Isaiah 9:1-21

(continued)

8. Jacob.. Israel] Both names here stand for the northern kingdom, as is made clear by what follows in the next v.

9. Shall know] i.e. shall be taught by experience (Numbers 14:34).

10. If the language is to be understood literally, the allusion is to the way in which the people set themselves to repair, and more than make up for, the devastation caused by invasion. But it is more likely that the prophet refers in a figure to the frequent changes of dynasty in the N. kingdom; no sooner is one dynasty overthrown than another rises up to take its place in vain self-confidence. This interpretation is suggested by the word ’we will change,’ which literally signifies, ’we will make cedars to succeed.’ The Arabic Caliph, meaning successor (of the prophet Mohammed), is from the same Semitic root.

11. The adversaries of Rezin] Perhaps we should read (with some Heb. MSS) ’the princes of Rezin’; the meaning would then be that the Syrian allies of Israel (Isaiah 7:1-2) will turn against it. This suits the context, for we read in the next v. the Syrians before. Join his enemies together] RV ’stir up his enemies.’

12. Before] EM ’on the east.’ Behind] EM ’on the west.’ The point is that Israel is attacked on all hands.

14. Branch] EV ’palm branch’: ’palm-branch and rush’—a proverbial expression signifying high and low (Isaiah 19:15).

15. Explanatory of the metaphorical language in Isaiah 9:14: cp. Isaiah 9:20, Isaiah 9:21.

18. Briers and thorns] figuratively put for evil men (2 Samuel 23:6).

19. Darkened] RV ’burnt up.’

20. He shall] RV ’one shall’: not to be taken literally as indicating the approach of famine, but a figurative prophecy of the ruin of the nation through anarchy and civil strife, as is made clear by the first part of Isaiah 9:21.

Isaiah 10:1. And that write, etc.] RV ’and to the writers that write perverseness,’ referring to the registering of unjust and oppressive legal decisions by the scribes. There is thus a double reference (a) to unjust legislation, and (b) to unjust administrations of the law.

3. Glory] i.e. wealth and possessions, in which the people take pride. See the same word in the same sense Genesis 31:1.

4. Without me they shall bow down] rather, RV ’except they bow down,’ or ’they shall only bow down.’ Ironical—men’s only safety will be with the wretched train of captives, or beneath the corpses on the battle-field.