A RENEWAL OF THREATENING . The denunciation of the Egyptian alliance had been made viva voce , in the courts of the temple or in some other place of public resort. As he ended, Isaiah received a Divine intimation that the prophecy was to be put on record, doubly, upon a tablet and in a book. At the same time, the " rebelliousness " of the people was further pointed out, and fresh threats (verses 13, 14, and 17) were uttered against them. read more
A testimony forever. The prophet pauses. Perhaps he hears an inner voice bidding him to write down a few words, such as the last significant Rahab . As in Isaiah 8:1 , the inscription is to be on a large tablet, set up in a conspicuous place, so that he who runs may read. Then he is to inscribe the prophecy more fully on a scroll. Litera scripta manet . The oracle, the oral utterance, transferred to parchment, becomes a κτῆμα εἰς ἀεί , a "possession forever." The perpetuity... read more
Aspects of sin. This severe denunciation by the prophet of the sins of the Jews may remind us of some of the darker and sadder aspects of sin itself. I. THE PERMANENCY OF ITS RECORD . Isaiah was to record the guilt of "the rebellious children" in a book, that it might be there inscribed " for the time to come forever and ever." And in the sacred volume there stand written, to be read for all time, the accusations which the Lord brought against Israel; the record of their... read more
That this is a rebellious people ; rather , for this is a rebellious people . The words to be written were those of the preceding prophecy. The reason for their being written is now given (comp. Deuteronomy 31:26 , Deuteronomy 31:27 ). Lying children (comp. Isaiah 59:13 ). They professed devotion to God; but their acts contradicted their words. read more
Which say , etc. Not, of course, directly, in so many words. But indirectly they let it be understood that this was what they wished. Compare the advice given to Micaiah by Ahab's messenger, who, no doubt, correctly interpreted the wishes of the monarch and his nobles ( 1 Kings 22:13 ). Seers … prophets . Not two classes of persons, but two names for the same class. The" parallelism" of Hebrew poetry leads to the constant employment of synonymous clauses. Right things ; i.e. the... read more
Smooth things wore acceptable to man than the truth. In connection with this subject there would seem to be three things to be specially set forth. I. THE FACT OF THE PREFERENCE . Man has no natural aversion to truth. On the contrary, truth is congenial to his nature and acceptable to his intellect. Scientific truth, historic truth, is readily received when offered to him, and, if not very eagerly desired or very carefully sought out, is at any rate, when put before him,... read more
Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us . "The Holy One of Israel" was one of Isaiah's most frequent names for the Almighty. He used it especially when rebuking Israel's unholiness ( Isaiah 1:4 ; Isaiah 5:24 , etc.). The irreligious Jews were weary of this constant iteration, and wished to hear no more concerning this "Holy One," whose very holiness was a reproach to them. read more
Because ye despise this word ; rather, because ye reject this word (see 1 Samuel 8:7 ; 1 Samuel 15:23 , 1 Samuel 15:26 ; 2 Kings 17:15 , etc.). The "word" intended is probably the prophecy against trusting in Egypt ( Isaiah 30:1-7 ). And trust in oppression ; or, extortion . Oppressive measures employed to obtain the rich gifts which had to be sent into Egypt ( Isaiah 30:6 ) are probably intended. Gratz and Cheyne change the reading from 'oshek to 'ikkesh ... read more
This iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall . Your sin in rebelling against God, rejecting the warnings of his prophets, and trusting in your own devices shall bring you into the condition of a wall in which there is a "breach," or rather, a "bulge," which therefore totters to its fall, and is liable to dissolve in ruins at any moment. Swelling out in a high wall. The higher the wail, the greater the danger, and the more complete the destruction. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 30:14
He shall not spare "And spareth it not" - Five MSS. add the conjunction ו vau to the negative; ולא velo . read more