Isaiah 3
CHAPTER 3
1. For--continuation of Isaiah 2:22 .
Lord of hosts--therefore able to do as He says.
doth--present for future, so certain is the accomplishment.
stay . . . staff--the same Hebrew word, the one masculine, the other feminine, an Arabic idiom for all kinds of support. What a change from the previous luxuries ( Isaiah 2:7 )! Fulfilled in the siege by Nebuchadnezzar and afterwards by Titus ( Jeremiah 37:21 , 38:9 ).
2. Fulfilled ( 2 Kings 24:14 ).
prudent--the Hebrew often means a "soothsayer" ( Deuteronomy 18:10-14 ); thus it will mean, the diviners, on whom they rely, shall in that day fail. It is found in a good sense ( Proverbs 16:10 ), from which passage the Jews interpret it a king; "without" whom Israel long has been ( Hosea 3:4 ).
ancient--old and experienced ( 1 Kings 12:6-8 ).
3. captain of fifty--not only captains of thousands, and centurions of a hundred, but even semi-centurions of fifty, shall fail.
honourable--literally, "of dignified aspect."
cunning--skilful. The mechanic's business will come to a standstill in the siege and subsequent desolation of the state; artisans are no mean "stay" among a nation's safeguards.
eloquent orator--rather, as Vulgate, "skilled in whispering," that is, incantation ( Psalms 58:5 ). See Isaiah 8:19 , below; and on
4. children--in ability for governing; antithesis to the "ancient" (see Isaiah 3:12 , Ecclesiastes 10:16 ).
babes--in warlike might; antithesis to "the mighty" and "man of war."
5. The anarchy resulting under such imbecile rulers ( Isaiah 3:4 ); unjust exactions mutually; the forms of respect violated ( Leviticus 19:32 ).
base--low-born. Compare the marks of "the last days" ( 2 Timothy 3:2 ).
6. Such will be the want of men of wealth and ability, that they will "take hold of" ( Isaiah 4:1 ) the first man whom they meet, having any property, to make him "ruler."
brother--one having no better hereditary claim to be ruler than the "man" supplicating him.
Thou hast clothing--which none of us has. Changes of raiment are wealth in the East ( 2 Kings 5:5 ).
ruin--Let our ruined affairs be committed to thee to retrieve.
7. swear--literally, "lift up," namely, his hand; the gesture used in solemn attestation. Or, his voice, that is, answer; so Vulgate.
healer--of the body politic, incurably diseased ( Isaiah 1:6 ).
neither . . . clothing--so as to relieve the people and maintain a ruler's dignity. A nation's state must be bad indeed, when none among men, naturally ambitious, is willing to accept office.
8. Reason given by the prophet, why all shrink from the government.
eyes of his glory--to provoke His "glorious" Majesty before His "eyes" (compare Isaiah 49:5 , Habakkuk 1:13 ). The Syriac and LOWTH, by a slight change of the Hebrew, translate, "the cloud of His glory," the Shekinah.