3. what will ye do—what way of escape will there be for you? visitation—of God's wrath (Isaiah 26:14; Job 35:15; Hosea 9:7). from far—from Assyria. leave . . . glory—rather, "deposit (for safekeeping) your wealth" [LOWTH]. So Psalms 49:17. read more
4. Without me—not having Me to "flee to" (Isaiah 10:3). bow down—Bereft of strength they shall fall; or else, they shall lie down fettered. under . . . under—rather, "among" (literally, "in the place of") [HORSLEY]. The "under" may be, however, explained, "trodden under the (feet of the) prisoners going into captivity," and "overwhelmed under the heaps of slain on the battlefield" [MAURER]. Isaiah 10:5-34; Isaiah 11:12. DESTRUCTION OF THE ASSYRIANS; COMING OF MESSIAH; HYMN OF PRAISE. Isaiah... read more
5. O Assyrian, c.—rather, "What, ho (but MAURER, Woe to the) Assyrian! He is the rod and staff of Mine anger (My instrument in punishing, Jeremiah 51:20 Psalms 17:13). In their hands is Mine indignation" [HORSLEY, after JEROME]. I have put into the Assyrians' hands the execution of Mine indignation against My people. read more
6. send him—"Kings' hearts are in the hand of the Lord" ( :-). hypocritical—polluted [HORSLEY]. nation—Judah, against whom Sennacherib was forming designs. of my wrath—objects of My wrath. give . . . charge— ( :-). and to tread, c.—HORSLEY translates: "And then to make him (the Assyrian) a trampling under foot like the mire of the streets" (so Isaiah 10:12 Isaiah 33:1; Zechariah 10:5). But see Isaiah 37:26. read more
The Ephraimite leaders were using their positions to deprive the needy of their rights and to obtain what the poor had for themselves. They were evidently favoring legislation that resulted in these ends, as well as perverting the justice that was in place in the Mosaic system. The situation was so bad in Israel that the Lord chose to abandon His customary defense of the defenseless. read more
The oppression of the helpless 10:1-4Isaiah directed this last strophe against the unjust authorities and judges. read more
When God brought Ephraim into judgment, he would have nowhere to hide and no one to protect him (cf. Matthew 24:45-51). Then he would be the needy without defense or recourse. For the fourth time, God promised that He would judge Ephraim (cf. Isaiah 9:12; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 9:21).Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom, had more reason to fear God than he had to fear Assyria. Yahweh would discipline him because of his pride, corrupt leadership, selfishness, and oppression of his vulnerable citizens. He... read more
"Woe" (Heb. hoy) introduces a judgment oracle. Assyria was like a rod in God’s hand; He controlled her actions. He would send her to discipline godless Judah, against whom God’s fury burned: "to capture booty and to seize plunder" (Isaiah 10:6, the meaning of Maher-shalal-hash-baz’s name, Isaiah 8:1; Isaiah 8:3). However, Assyria was in for woe herself (cf. Isaiah 10:1) because she failed to acknowledge that she was under the sovereign authority of Yahweh. read more
The instrument of destruction 10:5-11Assyria was simply an unwitting tool in Yahweh’s hand that He would use to accomplish His purposes (cf. Habakkuk 1:12-17). This pericope is one of the greatest revelations of the relation between heaven and earth in the Bible. [Note: Motyer, p. 112.] read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 10:2
2. To turn aside, &c.—The effect of their conduct is to pervert the cause of the needy [HORSLEY]. In English Version "from judgment" means "from obtaining justice." take away the right—"make plunder of the right" (rightful claim) [HORSLEY]. read more