Bible Commentaries

burden = a prophetic oracle or warning. This begins the fourth great division of the book. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:3), App-92.

Babylon. This takes precedence, and stands for Chaldsea generally. It reached its height about 100 years later, under Nahopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar. A generation later it was captured by Cyrus and Darius the Mede (see App-57). Babylon was of little importance at this time.

Isaiah. His name given in Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 2:1; Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 20:2, Isaiah 20:3; Isaiah 37:2, Isaiah 37:5, Isaiah 37:6, Isaiah 37:21; Isaiah 39:3, Isaiah 39:5, Isaiah 39:8.

sanctified ones = separated ones. Here = the armies of the Medes and Persians. Compare Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1.

mighty ones = heroes. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14.

them that rejoice in My highness = my proudly exulting ones.

the end of heaven: i.e. from afar.

the whole land = all the land [of Chaldaea].

the day. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the events (or judgments) which shall take place in it.

day of the Lord. . See note on Isaiah 2:12. Occurs in fifteen other places in O.T. : (Isaiah 13:9. Ezekiel 13:5. Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, Joel 2:11, Joel 2:31; Amos 5:18, Amos 5:18, Amos 5:20. Obadiah 1:15. Zephaniah 1:7, Zephaniah 1:14, Zephaniah 1:14. Malachi 4:5 (total 4x4, App-10).

destruction . . . ALMIGHTY. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. keshod. . . mishshaddai.

the ALMIGHTY = the All-bountiful One. Hebrew. Shaddai (App-4).

man"s = mortal"s. Hebrew. enosh.

App-14.

as flames = as [faces of] flames darkened.

cruel = stern.

shall not give their light. Quoted in Matthew 24:29. Shall not celebrate [Thee]. Compare Psalms 19:1-3; Psalms 145:10. Hebrew. halel.

Occurs twice in "former" portion (here and in Isaiah 38:18 "celebrate") and four times in "latter" portion (Isaiah 41:16; Isaiah 45:25, "glory"; Isaiah 62:9; Isaiah 64:11, "praise") See App-79.

the world = the habitable world. Hebrew tebel.

evil. Hebrew. ra"a. App-44.

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha.

iniquity. Hebrew. avah.

man. Hebrew. adam. App-14.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

children = babes.

Medes. Here only "Medes". in Isaiah 21:2, "Persians and Medes. "In Isaiah 45:1 Cyrus named. The order is chronological.

their. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and their".

children = sons.

as when God, &c. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Isaiah 1:9.

never. See note on Isaiah 25:8.

doleful creatures. Probably hyenas.

satyrs = goat-shaped demons worshipped by the Seirites (Edom). Compare Leviticus 17:7. 2 Chronicles 11:15; 2 Chronicles 25:14.

the wild beasts = jackals.

dragons, or wild dogs.