The folly of Judah’s leaders 28:7-22Isaiah now compared the pride and indulgence of the Ephraimite leaders to that of their Southern Kingdom brethren. The leaders of Judah were even worse. There is some debate among scholars about where reference to Ephraim’s rulers ends and where reference to Judah’s leaders begins. It seems to me that the context favors the change occurring between Isaiah 28:6-7. read more
A second reason for the Jerusalemites’ terror (cf. Isaiah 28:18-19) would be divine hostility. The Lord would rise up against His people to defeat them, as He formerly rose up to defeat the Philistines at Mount Perazim (lit. breaking forth) "like the break-through of waters" (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11). He had also defeated the Canaanites in the valley of Gibeon with hailstones (Joshua 10:11). Defeating the Israelites was strange work for the Lord because He customarily defended them.... read more
Isaiah called on the rulers to stop being scoffers (cf. Isaiah 28:14), or their punishment would be worse. It was unavoidable, but by repenting they could lessen it. Thus, this section of the "woe" that describes judgment coming on Judah ends with a note of mercy, just as the section describing judgment coming on Ephraim did (Isaiah 28:5-6). read more
Warnings to JudahThese chapters refer to the state of affairs during the reign of Hezekiah, when Palestine was threatened by Assyria, and an influential party in Judah favoured resistance, relying on the support of Egypt; a line of policy consistently opposed by Isaiah. read more
This chapter must be assigned (Isaiah 28:1) to a date prior to the capture of Samaria by the Assyrians (722 b.c.) and fall of the northern kingdom.1-6. Samaria’s luxury and self-indulgence pave the way to ruin. 7-10. Judah likewise is given up to indulgence and heeds not the prophet’s warning, 11-13. Therefore Jehovah will teach the people by means of foreign invasion and disaster. 14-22. Judah’s safety lies not in faithless diplomacy, but in trust in Jehovah. 23-29. A parable of Jehovah’s way... read more
(21) The Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim . . .—The point of the reference to David’s victories at Baal Perazim (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11), and at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 14:16) is that then Jehuah had interposed on behalf of His people against their enemies. The “new and strange” work—the very paradox of prophecy—was that He would now rise up to overthrow His own people. read more
(22) Now therefore be ye not mockers . . .—The rulers are warned that the scorn in which they indulge so freely will only make the fetters which already gall them tighter and heavier. In the words that follow the prophet reproduces his own language in Isaiah 10:23 (where see Notes), probably because they had been singled out as a special subject for derision. read more
The Verifying Faculty Isaiah 28:12 The Bible is always talking in our mother tongue. The oldest and greatest of the Prophets spoke in language which almost children can understand and appreciate. Take such words as 'weary'; the child knows what it means when it sees its father returning from the fields and stretching himself in token of fatigue. And 'rest,' the little word needs no translation; and 'refreshing,' the very word which an apostle uses in later times when he speaks of 'times of... read more
CHAPTER VIIIGOD’S COMMONPLACEABOUT 725 B.C.Isaiah 28:1-29THE twenty-eighth chapter of the Book of Isaiah is one of the greatest of his prophecies. It is distinguished by that regal versatility of style, which places its author at the head of Hebrew writers. Keen analyses of character, realistic contrasts between sin and judgment, clever retorts and epigrams, rapids of scorn, and "a spate" of judgment, but for final issue a placid stream of argument banked by sweet parable-such are the literary... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 28:22
22. mockers—a sin which they had committed (Isaiah 28:9; Isaiah 28:10). bands—their Assyrian bondage (Isaiah 10:27); Judah was then tributary to Assyria; or, "lest your punishment be made still more severe" (Isaiah 10:27- :). consumption—destruction (Isaiah 10:22; Isaiah 10:23; Daniel 9:27). read more