Isaiah 2
CHAPTER 2
1. The inscription.
The word--the revelation.
2. Same as Micah 4:1 . As Micah prophesied in Jotham's reign, and Isaiah in Uzziah's, Micah rests on Isaiah, whom he confirms: not vice versa. HENGSTENBERG on slight grounds makes Micah 4:1 the original.
last days--that is, Messiah's: especially the days yet to come, to which all prophecy hastens, when "the house of the God of Jacob," namely, at Jerusalem, shall be the center to which the converted nations shall flock together ( Matthew 13:32 , Luke 2:31 Luke 2:32 , Acts 1:6 Acts 1:7 ); where "the kingdom" of Israel is regarded as certain and the time alone uncertain ( Psalms 68:15 Psalms 68:16 , Psalms 72:8 Psalms 72:11 ).
mountain of the Lord's house . . . in the top, &c.--the temple on Mount Moriah: type of the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem, and, like an object set on the highest hill, made so conspicuous that all nations are attracted to it.
flow--as a broad stream ( Isaiah 66:12 ).
3. If the curse foretold against Israel has been literally fulfilled, so shall the promised blessing be literal. We Gentiles must not, while giving them the curse, deny them their peculiar blessing by spiritualizing it. The Holy Ghost shall be poured out for a general conversion then ( Jeremiah 50:5 , Zechariah 8:21 Zechariah 8:23 , Joel 2:28 ).
from Jerusalem--( Luke 24:47 ) an earnest of the future relations of Jerusalem to Christendom ( Romans 11:12 Romans 11:15 ).
4. judge--as a sovereign umpire, settling all controversies (compare Isaiah 11:4 ). LOWTH translates "work," "conviction."
plowshares--in the East resembling a short sword ( Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:7 , Zechariah 9:10 ).
5. The connection is: As Israel's high destiny is to be a blessing to all nations ( Genesis 12:3 ), let Israel's children walk worthy of it ( Ephesians 5:8 ).
6. Therefore--rather, "For": reasons why there is the more need of the exhortation in Isaiah 2:5 .
thou--transition to Jehovah: such rapid transitions are natural, when the mind is full of a subject.
replenished--rather, filled, namely, with the superstitions of the East, Syria, and Chaldea.
soothsayers--forbidden ( Deuteronomy 18:10-14 ).
Philistines--southwest of Palestine: antithesis to "the east."
please themselves--rather, join hands with, that is, enter into alliances, matrimonial and national: forbidden ( Exodus 23:32 , Nehemiah 13:23 , &c.).
7. gold--forbidden to be heaped together ( Deuteronomy 17:17 ). Solomon disobeyed ( 1 Kings 10:21 1 Kings 10:27 ).
horses . . . chariots--forbidden ( Deuteronomy 17:16 ). But Solomon disobeyed ( 1 Kings 20:26 ). Horses could be used effectively for war in the plains of Egypt; not so in the hilly Judea. God designed there should be as wide as possible a distinction between Israel and the Egyptians. He would have His people wholly dependent on Him, rather than on the ordinary means of warfare ( Psalms 20:7 ). Also horses were connected with idolatry ( 2 Kings 23:11 ); hence His objection: so the transition to "idols" ( Isaiah 2:8 ) is natural.