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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 1:2-9

We will hope to meet with a brighter and more pleasant scene before we come to the end of this book; but truly here, in the beginning of it, every thing looks very bad, very black, with Judah and Jerusalem. What is the wilderness of the world, if the church, the vineyard, has such a dismal aspect as this? I. The prophet, though he speaks in God's name, yet, despairing to gain audience with the children of his people, addresses himself to the heavens and the earth, and bespeaks their attention... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:7

Your country is desolate ,.... Or "shall be"; this is either a declaration in proper terms of what is before figuratively expressed, or rather a prophecy of what would be their case on account of transgressions; and which had its accomplishment partly in the Babylonish captivity, and fully in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; when not only their city and temple, called their house, Matthew 23:38 , were left unto them desolate, but the whole land; and they were carried captive,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:7

At the end of the verse, זרים zarim . This reading, though confirmed by all the ancient versions, gives us no good sense; for "your land is devoured by strangers; and is desolate, as if overthrown by strangers," is a mere tautology, or, what is as bad, an identical comparison. Aben Ezra thought that the word in its present form might be taken for the same with זרם zerem , an inundation: Schultens is of the same opinion; (see Taylor's Concord.); and Schindler in his Lexicon explains it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:7-9

Your country is desolate - The description of the ruined and desolate state of the country in these verses does not suit with any part of the prosperous times of Uzziah and Jotham. It very well agrees with the time of Ahaz, when Judea was ravaged by the joint invasion of the Israelites and Syrians, and by the incursions of the Philistines and Edomites. The date of this prophecy is therefore generally fixed to the time of Ahaz. But on the other hand it may be considered whether those... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-9

Jehovah arraigns his people. I. INGRATITUDE THE BASEST OF SINS . He, the Father, has been faithlessly forsaken by ungrateful sons. This is the worst form of ingratitude. "Filial ingratitude! Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to it?" ('King Lear.') It has been said that The wretch whom gratitude once fails to bind, To truth or honor let him lay no claim, But stand confess'd the brute disguised in man." But the brutes are grateful;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4-9

The prophet's enforcement of God's charge. God's words are so weighty, that they may well be few; the preacher's enforcement of them must needs be, comparatively speaking, lengthy. Isaiah, in addressing his erring countrymen, aimed at producing in them— I. CONVICTION OF DIN . For this purpose, he begins with an array of seven charges (verse 4), varying, as it were, the counts of the indictment: The first four are general, and seem to be little more than rhetorical variations of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5-9

Sin in its hopelessness. I. THAT SIN IS MORE OR LESS RECLAIMABLE . Whatever we might have antecedently expected, we find practically, that there are those on whom Divine truth is far more likely to tell than it is on others. Thus Time, pleasure, the misuse of sacred opportunity,—these things indurate the soul and make it far less responsive than it once was; so that there are some that are more hopeless than others. II. THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNCHARGED BY... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:7

Your country is desolate. Metaphor is now dropped, and the prophet describes in strong but simple language the judgments of God, which have already followed the sins of the nation. First of all, their land is "a desolation." It has been recently ravaged by an enemy; the towns have been burnt, the crops devoured. There is nothing to determine who the enemy had been. Knobel supposes the Edomites and Philistines, who invaded Judaea in the time of Ahaz ( 2 Chronicles 28:17 , 2 Chronicles... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:7

Your country is desolate - This is the literal statement of what he had just affirmed by a figure. In this there was much art. The figure Isaiah 1:6 was striking. The resemblance between a man severely beaten, and entirely livid and sore, and a land perfectly desolate, was so impressive as to arrest the attention. This had been threatened as one of the curses which should attend disobedience; Leviticus 26:33 :And I will scatter you among the heathen,And will draw out a sword after you:And your... read more

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