Verses 5-8
5-8. Now there is promise. At the close of Isaiah 29:2 it is stated that Jerusalem shall become God’s altar-fire-hearth indeed, the burning place of wrath upon her enemies. These verses expand this meaning.
Thy strangers Foreign invaders.
Small dust Suddenly the fierce besiegers shall become as dust, or like chaff blown away.
Thou The enemy.
Shall be visited Physical agencies shall be employed for a sudden annihilating stroke. The distresses of “Ariel” will pass away as in a moment. The suddenness will make the events seem as a dream to both the besiegers and the besieged. The besieger believed the prize of Jerusalem’s wealth was his; as he was passing his hand to grasp it, it evaded his touch as a flash. The besieged awoke in like manner to find the distress of dreaded capture wholly gone, and himself a free man again. There is scarcely so vivid a picture, in so small a compass, in all literature. It is the experience of nightmare that is given.
Thus far extends the promise attached to the woe-text of Isaiah 29:1-4. As will soon be seen, however, the people of the city of God’s altar-hearth are still stupid and dull.
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