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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 29:1-8

That it is Jerusalem which is here called Ariel is agreed, for that was the city where David dwelt; that part of it which was called Zion was in a particular manner the city of David, in which both the temple and the palace were. But why it is so called is very uncertain: probably the name and the reason were then well known. Cities, as well as persons, get surnames and nicknames. Ariel signifies the lion of God, or the strong lion: as the lion is king among beasts, so was Jerusalem among the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:6

Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise ,.... That is, not the multitude of strangers and terrible ones, unless they could be understood of the wicked among the Jews; but thou Ariel, or Jerusalem, shalt be punished by the Lord of hosts; for this visitation or punishment was from him, for their sins and iniquities; the Romans were only the instruments he made use of, and the executioners of his vengeance; which was attended with thunder in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:1-8

The city of God. "The city where David dwelt" was undoubtedly Jerusalem, the "city of God." It is here called Ariel ; i.e; according to some, the hearth or altar of God. This fact, taken with the prophecy itself, may remind us— I. THAT THE CITY OF GOD IS THE PLACE WHERE GOD DWELLS . It is where his hearth is —the "place of his abode" where he is at home with his people, where they are "at home" with him. The true Church of Christ, the ideal Christian family or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:1-12

Concerning Ariel. I. VICISSITUDES OF ARIEL . The name is symbolic, perhaps signifying " God ' s lion." It was the city where David dwelt. The prophet bids the city enter upon the new year, and run the round of the feasts. The distress will come, and the city, true to her name, will be mourning like a wounded lioness; and yet her prowess will be seen. She will be beleaguered, the mound for the battering-ram will be set up; she will be abased, and her low voice will be like the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:5-8

THE WARNING FOLLOWED BY A PROMISE . It is ever God's care to prevent men from being "swallowed up with overmuch sorrow" ( 2 Corinthians 2:7 ). As long as he is not about to "make a full end" ( Jeremiah 4:27 ), he mingles promises with his threats, words of cheer with words of warning. So now the prophet is directed to attach to his four verses of denunciation ( Isaiah 29:1-4 ) four others of encouragement, and to declare the utter discomfiture of the vast host of enemies which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:5-8

The disappointment that awaits God's enemies. All the enemies of God have, some day or other, an awaking. The designs which they cherish, the selfish hopes in which they indulge, are mere dreams. Even when the dreams are realized the result is disappointing. No man ever yet found the pleasure of success equal to his expectation. If there is a little satisfaction at first, fruition soon begets satiety. "Vanity of vanities," says the preacher, "all is vanity." But, for the most part, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:6

Thou shalt be visited ; literally, shall there be a visitation . On whom the visitation will fall is not expressed; but the context shows that it is on the enemies of Judah. The terrible nature of the visitation is signified by an enumeration of the most fearful of God's judgments—"thunder, earthquake, great noise, whirlwind, tern-pest, and a flame of devouring fire." All the expressions are probably metaphorical. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 29:6

Thou shalt be visited - This is an address to the mighty army of the Assyrian. Such transitions are not uncommon in the writings of Isaiah. His eye seems to have been directed in vision to the hosts of Sennacherib, and to their sudden dispersion and destruction Isaiah 29:5, and by a sudden, but not unnatural transition, he turns and addresses the army itself, with the assurance that it should be punished (compare Isaiah 30:30).With thunder ... - The army of the Assyrian was cut off by an angel... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 29:5-7

Isaiah 29:5-7. Moreover Or, rather, But, the multitude of thy strangers Of the strangers that encamp and fight against thee; shall be like small dust Dispersed by the least breath of air; and the multitude of the terrible ones Of the Assyrian army, terrible for courage and ferocity; shall be as the chaff that passeth away Which is quickly carried away by the wind. Yea, at an instant, suddenly This dissipation and destruction of thine enemies shall be as instantaneous as it is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:1-124

God saves Jerusalem (29:1-24)Isaiah then presents a frightening picture of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (called ‘Ariel’ in RSV and NIV, and ‘God’s altar’ in GNB). The people think that their city is safe and that the cycle of annual festivals will go on indefinitely. Suddenly, they find their lives threatened by a terrible siege. Throughout the city people are distressed and humiliated, as the doomed city cries out to God, as it were, from the grave (29:1-4).The enemy armies think their... read more

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