Isaiah Chapter 10

From The Open Bible Project

10:1 Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees;

• (a) Who write and pronounce a wicked sentence to oppress the people: meaning, that the wicked magistrate, who were the chief cause of mischief, would be first punished.

10:2 to deprive the needy from justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

10:3 What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

• (b) That is, from Assyria.
• (c) Your riches and authority, that they may be safe and that you may receive them again.

10:4 They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

• (d) Because they have forsaken me, some will go into captivity and the rest will be slain.

10:5 Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!

• (e) God calls for the Assyrians to be the executioners of his vengeance.

10:6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me will I give him a command to take the spoil and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

• (f) That is, the Assyrians against the Jews who are hypocrites. In the sixth and seventh verse is declared the difference of the work of God and of the wicked in one very thing and act: for God’s intention is to chastise them for their amendment, and the Assyrians purpose is to destroy them to enrich themselves. Thus in respect to God’s justice, it is God’s work, but in respect to their own malice, it is the work of the devil.

10:7 However he doesn't mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

10:8 For he says, "Aren't all of my princes kings?

10:9 Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?"

• (g) Seeing that I have overcome one city as well as another, so that none could resist, shall Jerusalem be able to escape my hands?

10:10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

10:11 shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

10:12 Therefore it will happen that, when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his haughty looks.

• (h) When he has sufficiently chastised his people (for he begins at his own house) then will he burn the rods.
• (i) Meaning of Sennacherib.

10:13 For he has said, "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.

10:14 My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped."

10:15 Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

• (k) Here we see that no creature is able to do anything, but as God appoints him, and that they are all his instruments to do his work though the intentions are diverse, as in (Isaiah 10:6).

10:16 Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.

10:17 The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

• (l) Meaning that God is a light to comfort his people and a fire to burn his enemies.
• (m) That is, the Assyrians.

10:18 He will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.

• (n) That is, body and soul utterly.
• (o) When the battle is lost and the standard taken.

10:19 The remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.

10:20 It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

• (p) This is the end of God’s plagues toward his, to bring them to him, and to forsake all trust in others.

10:21 A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

10:22 For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

• (q) This small number which seemed to be consumed and yet according to God’s decree is saved, will be sufficient to fill all the world with righteousness.

10:23 For the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will make a full end, and that determined, in the midst of all the earth.

• (r) God will destroy this land as he has determined and later save a small portion.

10:24 Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, says "My people who dwell in Zion, don't be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.

• (s) As the Egyptians punished you.

10:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction."

10:26 Yahweh of Armies will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt.

• (t) Read (Isaiah 9:4).
• (u) When the Israelites passed through by the lifting up of Moses’ rod, and the enemies were drowned, (Exodus 14:28).

10:27 It will happen in that day, that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

• (x) Because of the promise made to that kingdom, by which Christ’s kingdom was prefigured.

10:28 He has come to Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage.

• (y) He describes by what way the Assyrians would come against Jerusalem, to confirm the faithful, when it would come to pass, that as their plague was come, so should they be delivered.

10:29 They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.

10:30 Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!

10:31 Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.

10:32 This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

10:33 Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.

• (z) Fear and destruction will come on Judah for the princes and the people will all be led away captive.

10:34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.