... That is, to altars erected to the worship of idols, which are both the works of men's hands, so as to serve at them, and sacrifice upon them. Kimchi observes, that the latter clause is not to be understood as belonging to the former, but as distinct from it, and signifies idols which men have made; otherwise all altars, even the altars of God, were the works of men, which yet it was right to look unto, and offer sacrifice upon;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:9

In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch ,.... Meaning the strong cities of Ephraim or Jacob, the ten tribes, which should be forsaken of their inhabitants; having fled from before the enemy, or being slain or carried captive; like a bough of a tree, that is forsaken stripped of its leaves, and an uppermost branch of a tree that is dead and dry, and has nothing on it: which they left ; or "as they left", or "were left": because of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:10

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation ,.... Who had been the author of salvation to them many a time, in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in various instances since; and yet they had forgot his works of mercy and goodness, and had left his worship, and gone after idols; and this was the cause of their cities being forsaken, and becoming a desolation: and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength ; or strong Rock, who had supplied and supported them, protected and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:11

In the day shall thou make thy plant to grow ,.... Not that it is in the power of man to make it grow; but the sense is, that all means and methods should be used to make it grow, no cost nor pains should be spared: and in the morning shall thou make thy seed to flourish ; which may denote both diligence in the early care of it, and seeming promising success; and yet all should be in vain, and to no purpose: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief ; or "of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:12

Woe to the multitude of many people ,..... Not as lamenting the people of the Jews with Hezekiah, as if they were the words of the prophet bemoaning their condition, saying, "O the multitude", &c.; nor intending the Syrians and Israelites joined together against Judah; but the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, which consisted of people of many nations, and was very numerous, who are either threatened or called unto. A new subject is here begun, though a short one. which make a noise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:13

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters ,.... With great force and noise, and run over the whole land, as the Assyrian army did, until it came to Jerusalem, and there it stopped; see Isaiah 8:7 , but God shall rebuke them ; as he did the waters of the Red Sea, Psalm 106:9 and as Christ rebuked the winds and sea, and made a calm, Matthew 8:26 . The word "God" is not in the text, but rightly supplied; for as none but he can rebuke the mighty waters of the sea, so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:14

And behold at eveningtide trouble ,.... Or terror F1 בלהה "terror", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. and consternation; which some understand of that which was in the Assyrian army, when the Angel of the Lord destroyed it, taking "evening for night", for it was in the night that that was done; so Jarchi interprets it of Shedim, a sort of spirits or demons, that came against the enemy, and troubled and frightened them: but it is best to take it in the more common sense, of the... read more

Group of Brands