Thy men shall fall by the sword ,.... Of the Romans; which would be a punishment to the women for their pride and luxury, being deprived thereby of their husbands: and thy mighty in the war ; of Vespasian and Titus, and which the Jews F9 Misn. Sabbat, c. 6. sect. 3. call פולמוס של אספסינוס , "the war of Vespasian": in which great multitudes of men, even of mighty men, were slain. read more
Thy mighty men - For גבורתך geburathech an ancient MS. has גבורך gibborech . The true reading, from the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Chaldee, seems to be גבוריך gibborayich . read more
THE CAUSE OF THE JUDGMENT SHOWN TO BE THE SINS OF JERUSALEM . 1. The sins of the men . ( Isaiah 3:8-15 ). These are declared to be partly sins of speech, but mainly sins of act ( Isaiah 3:8 ). Of sins of speech the only one specified is the open and shameless declaration of their wickedness ( Isaiah 3:9 ). Under the head of sins of act are enumerated The enumeration of the sins is mixed with exhortation and comment in such a way as to give rise to the... read more
The vanity of vanity. The graphic pen of the prophet brings before us the thoughts— I. THAT THE LAST AND SADDEST SYMPTOM OF NATIONAL DECLINE IS FOUND IN WOMANLY FOLLY . "Moreover … the daughters of Zion," etc. ( Isaiah 3:16 ). Corruption may have spread far and done much evil work in the community, but there is hope for the city or the Church so long as the wives and the mothers, the daughters and the sisters, retain their moral and spiritual integrity. When... read more
Thy men ; rather, thy people ; i.e. the inhabitants of Jerusalem generally. Note here the first distinct statement that the coming visitation will be one of war. read more
National evil in the loss of male population. The destruction of the males in war is the cause of the extreme grief and helpless desolation of womanhood. The figure is intense when read in the light of the condition of unprotected woman in Eastern countries. "In the East of antiquity, as in many Eastern lands to this day, the position of an unmarried woman, whether maid or widow, was a very unhappy and perilous one. Only in the house of a husband could a woman be sure of respect and... read more
Thy men - This is an address to Jerusalem itself, by a change not uncommon in the writings of Isaiah. In the calamities coming on them, their strong men should be overcome, and fall in battle. read more
Isaiah 3:25-26. Thy men shall fall, &c. We have in these verses the second evil; the desolation and widowhood of the matrons and virgins: see Lamentations 2:21-22. But we must observe, that the prophet here does not address the women themselves, but Zion, which frequently is spoken of and represented in the character of a woman. Her gates shall lament The gates of Zion, which, by a figure, are said to lament, to imply the great desolation of the place, that there would be no people to... read more
Ungodly society (3:1-4:1)Isaiah now gives a picture of the end of a society characterized by human self-sufficiency and self-centredness. The government collapses, resulting in a shortage of basic necessities such as food and water. Judah had previously depended for leadership on a variety of people, good and bad - statesmen, soldiers, judges, prophets, magicians - but now no one can be found to lead the country (3:1-3). Power falls into the hands of immature youths, and lawlessness results.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 3:16-26
The prophet's business was to show all sorts of people what they had contributed to the national guilt and what share they must expect in the national judgments that were coming. Here he reproves and warns the daughters of Zion, tells the ladies of their faults; and Moses, in the law, having denounced God's wrath against the tender and delicate woman (the prophets being a comment upon the law, Deut. 28:56), he here tells them how they shall smart by the calamities that are coming upon them.... read more