Isaiah 3:2 - Exposition

The mighty man, and the man of war ; or, hero and warrior . The first rank is given to those distinguished in war, as being held in the highest esteem, and perhaps as actually, under the coming circumstances, the men of most importance to the country. It is thus implied, as later ( Isaiah 3:25 , Isaiah 3:26 ) it is expressly taught, that the impending visitation will be a terrible invasion. The judge, and the prophet ; literally, judge and prophet . The judge holds his place as one of the highest officers of the state (see Isaiah 1:26 ); the prophet holds a lower position than might have been expected, on account of the writer's humility. The prudent ; rather, the diviner , as the word is translated in Deuteronomy 18:14 ; 1 Samuel 6:2 ; Isaiah 44:25 ; Jeremiah 27:9 ; Jeremiah 29:8 ; Ezekiel 13:9 ; Micah 3:7 ; Zechariah 10:2 ; or soothsayer , as in Joshua 13:22 . Isaiah arranges the classes, not so much according to the order in which he values them, as to that in which they were valued by the people. The ancient ; i.e. "the elder," as the word is translated commonly. The "elders" had an ascertained position in the state under the monarchy ( 2 Samuel 5:3 ; 2 Samuel 19:11 ; 1 Kings 8:1 ; 1 Kings 20:7 ; 2 Kings 6:32 , etc.).