Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIIII.
Vers. 1. COme neer ye nations] He calleth upon all people; yea all creatures, as Chap. 1. 2. to see and consider, as what he had done with one nation, Chap. 33. 13. so what he is about now to do with the rest.
all that is therein] Heb. the fulnesse thereof. Chap. 42. 10. Psal. 24. 1.
all things that come forth of it] Heb. the off-spring of it. Chap. 22. 24. and 42. 5.
V. 2. all nations] That have been enemies to his people. vers. 8. Chap. 14. 26. the Edomites especially. vers. 5.
he hath utterly destroyed them] He hath passed a doom of destruction upon them; as sure to be put in execution, as if it were executed already. Chap. 14. 26, 27. Joh. 3. 18.
V. 3. shall be cast out] To be devoured by birds and beasts, having no buriall afforded them: as they had formerly dealt with Gods people. Psal. 79. 2, 3. Jer. 7. 33. & 34. 20.
their stink, &c.] Chap. 66. 24. Amos 4. 10.
shall be melted with their bloud] Shall run down with streams of bloud; as if they were dissolved into bloud. Chap. 64. 2, 3.
V. 4. all the host of heaven shall be dissolved] So great shall their fear and terror be, that heaven and earth shall to them seem dissolved. Chap. 13. 10, 13. & 24. 21.
the heavens shall be rolled together as a scrole] Heb. as a book. alluding to such books as were then in use, called rolls, or, volumes: (See Jer. 36. 2.) which being rolled up, the things contained, or written in them, do no more appear then as if they were not. So Rev. 6. 14.
fallen fig from the fig-tree] As the green figs, that come first, but shed after a while, when others put forth. Rev. 6. 13.
V. 5. my sword shall be bathed] Shall be embrued in bloud. Jer. 46. 10.
in heaven] It is determined so in heaven. Psal. 119. 89. whence the wrath of God revealeth it self. Rom. 1. 18.
Idumea] Heb. Edom: that is, Esau. Gen. 25. 30. & 36. 8. the Edomites, his posteritie.
the people of my curse] An accursed people; however they deemed themselves holy, because of the seed of Isaac. Mal. 1. 2-4. 2 Pet. 2. 14.
V. 6. The sword &c.] See on vers. 5. Jer. 46. 10. Deut. 32. 32.
of lambes and goats, &c.] Men of all estates and ranks. Rev. 19. 18. these here mentioned of the meaner sort.
a sacrifice] A great slaughter: for the same word signifieth as well to slay, as to sacrifice, 1 Sam. 26. 24. but tearmed a sacrifice here the rather; to shew that Gods vengeance executed on his enemies is as pleasing to him as any sacrifice. Ch. 1. 24. Jer. 46 10.
Bozrah] The Edomites chief citie. Chap. 63. 1. Jer. 49. 13.
V. 7. the unicorns] Or, rhinocerots. Job 39. 9. Great captains, and powerfull princes. Psal. 22. 21. Jer. 50. 27. Rev. 19. 8.
with them] With the meaner sort, mentioned vers. 6.
soked] Or, drunken, vers. 5.
V. 8. the day of the LORDS vengeance, &c.] Chap. 63. 4.
for the controversie of Zion] For the wrongs done to his people. Chap. 35. 4. & 59. 18. Mic. 7. 9.
V. 9. the streams thereof &c.] Of the land of Idumea. vers. 5.
turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone] He alludeth to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19. 24. Deut. 28. 23. Rev. 19. 20. & 20, 10.
V. 10. It shall not be quenched &c.] Jer. 7. 20.
the smoake thereof &c.] Rev. 14. 11. and 18. 18. and 19. 3.
from generation to generation] vers. 17.
it shall lie waste] Heb. be wasted. as Chap. 60. 11.
none shall passe through it &c.] Jer. 9. 12.
V. 11. But the &c.] Chap. 14. 23. Zeph. 2. 14. Rev. 18. 2.
cormorant] Or, pelicane. Lev. 11. 18. Psal. 102. 6.
he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, &c.] It shall be levelled out to desolation, 2 King. 21. 13. Lam. 2. 8. so that it shall be in vain to attempt the restoring of it again. Mal. 1. 4.
stones] Or, plummet. Zech. 4. 10.
V. 12. nobles] Heb. white ones. Eccl. 10. 17. Jer. 27. 20. such as go usually in white, that is, fair and gorgeous apparel. Eccl. 9. 8. Luk. 7. 25. Rev. 3. 4. & 7. 9, 13, 14.
none shall be there] None of the bloud roiall, or of the peeres, shall be left, that may take the government upon him. Chap. 3. 6.
V. 13. in her palaces] In the wast places, where they formerly stood. Chap. 32. 13, 14.
an habitation of dragons] Jer. 9. 11. and 10. 22.
owls] Or, ostriches. Lam. 4. 3. Heb. daughters of the owl. Chap. 43. 20.
V. 14. The wild beasts of the desert, &c.] Chap. 13. 21. Heb. Ziim.
the wild beasts of the island] Heb. Ijim.
the shrichowl] Or, night-monster.
a place of rest] Heb. rest. Gen. 8. 9.
V. 15. There shall &c.] Idumea shall become an horrible desolation, and a wast wildernesse.
the great owl] Or, as some, the mavis.
lay] Heb. deliver. Chap. 66. 7.
gather] Or, brood. Jer. 17. 11. Matth. 23. 37.
V. 16. out of the book of the LORD] In the book of the Law, where these curses are recorded: or, these shall as certainly be found there, as if they were entred each one by name and tale, into a roll of record. Psalm. 56. 8. Malac. 3. 16. Chap. 65. 6, 7.
it hath commanded] Or, is it that hath commanded, this to be done.
it hath gathered them] Or, is it that hath gathered them, there to inhabite.
V. 17. He hath cast the lot for them] God hath shared it out to them for an inheritance, as by lot and line. Psal. 16. 5, 6.
from generation to generation] Heb. to generation and generation. Chap. 60. 15. See vers. 10.