Isaiah Chapter 28

From The Open Bible Project

28:1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!

• (a) Meaning, the proud kingdom of the Israelites, who were drunk with worldly prosperity.
• (b) Because the Israelites for the most part dwelt in plentiful valleys, he means by this the valley of them who had abundance of worldly prosperity and were as it were crowned with garlands.

28:2 Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.

• (c) He seems to mean the Assyrians, by whom the ten tribes were carried away.

28:3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.

28:4 The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it.

• (d) Which is not of long continuance, but is soon ripe and first eaten.

28:5 In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people;

• (e) Signifying that the faithful who do not put their trust in any worldly prosperity but made God their glory, will be preserved.

28:6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

• (f) He will give counsel to the governor and strength to the captain to drive the enemies in at their own gates.

28:7 They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.

• (g) Meaning, the hypocrites who were among them, and were altogether corrupt in life and doctrine, which is here meant by drunkenness and vomiting.

28:8 For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.

• (h) For there was no one that was able to understand any good doctrine: but were foolish and as unfit as young babes.

28:9 Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?

28:10 For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.

• (i) They must have one thing often repeated.

28:11 But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language;

• (k) Let one teach what he can, yet they will no more understand him, than if he spoke in a strange language.

28:12 to whom he said, "This is the resting place. Give rest to weary;" and "This is the refreshing;" yet they would not hear.

• (l) That is, the prophet, whom God would send.
• (m) This is the doctrine on which you ought to stay and rest.
• (n) Show to them that are weary and have need of rest, what the true rest is.

28:13 Therefore the word of Yahweh will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.

• (o) Because they will not receive the word of God, when it is offered, it comes of their own malice, if after their hearts are so hardened, that they care not for it, as before, (Isaiah 6:9).

28:14 Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:

28:15 "Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death, and with [14] Sheol [See Isaiah Footnotes 14] are we in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won't come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.'"

• (p) They thought they had shifts to avoid God’s judgments, and that they could escape though all others perished.
• (q) Though the prophets condemned their idols and vain fruit of falsehood and vanity, yet the wicked thought in themselves that they would trust in these things.

28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.

• (r) That is, Christ, by whom all the building must be tried and upheld, (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6).
• (s) He will be quiet, and seek no other remedies, but be content with Christ.

28:17 I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.

• (t) In the restitution of his Church, judgment and justice will reign.
• (u) God’s corrections and affliction.
• (x) Affliction will discover their vain confidence, which they kept secret to themselves.

28:18 Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with [15] Sheol [See Isaiah Footnotes 15] shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.

28:19 As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message."

• (y) Terror and destruction will make you learn that which exhortations and gentleness could not bring you to.

28:20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

• (z) Your affliction will be so sore, that you are not able to endure it.

28:21 For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.

• (a) When David overcame the Philistines, (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11).
• (b) Where Joshua discomfited five kings of the Amorites, (Joshua 10:12).

28:22 Now therefore don't be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.

28:23 Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech!

28:24 Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods?

28:25 When he has leveled its surface, doesn't he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?

• (c) As the plowman has his appointed time, and various instruments for his labour, so has the Lord for his vengeance: for he punishes some at one time, and some at another, some after one sort, and some after another, so that his chosen seed is beaten and tried, but not broken as are the wicked.

28:26 For his God instructs him in right judgment, and teaches him.

28:27 For the dill are not threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod.

28:28 Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don't grind it.

28:29 This also comes forth from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.