There will be no fear there of enemy officials who noted things down, weighed things out, and assessed Israel’s strength by taking inventories. Neither will there be terror caused by invading armies that used incomprehensible speech (cf. Isaiah 28:11; Isaiah 28:19). Foreign tax collectors who spoke an alien language may also be in view. These were all fears that the Judeans had when the Assyrians invaded. read more
1-12. The deliverance of Jerusalem from the Invader. 13-24. The Consequences of the Interposition of Jehovah for those that dwell in the City.1. The Assyrian is addressed. That spoilest, etc.] may mean, (1) that the Assyrian attacked Judah without provocation, or (2) that he has so far spoiled other nations unchecked.2. Their arm] viz. Jerusalem’s defenders’.3. Disaster overtakes the enemy. People.. nations] refer to the various races subject to Sennacherib and serving in his army.4. As.. upon... read more
(18) Thine heart shall meditate terror—i.e., shall recall the memory of the past evil days, as a dream that had passed away, leaving behind it the thankful joy which rises out of such recollections.Where is the scribe?—Then, in those times of panic, each Assyrian official was an object of dread. There was the “scribe,” who fixed the amount of tribute to be paid by each village or landowner; the “receiver” (literally, weigher), who weighed the gold and silver as it was brought in for payment;... read more
(19) Thou shalt not see a fierce people . . .—Better, The fierce people thou shalt not see . . . The words answer the question just asked. The whole Assyrian army, with their barbarous, unintelligible speech (Isaiah 28:11), shall have passed away. read more
God Is a Consuming Fire Isaiah 33:14-16 This passage contains a question, and the reply to the question, and an assurance over and above the reply. I. Consider the answer here given to the inquiry about dwelling with God. The possession of spiritual life shown to be spiritual life by the external manifestations of walking righteously, and speaking uprightly, and holding aloof from evil is the one thing which enables a man to stand without being consumed in the consuming fire of the presence of... read more
CHAPTER XXIOUR GOD A CONSUMING FIRE701 B.C.Isaiah 33:1-24WE have seen how the sense of forgiveness and the exultant confidence, which fill chapter 33, were brought about within a few months after the sentence of death, that cast so deep a gloom on chapter 22. We have expounded some of the contents of chapter 33, but have not exhausted the chapter; and in particular we have not touched one of Isaiah’s principles, which there finds perhaps its finest expression: the consuming righteousness of... read more
CHAPTER 33 Sixth Woe Against the Assyrian and What Is to Follow 1. The judgment announced (Isaiah 33:1 ) 2. The prayer of the faithful remnant (Isaiah 33:2-6 ) 3. The judgment executed (Isaiah 33:7-13 ) 4. The judge in the midst of Zion (Isaiah 33:14-16 ) 5. The King beheld in His beauty (Isaiah 33:17-23 ) 6. Healing and forgiveness the result of the coming of the King (Isaiah 33:24 ) This is the last mention which is made of the Assyrian apart from the historical chapters. Here... read more
33:18 Thy heart {y} shall meditate terror. Where [is] the scribe? where [is] the receiver? where [is] he that counted the towers?(y) Before this liberty comes you will think that you are in great danger: for the enemy will so sharply assail you that one will cry "Where is the clerk that writes the names of them who are taxed?" another, "Where is the receiver?" another will cry for him that values the rich houses, but God will deliver you from this fear. read more
JUDAH AND EGYPT These chapters make a unit since, with the exception of the opening part of chapter 28, they chiefly deal with Judah’s futile alliance with Egypt. Isaiah 28:0 Israel, or the kingdom of the ten tribes, is addressed under the name of her leading tribe “Ephraim” (Isaiah 28:1 ). Her great sin is strong drink. “The head of the fat valley” is Samaria the capital, which is soon to be overthrown by the Assyrians (Isaiah 28:2-4 ). Observe, however, the usual forecast of the end of the... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 33:17-24
The King of Zion 33:17-24The subject now shifts from the people who will inhabit the future Zion to the king who will rule there. This is a revelation of Messiah’s universal rule. It is a picture that stands in stark contrast to the one Isaiah painted of the present Jerusalem in chapters 28-31. read more