Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 29

Verse 1

Woe. The second of the six woes.

Ariel = either a lion of GOD (El, App-4 . IV) (2 Samuel 23:20 ); or the altar-hearth of GOD (Ezekiel 43:15 , Ezekiel 43:16 ; and the Moabite Stone, line 12, App-54 ). Jerusalem is called Har-el on old Egyptian monuments.

the city. Put by Figure of speech Polyonymia for Jerusalem. "City" is in the construct state: = city of [the spot] where David camped.

dwelt = encamped.

year. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for festival.

let them kill, &c.: or, let the feasts go round. Figure of speech Eironeia. App-6 .

Verse 2

as Ariel = as a veritable hearth of GOD.

Verse 4

ground =. earth. a familiar spirit = an Ob . See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

whisper = peep, chirp, or mutter.

Verse 5

strangers: i.e. adversaries.

like, &c. . . . as, &c. Figure of speech Hyperbole.

terrible ones = tyrants.

Verse 6

visited. These judgments (in Isaiah 29:6 ) refer to the deliverance from Jerusalem's enemies.

the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 7

Ariel. Here it is plainly Jerusalem.

Verse 8

as = according as.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 9

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27 .

Verse 10

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

hath poured, &c. Quoted in Romans 11:8 .

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 11

of all = of the whole, or altogether.

book = scroll, or document, in writing.

Verse 13

the LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim say they changed Jehovah of the primitive text to Adonai. See App-32 .

said. Quoted in Matthew 15:7-9 . Mark 7:6 .

but = though.

taught by the precept of men = a commandment of men in which they have been schooled: i.e. taught by rote.

men = mortals. Hebrew, plural of enosh . App-14 .

Verse 14

for. Quoted in 1 Corinthians 1:19 .

wisdom. Hebrew. chakam. See notes on

understanding. Hebrew. binah. Proverbs 1:2 .

Verse 16

say. Compare Isaiah 45:9 .

Verse 18

book = scroll.

Verse 19

meek = oppressed.

poor = oppressed. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

Verse 20

the terrible one = the tyrant.

Verse 21

make a man an offender for a word = who bring a man into condemnation by a word (i.e. by false witness).

reproveth = decideth: i.e. in judgment.

just = righteous.

a thing of nought. See note on "confusion", Isaiah 24:10 .

Verse 22

Abraham. Reference to Pentateuch, as well known. App-92 .

the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 .

his face . . . wax pale. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for fear.

Verse 23

children = young children.

the God of Israel. This expression occurs seven times in Isaiah (here; Isaiah 41:17 ; Isaiah 45:3 , Isaiah 45:15 ; Isaiah 48:1 , Isaiah 48:2 ; Isaiah 52:12 ). Elsewhere twenty-nine times, without Jehovah preceding (Genesis 33:20 . Exodus 24:10 . Numbers 16:9 . Joshua 22:16 . 1Sa 1:17 ; 1 Samuel 5:7 , 1Sa 5:8 , 1 Samuel 5:8 , 1Sa 5:8 , 1 Samuel 5:10 , 1 Samuel 5:11 ; 1Sa 6:3 , 1 Samuel 6:5 ; 1 Samuel 25:32 . 2 Samuel 23:3 .Ezra 3:2 , &c.

Verse 24

shall come, &c. = shall know discernment.