Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. FOr behold,] This Chapter is part of the prophecie begun, Chap. 2. 2.
the] All means, great or small, whereby, as with a staffe, mans life is sustained, or a state supported, Exod. 21. 19. Zech. 8. 4.
stay] Heb. staffe.
the whole] Heb. all staffe.
of bread,] Bread; which is as a staffe, or stay, Lev. 26. 26. Jud. 19. 3, 8. Ezek. 4. 14. and 5. 16 Jer. 38. 9. as Chap. 1. 8. Rom 4. 11. put for all manner of food, as 1 King. 4. 22, 23. Nehem. 5. 14, 15, 18.
the whole] Heb. all staffe.
water,] Drink, as needfull as meat or bread, for the support of mans life, Gen. 21 15, 16. Exod. 17. 5. Amos 8. 11.
V. 2. The mightie] The prime persons, for martiall, civill and ecclesiasticall affairs, which are as the pillars and shores of Church and State, and the chiefe ornaments of either, Psal. 75. 3. and 68. 27. Eccl. 10. 17. Chap. 1. 26. 2 King. 2. 12. and …3. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 15. the removall whereof threatens ruine. Judg. 16. 29, 30.
prudent,] Heb. diviner. See Pro. 16. 10. Mic. 3. 6.
ancient.] By reason of yeers, grave, wise and experienced, Job 15. 9, 10. and 32. 9. Ezek. 7. 26.
V. 3. fiftie,] One of the least numbers, that Captains took charge of, Exod. 18. 21. 25. 1 Sam. 8. 12. 2 King. 1. 9, 11, 13.
the honourable] Heb. a man eminent in countenance, Chap. 9. 15.
eloquent] Or, skilfull of speech. Heb. skilled in charm. See Chap. 26. 16. one that can charm, that is, prevail by perswasion, with others, Psal. 58. 5. 1 Cor. 2. 4.
V. 4. children] Not in age onelyonly, but in wit, skill, cariage, courage, vers. 12. Eccl. 10. 16. such, it seems, were Ahaz, Manasseh, and the successors of Josiah.
babes] Or, childish, babish ones: Or, mockers, insolent ones. Heb. men of illusions, or, insolencies: such as delight in mockage, and insolent usage of others, 1 Sam 31 4. Chap. 66. 14. Jer. 38. 19.
V. 5. oppressed] For lack of good government and order, Judg. 17. 6. and 21. 25.
every one] Or, they shall rise one against another, &c. as Chap. 9. 21. Mich. 7. 6.
every one] Heb. man against man, 1 Sam. 2. 25.
the child] There shall be a generall confusion of all degrees, without respect of state or age, Chap. 24 2.
V. 6. a man] So grievous shall the evill be, that, contrarie to the guise of most men naturally, none shall be willing to take any office, or place of government upon him.
Thou hast] Thou art furnished with means.
let this] Help to uphold the state going to ruine. Or, undertake the government of this ruinous state, vers. 8.
V. 7. shall he] Feare shall make him choose rather to forsweare himself, then to take such a dangerous charge upon him. Or, such want shall be even with the best esteemed, that they shall not be so furnished as men might imagine.
swear] Heb. lift up the hand. Gen. 14. 22.
healer] Heb. binder up. See Chap. 1. 6. and 30. 26.
V. 8. to provoke] Chap. 65. 3.
the eyes] Or, his eyes of glory: his glorious eyes. as Psal. 72. 19.
V. 9. shew of] Their lewdnesse and shamelesnesse discovereth it selfe in their very face and forehead: nor do they endevour, or desire to conceale it. Jer. 3. 3. Ezek. 24. 7, 8.
witnesse against] Heb. answer. Chap. 59. 12.
Sodome,] Gen. 13. 13. and 18. 21. and 19. 5.
wo unto] Lam. 5. 16.
they have] They work their own ruine. Jer. 7. 19.
V. 10. to the righteous] Yet let the godly be assured, that God will protect them amidst these troubles. Chap. 8. 14. Rev. 3. 10.
it shall be] Eccl. 8. 12.
they shall eat] Psal. 128. 2.
V. 11. it shall be] Eccl. 8. 13.
the reward] Prov. 1. 31.
given him] Heb. done to him.
V. 12. children are] Fooles and effeminate persons. vers. 4. justly given them by God, because they regarded their rulers rather then God: and were not thankfull to God for their good rulers, nor made good use of them, when they had them.
they which] Or, they which call thee blessed: that sooth thee up in thy sinnes, Ezek. 13. 18.-22.
lead thee,] The Priests and Prophets that should direct them, mislead them, Chap. 9. 16. and 19. 13. Jer. 50. 6.
destroy the] Heb. swallow up, as Chap. 25. 7. Or, cover, as Numb. 4. 20. they conceal from them the way that they should walk in, Jer. 23. 30. Lam. 2. 14.
V. 13. standeth up] Or, is set, as Psal. 45. 9. as a Judge on the bench, to hear and debate. Chap. 61. Dan. 7. 9. Rev. 6. 16. and 20. 11.
standeth to] He is standing up, to give sentence, Act. 7. 56.
V. 14. eaten up] Eaten up, as beasts depasture a ground, Exod. 22. 5. Numb. 24. 22. Chap. 6. 13. and 5. 5. or brouse upon plants and Vines, and so spoile them. Or, burnt up▪ as Jud. 15. 5. Psal. 83. 14. Chap. 9. 18. laid it wast so, as if it were burnt up with fire, Joel 2. 3.
the vineyard;] Either Gods vineyard, that is, his Church. Chap. 5. 1, 7. or, the vineyards, that is, the lands and possessions of his people. Nehem. 5. 3, 5.
V. 15. beat my] Exercise all manner of crueltie upon them, Mic. 3 2, 3.
grind the faces] Cause them to pine away so, that it appeareth in their faces, how it fareth with them.
V. 16. the daughters] The people are menaced, for their womens pride, and wantonnesse, discovered in their gate, garbe and attire, vers. 25.
necks] Heb. throat. as Ezek. 16. 11.
wanton,] Heb. deceiving with their eyes.
walking] Or, tripping nicely as they go along.
V. 17. will] He will punish them in those things, wherein now they shew their pride.
smite with] Or, pcel.
the crown] Cause them to be shaven by the enemy, having captived them; as with captives is not unusuall. Deut. 21. 12. Or, give them such occasions of grief, as shall cause them to cut their hair, Jer. 7. 29. Or, with scab or scall, (Chap. 5. 7. Levit. 13. 2, 6.) proceeding from evill usage, take it off; and so deprive them of that, which they now pride themselves in. vers. 24.
discover] Heb. make naked.
their secret] They shall want cloaths, to hide their nakednesse. Chap. 24. Mic. 1. 1. or, shall in scorn and contempt be so abused by thos…, into whose rude hands they shall fall, Chap. 47. 3. Jer. 13. 22. Nahum 3. 5.
V. 18. tinckling] Heb. fetters.
ornaments] Such golden chains, as to this day in some of those eastern parts women wear about their legs.
cauls] Or, net works.
V. 19. chains,] Or, sweet bals. Or, boxes of sweet ointment. Jud. 8. 26. Exod. 30. 34.
mufflers,] Or, spangled ornaments.
V. 20. legs,] Or, feet.
tablets,] Heb. houses of the soul. Or, breath. Mufflers, or such like.
eare-rings,] Or, amulets. the word hath affinitie with that which signifieth inchantment, vers. 3.
V. 24. stink;] Or, rottennesse. as Chap 5. 24.
stink,] Proceeding from filthy sores, and loathsome diseases, Psal. 38. 5.
a rent;] Having no whole garment to put on; but being clad with rags, Pro. 23. 21. Or, renting of garments in way of extream grief, Jer. 41. 5.
well set] Or, plaited.
baldnesse;] Procured, either by the scab mentioned, vers. 17. or, by cutting and tearing off their hair through extremity of grief, Mic. 1. 16. Chap. 15. 2. and 22. 12.
sackcloth] A badge of mourning, Psal. 30. 11. and 35. 13. Chap. 15. 3.
burning] Tanning, or sun-burning; having nothing to shelter them from sunne, winde, and weather.
V. 25. men shall] The men shall suffer, for suffering and fomenting these vices in the women; and the whole State for not reforming them, vers. 16.
the sword] Chap. 1. 20.
mighty] Heb. might, for, men of might, as Chap. 24. 4.
V. 26. her gates] Her cities being ruined, shall afford a lamentable spectacle, Jer. 14. 1. Lam. 1. 4. gates for cities, Exod. 20. 10. Deut. 31. 12.
she being] The land, or the mother-citie Jerusalem, being left without inhabitants, Lam. 1. 1.
desolate,] Or, emptied.
desolate,] Heb. cleansed. or, destroyed. as Zech. 5. 3.
sit upon] As the manner is of mourners. Ez…. 9. 3. Job 2. 8, 13. Chap. 47. 1.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. ANd in] This Chapter appertaineth also to the former prophecie, Chap. 2. and 3. and this first vers. to the menaces in the Chapter before going, vers. 25, 26. which it concludeth.
seven women] So few men shall be left, that many women shall seek to one man, to be as their husband and head, and that upon any termes. See Chap. 13. 12.
We will] We will find our selves: and expect no such maintenance as the law tied an husband to. Exod. 21. 10.
let us] Heb. let thy name be called upon us. as Gen. 48. 16.
to take away] Or, take thou away.
reproch] It was counted a reprochfull thing to want husband and issue, Luk. 1. 25.
V. 2. that day] After those calamities over-past. He shutteth up this prophecie, as the former Chap. 1. 25, &c. with gratious promises, for the support of the faithfull.
the branch] The Lord Christ, Chap. 11. 1. Jer. 23. 5. and 33. 15. Zech. 3. 8. and 6. 12.
beautifull and] Heb. beauty and glory. or, for beauty and glory. as Chap. 5. 5. one that shall bring glory and honour to his Church; make his people glorious and honourable, Psal. 84. 11. and 149. 4, 9. and 148. 14.
the fruit of] The grace of God, accruing to the Church from him, Psal. 85. 9, - 11. Chap. 61. 11.
earth] Or, land. Chap. 1. 19.
for them that are escaped] Heb. for the escaping, Chap. 10. 20.
V. 3. shall be called] Or, shall be holy. as Gen. 21. 12. Chap. 44. 5. and 56. 7.
holy,] Chap. 60. 21. and 62. 12.
written] Alluding to the Book of life, Exod. 32. 32. Psal. 69. 28. Rev. 3. 5. and 13. 8. and 17. 8.
among the living] Or, to life. as Act. 13. 48.
V. 4. the filth] Spirituall uncleannesse, Ezek. 24. 6. 2 Cor. 7. 1.
blood of] Cruelty, as Chap. 1. 15. Or, out of it, Amos 2. 3.
judgement,] Of which before, Chap. 1. 25, 27.
burning.] Or, removall. Deut. 21. 9.
V. 5. upon every] His gracious guidance and defence shall no where be wanting. he alludeth to the pillar of fire and cloud, that conducted and protected them in the desert, Exod. 13. 21. and 14. 20. and 40. 38.
a flaming fire] Heb. fire of flame. Lam. 2. 3. Joel 2. 5.
upon] Or, above. or, over.
all the glory] All Gods people, partakers of his glory, vers. 2. Chap. 11. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 18.
a defence] Heb. a covering. such as that, Exod. 40. 34.
V. 6. a tabernacle] Defence against all dangers and annoyances: set forth by allusions to the cover of the Tabernacle, Exod. 36. 19. and the use of the cloud, Psal. 105. 39. Chap. 25. 4, 5. and 32. 2. See Psal. 31. 20. Chap. 8. 14.