Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII.
Vers. 1. VVO to thee that spoilest] The enemies of Gods Church, the Assyrians and Chaldeans. Chap. 17. 4. &. 21. 2. Senacherib especially.
when thou shalt cease to spoil] When thy time is expired, thou shalt be bereft of thy power, and then others shall spoil thee. Jer. 25. 12, 14. Habak. 2. 8. as thou hast dealt with others, so shall others deal with thee. Matth. 7. 2. Rev. 13. 10.
they shall deal treacherously with thee] The Chaldeans shall do to the Assyrians as they had done to Gods people; and the Medes and Persians to the Chaldeans, as they to the Assyrians: Or, Senacheribs sons shall deal treacherously with him, as he before with others. Chap. 37. 38.
V. 2. O LORD, be gracious unto us] The prayer of Gods people, intreating him to make good this his word, and to glorifie himself by defence and deliverance of them in their distresses; the onelyonly refuge of the faithfull in such times. Pro. 18. 10. Chap. 26. 16.
we have waited for thee] Chap. 25. 9. & 26. 8.
be thou their arm] Or, which wast their arm: their succour and safeguard, Jer. 17. 5. who didst mightily help, defend and deliver our fathers when they sought unto thee. Psal. 22. 4, 5. & 89. 21. & 136. 12.
every morning] Heb. in the mornings. Lam. 3. 23. Speedily, or constantly. Psal. 143. 7. Job 7. 18.
V. 3. At the noise, &c.] A propheticall answer to the peoples prayer, by way of promise foretelling the performance of what they prayed for.
the people] The Assyrian forces. Chap. 37. 36, 37.
fled] Or, shall flee.
at the lifting up of thy self] Of thine arm to smite the enemy. Chap. 26. 11. or, of thy self, raising up thy self Psal. 68. 1. & 78. 65. or, set aloft, as upon a tribunall. Rev. 6. 16. vers. 5. 10.
were scattered] Or, shall be scattered.
V. 4. like the gathering of the Caterpiller, &c.] Ye, that like Caterpillers and locusts have pillaged other, shall now be gathered together with your pillage, on heaps, like locusts, and so destroyed; as Exod. 8. 13, 14. Or, ye shall be stript and pillaged, and left as bare, as Locusts and Caterpillers use to leave the places where they come. Exod. 10. 15. Joel 1. 14. & 2. 3.
running to and fro of locusts.] That run to and fro in the corn. Joel 2. 7.
V. 5. The LORD is exalted] Or, will be exalted. Vers. 10. He will manifest his might, and gain much honour to himself by the destruction of his enemies. Chap. 2. 11. 17. & 12. 4.
he dwelleth on high] Psal. 93. 4. & 115. 3. Chap. 57. 15.
hath filled] Or, will fill.
Zion] Jerusalem. Chap. 1. 8, 27.
with judgement and righteousnesse] Chap. 32. 1, 16.
V. 6. thy times] O Hezekiah. See Chap. 32. 1.
strength of salvation] Heb. salvations; all manner of salvation. 2 Sam. 22. 51. The means of establishing and strengthening thee, Eccl. 7. 11, 12, & 9. 16, 18.
is his treasure] Or, shall be his treasure; that is, As dear unto him as any treasure; or, a means of enriching him. Psal. 112. 1. & 128. 1, &c.
V. 7. their valiant ones] Or, messengers. 2 Sam. 23. 20. Senacheribs Captains, sent to summon the Citie. Chap. 36. 4, 13.
the ambassadours of peace shall weep bitterly] Hezekiahs messengers, sent to treat of peace, but not prevailing. Chap. 36. 3. 22.
V. 8. The high wayes lie waste] By means of the Assyrian invasion. Vers. 9. Chap. 36. 1, 2. & 37. 24, 25.
the way-faring man ceaseth] Not daring to trav…ll for fear of the enemy. Jud. 1. 6.
he hath broken the covenant] Before made with Hezekiah. 2 King. 18. 14. vers. 1.
despised the cities] 2 Chron. 32. 1.
V. 9. The earth mourneth] The land wasted by them. Vers. 8.
Lebanon is ashamed] Chap. 14. 8. & 37. 24.
hewen down] Or, withered away. Chap. 19. 6.
Sharon] A fertile and pleasant region, lying in the tribe of Gad, beneath mount Lebanon. Josh 12. 18. 1 Chron. 5. 16. & 27. 29. Cant. 2. 1. Chap. 35. 2. The like were, Bashan, adjoyning to it; 1 Chron. 5. 12, 16. Psal. 22. 8. & 68. 15. Chap. 2. 13. and Carmel. 1 Sam. 25. 2. Chap. 29. 17. See Jer. 4. 26.
V. 10. Now will I rise] To help and deliver my Church. Psal. 12. 5. & 78 65. mans extreamitie being Gods opportunitie. Chap. 37. 3. & 59. 16.
will I lift up my self] Vers. 5.
V. 11. Ye shall conceive chaffe] Your designes, which ye go great with, and by which ye promise great matters to your selves, shall be all frustrate and unable to produce ought. Psa 7. 14.
your breath as fire shall devour you] The fire that ye have blown and kindled to burn others, shall consume your selves. Chap. 10. 11. Dan. 3. 22. Or; your rage and fury shall be your own ruine and confusion. Psal. 76. 10, 12. Chap. 37. 29.
breath] Heb. spirit. Job 15. 13.
V. 12. as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire] Psal. 80. 16. Chap. 27. 4, 11.
V. 13. Hear ye that are farre off] So great and notorious shall the vengeance be, that it shall be talked of farre and near. Chap. 59. 19.
V. 14. Zion] Jerusalem. Vers. 5. 20.
are afraid] Either not beleeving Gods promises of deliverance, Chap. 7. 2, 9. or, affrighted with his judgements, (as Psal. 119. 119, 120.) and complaining of hi… rigour and severitie; with Cam, Gen. 4. 13.
the hypocrites] Or, prophane ones. Chap. 9. 17. & 24. 5.
with the devouring fire] With God; who is so, when he is incensed. Deut. 4. 24. & 9. 3 Heb. 12. 29.
V. 15. He that walketh, &c.] Psal. 15. 2. & 24. 4.
righteously] Heb. in righteousnesse. Psal. 11. 7. & 103. 6.
uprightly] Heb. uprightnesses. Chap. 45. 19. most righteously and uprightly; or, all manner of either. See vers. 6.
oppressions] Or, deceits. Chap. 30. 12.
from hearing of bloud] Of counsels, or course, tending thereunto. Prov. 1. 10, 11.
bloud] Heb. blouds. Chap. 1. 15.
shutteth his eyes from seeing evill] From viewing of ought, by the sight whereof he may be entised and induced unto evill. Job 31. 1. Psal. 119. 37. Matth. 5. 28. Or, that cannot endure to see evill practised. Psal. 119. 158. Hab. 1. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8.
V. 16. dwell on high] In safetie. Psal. 18. 33. Heb. in heights, or, high places. Chap. 58. 14.
rocks] Places naturally fit for defence. Judges 15. 8. & 20. 45. Psal. 31. 3.
bread shall be given him] He shall have no want of necessary provisions. Psal. 84. 11. 2 Cor. 9. 10.
his waters shall be sure] They shall not fail. Jer. 15. 18. Chap. 32. 6.
V. 17. the king in his beautie] Hezekiah, delivered from his enemies, and restored to his former state and dignitie. 2 Chron. 32. 22, 23.
the land that is very farre off] Heb. the land of farre distances. Ambassadour… that shall from forain parts repair to thee. 2 King. 20. 12, 14. Chap. 39. 1, 3. Or, Thou shall be at libertie, to visite places farre and neer, without fear of danger.
V. 18. Thine heart shall meditate terrour] Before this deliverance, in the time of thy distresse, thou shalt be full of fears. Chap. 37. 1, 4.
Where is the scribe] The speeches of persons full of distraction, asking, where is this officer, and that officer, to look to his charge. See Chap. 22. 8-10.
Where, &c.] Chap. 19. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 20.
receiver] Heb. weigher. See Jer. 32. 9.
counted] Or, counteth. or, surveigheth. Chap. 20. 10.
V. 19. Thou shalt not see a fierce people] Thou shalt no longer be vexed with cruell and strange people. Chap. 16. 4. or, they shall have no accesse unto thee. Chap. 37. 33.
perceive] Or, understand; Heb. hear. Chap. 36. 11.
a stammering tongue] Or, ridiculous; such as that seemeth to us, which we understand not. Chap. 28. 11 Deut. 28. 49, 50. Psal. 81. 5. 1 Cor. 14. 11.
V. 20. Look upon Zion] See, how safe and whole she is; for all the enemies presumptuous threats and vaunt. Chap. 10. 11. & 36. 14, 15. & 37. 24. So Psal. 48. 12, 13.
Zion] Jerusalem. Vers. 5. 14.
solemnities] Or, solemn meetings. See Chap. 14. 13.
a tabernacle that shall not be taken down] Jer. 10. 20. The firmnesse and stabilitie of the Church, Gods inheritance, and the seat of his residence, (as the tabernable sometime, here alluded unto) through his gracious support. Psalm. 46. 5. & 48. 8. & 125. 1, 2. Matth. 16. 18.
V. 21. the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers] Heb. broad of spaces, or, hands. Chap. 22. 18. Psal. 104. 25. Let us content our selves with the still waters of Siloam, Chap. 8. 6. and God will be unto us as a broad river with a strong stream, by which no enemie shall have accesse to us.
V. 22. the LORD is our judge] Psal 75. 7. & 94. 2.
lawgiver] Jam. 4. 12. Heb. statute-maker. Gen. 49. 10. Chap. 10. 1.
king] Psal. 44. 4.
he will save us] Psal. 69. 35. Chap. 37. 35.
V. 23. Thy tacklings are loosed] Or, shall be loosed; or, They have forsaken thy …acklings. Your shipping, O Assyrians, is all wrecked; ye have miscarried, as by shipwrack. Psal. 48. 7.
the prey of a great spoil] The spoil of the Assyrians; shared among Gods people. Psal. 68. 12.
the lame take the prey] Or, shall take the prey. The weakest and most impotent shall be able enough to make spoil of them; as 2 Sam. 5. 6, 8. or, shall among the rest seise on the prey, when the enemy is fled. 2 Kings 7. 8. 2 Chron. 20. 25. Chap. 37. 36, 37.
V. 24. the inhabitant] Of Jerusalem. Vers. 20. See Psal. 103. 3. & 105. 37.
shall be forgiven] Or, eased of; or, have it taken away. Psal. 32. 1.
their iniquitie] Which had before incensed Gods wrath against them, Chap. 5. 25. and lay as an heavy burden, in the guilt of it, upon them; Chap. 22. 1. but shall then be remitted and removed. Chap. 38. 17. & 43. 25. Jer. 31. 34.