Isaiah Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2:2 It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

• (a) The decree and ordinance of God, concerning the restoration of the Church, which is chiefly meant by the time of Christ.
• (b) In an evident place to be seen and discerned.
• (c) When the kingdom of Christ will be enlarged by the preaching of the doctrine. Here also is declared the zeal of the children of God when they are called.

2:3 Many peoples shall go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

• (d) Alluding to mount Zion, where the visible Church then was.
• (e) Meaning, the whole doctrine of salvation.
• (f) This was accomplished when the gospel was first preached in Jerusalem, and from there went through all the world.

2:4 He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

• (g) The Lord, who is Christ, will have all power given to him.
• (h) That they may acknowledge their sins, and turn to him.
• (i) He shows the fruit of the peace which the gospel should bring, that is, that men should do good to one another, while before they were enemies.
• (k) He speaks not against the use of weapons and lawful war, but shows how the hearts of the godly will be affected one toward another, which peace and love begin and grow in this life, but will be perfected when we are joined with our head Jesus Christ.

2:5 House of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.

• (l) Seeing the Gentiles will be ready, make haste, and show them the way to worship God.

2:6 For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled from the east, with those who practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with the children of foreigners.

• (m) The prophet seeing the small hope that the Jews would convert, complains to God as though he had utterly forsaken them for their sins.
• (n) Full of the corruptions that reigned chiefly in the east parts.
• (o) They altogether gave themselves to the fashions of other nations.

2:7 Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.

• (p) The prophet first condemned their superstition and idolatry next their covetousness and thirdly their vain trust in worldly means.

2:8 Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

2:9 Man is brought low, and mankind is humbled; therefore don't forgive them.

• (q) He notes the nature of the idolaters who are never satisfied in their superstitions.
• (r) Thus the prophet spoke being inflamed with the zeal of God’s glory, and that he might fear them with God’s judgment.

2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty.

2:11 The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.

• (s) Meaning, as soon as God will begin to execute his judgments.

2:12 For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:

2:13 For all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan,

2:14 For all the high mountains, for all the hills that are lifted up,

• (t) By high trees and mountains are he means the proud and lofty, who think themselves most strong in this world.

2:15 For every lofty tower, for every fortified wall,

2:16 For all the ships of Tarshish, and for all pleasant imagery.

• (u) He condemns their vain confidence which they had in strongholds and in their rich merchandise which brought in vain pleasures with which men’s minds became effeminate.

2:17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.

2:18 The idols shall utterly pass away.

2:19 Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.

2:20 In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

• (x) They will cast them into vile and filthy places when they perceive that they are not able to help them.

2:21 To go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.

2:22 Stop trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?

• (y) Cast off your vain confidence in man, whose life is so frail that if his nose is stopped he is dead and consider that you are dealing with God.