Isaiah 29:7

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 29:7

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel ,.... The Roman army, which consisted of men of all nations, that fought against Jerusalem; the city in which was the altar, as the Targum paraphrases it: even all that fight against her, and her munition, and that distress her ; that besieged it, and endeavoured to demolish its walls, towns, and fortifications, as they did: shall be as a dream of a night vision : meaning either that the Roman empire should quickly fall,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 29:7

As a dream - This is the beginning of the comparison, which is pursued and applied in the next verse. Sennacherib and his mighty army are not compared to a dream because of their sudden disappearance; but the disappointment of their eager hopes is compared to what happens to a hungry and thirsty man, when he awakes from a dream in which fancy had presented to him meat and drink in abundance, and finds it nothing but a vain illusion. The comparison is elegant and beautiful in the highest... 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 29:7

Her munition ; i.e. her defenses the walls and towers in which she put her trust (comp. Isaiah 29:3 ). As a dream of a night vision . "The baseless fabric of a vision," when it has once passed by, "leaves not wrack behind." The entire host of the "terrible ones" would melt away and disappear, as a night vision before the light of day—it would dissolve into nothing, vanish, leave no trace. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 29:7

And the multitude of all the nations - The Assyrians, and their allied hosts.And her munition - Her fortresses, castles, places of strength 2 Samuel 5:7; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Ezekiel 19:9.Shall be as a dream of a night vision - In a dream we seem to see the objects of which we think as really as when awake, and hence, they are called visions, and visions of the night Genesis 46:2; Job 4:13; Job 7:14; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 7:1, Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:15. The specific idea here... 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

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