Isaiah 5:26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 5:18-30

Here are, I. Sins described which will bring judgments upon a people: and this perhaps is not only a charge drawn up against the men of Judah who lived at that time, and the particular articles of that charge, though it may relate primarily to them, but is rather intended for warning to all people, in all ages, to take heed of these sins, as destructive both to particular persons and to communities, and exposing men to God's wrath and his righteous judgments. Those are here said to be in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:26

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far ,.... Not to the Chaldeans or Babylonians, for they were not nations, but one nation, and were a people near; but to the Romans, who consisted of many nations, and were afar off, and extended their empire to the ends of the earth; these, by one providence or another, were stirred up to make an expedition into the land of Judea, and besiege Jerusalem: and this lifting up of an ensign is not, as sometimes, for the gathering and enlisting of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 5:26

He will - hiss "He will hist" - "The metaphor is taken from the practice of those that keep bees, who draw them out of their hives into the fields, and lead them back again, συρισμασι , by a hiss or a whistle." - Cyril, on this place; and to the same purpose Theodoret, ib. In Isaiah 7:18 , the metaphor is more apparent, by being carried farther, where the hostile armies are expressed by the fly and the bee: - "Jehovah shall hist the fly That is in the utmost parts of Egypt; And the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:24-30

The judgments of the Lord. These verses are obviously pictorial and figurative; they must be treated as highly hyperbolical or they will be misconceived. Though their primary reference is to the judgments which impended over the guilty nation, we may discover in them some principles which not only extend to every age, but apply to every individual soul. I. THAT THE INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS THE NATION MAY BE THE OBJECT OF THE AWFUL ANGER OF ALMIGHTY GOD ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:25-29

Wicked men used by God as instruments for working out his purposes. The psalmist declares the wicked to be "God's sword" ( Psalms 17:13 ). In a later chapter Isaiah calls Assyria "the rod of God's anger" ( Isaiah 10:5 ). Nothing is more clearly set forth in the prophetical writings than the fact that— I. CONQUERING NATIONS ARE RAISED UP BY GOD TO CHASTISE THE NATIONS THAT ARE HIS ENEMIES . 1. Assyria was "the axe" with which God hewed down... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:25-30

THE NATURE OF THE COMING JUDGMENT EXPLAINED . Hints have been already given that the judgment which is to fall on the nation is a foreign war, or a series of foreign wars (see Isaiah 3:25 ; Isaiah 5:13 ). But now for the first time a terrible invasion, in which many nations will participate, is clearly announced. At first the imagery is obscure ( Isaiah 5:25 ), but it soon grows more distinct. "Nations" are summoned to the attack; a vast army comes, and comes" with speed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:26

And he will lift up an ensign. Mr. Cheyne translates, "a signal," and would so render the Hebrew word in Isaiah 11:10 , Isaiah 11:12 ; Isaiah 13:2 ; Isaiah 18:3 ; Isaiah 49:22 ; Isaiah 62:10 . But "ensigns" or "standards" were in use both among the Egyptians and among the Assyrians before the time of Isaiah, and are, therefore, likely to have been in use among the Hebrews. The standards, however, of this early period were not flags, as Jarchi supposes, but solid constructions of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:26-30

Foreign invasion. This powerful picture points to the threatened Assyrian invasion. I. THE IMAGE OF A WARLIKE ADVANCE . It is wrought out with singular boldness. Jehovah of hosts is conceived as lifting up a signal visible to the far-off nations, and sounding at the same time a whistle-cry, so that they swiftly gather together and come in troops from the horizon. Then rapid and unbroken is their march. Not a foot tires, not a warrior drowses or sleeps, or stays to rest. Not one... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 5:26

And he will lift up an ensign ... - The idea here is, that the nations of the earth are under his control, and that he can call whom he pleases to execute his purposes. This power over the nations he often claims; compare Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-7; Isaiah 10:5-7; Isaiah 9:11; Isaiah 8:18. An “ensign” is the “standard,” or “flag” used in an army. The elevation of the standard was a signal for assembling for war. God represents himself here as simply raising the standard, expecting that the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 5:26

Isaiah 5:26. And he will lift up an ensign to the nations To call them together for his service. Here that decree of the divine severity, which had been spoken of in general terms in Isaiah 5:24, is explained. God is shown to be the supreme general or leader of the people, which were to come from far to execute his vengeance; they were to assemble at his setting up his ensign as a signal; and at his hissing A metaphor taken from the practice of persons keeping bees; who used to draw them... read more

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