Isaia 2

1 La parola che Isaia, figliuolo di Amos, ebbe in visione, intorno a Giuda ed a Gerusalemme.

2 OR avverrà negli ultimi giorni, che il monte della Casa del Signore sarà fermato nel sommo de’ monti, e sarà alzato sopra i colli; e tutte le genti concorreranno ad esso.

3 E molti popoli andranno, e diranno: Venite, saliamo al monte del Signore, alla Casa dell’Iddio di Giacobbe; ed egli ci ammaestrerà intorno alle sue vie, e noi cammineremo ne’ suoi sentieri; perciocchè la Legge uscirà di Sion, e la Parola del Signore di Gerusalemme.

4 Ed egli farà giudicii fra le genti, e castigamenti sopra molti popoli; ed essi delle loro spade fabbricheranno zappe, e delle lor lance falci; una nazione non alzerà più la spada contro all’altra nazione, e non impareranno più la guerra.

5 O casa di Giacobbe, venite, e camminiamo nella luce del Signore.

6 Perciocchè tu, Signore, hai abbandonato il tuo popolo, la casa di Giacobbe; perchè son pieni d’Oriente, e son pronosticatori come i Filistei; dànno la mano a’ figliuoli de’ forestieri.

7 E il lor paese si è riempiuto d’argento e d’oro, talchè hanno tesori senza fine; il lor paese si è eziandio riempiuto di cavalli, ed hanno carri senza fine.

8 Oltre a ciò, il lor paese si è riempiuto d’idoli; hanno adorata l’opera delle lor mani, ciò che le lor dita hanno fatto.

9 E la gente vile si è inchinata, e parimente gli uomini onorati si son bassati; perciò non perdonar loro.

10 Entra nella roccia, e nasconditi nella polvere, per lo spavento del Signore, e per la gloria della sua altezza.

11 Gli occhi altieri dell’uomo saranno abbassati, e l’altezza degli uomini sarà depressa; e il Signore solo sarà esaltato in quel giorno.

12 Perciocchè vi è un giorno del Signore degli eserciti contro ad ogni superbo ed altiero; e contro a chiunque s’innalza; ed egli sarà abbassato;

13 e contro a tutti i cedri alti ed elevati del Libano, e contro a tutte le querce di Basan;

14 e contro a tutti gli alti monti, e contro a tutti i colli elevati;

15 e contro ad ogni torre eccelsa, e contro ad ogni muro forte;

16 e contro a tutte le navi di Tarsis, e contro a tutti i be’ disegni.

17 E l’altezza degli uomini sarà depressa, e la sublimità degli uomini sarà abbassata; e il Signore solo sarà esaltato in quel giorno.

18 Ed egli sterminerà del tutto gl’idoli.

19 E gli uomini entreranno nelle spelonche delle rocce, e nelle grotte della terra, per lo spavento del Signore, e per la gloria della sua altezza, quando egli si leverà per fiaccar la terra.

20 In quel giorno l’uomo gitterà alle talpe, ed a’ vipistrelli, gl’idoli del suo argento, e gl’idoli del suo oro, i quali altri gli avrà fatti, per adorarli;

21 entrando nelle buche delle rocce, e nelle caverne de’ sassi, per lo spavento del Signore, e per la gloria della sua altezza, quando egli si leverà per fiaccar la terra.

22 Rimanetevi di fidarvi nell’uomo il cui alito è nelle nari; perciocchè, di quanto pregio e valore è egli?

Isaia 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The conversion of the Gentiles, Description of the sinfulness of Israel. (1-9) The awful punishment of unbelievers. (10-22)

Verses 1-9 The calling of the Gentiles, the spread of the gospel, and that far more extensive preaching of it yet to come, are foretold. Let Christians strengthen one another, and support one another. It is God who teaches his people, by his word and Spirit. Christ promotes peace, as well as holiness. If all men were real Christians, there could be no war; but nothing answering to these expressions has yet taken place on the earth. Whatever others do, let us walk in the light of this peace. Let us remember that when true religion flourishes, men delight in going up to the house of the Lord, and in urging others to accompany them. Those are in danger who please themselves with strangers to God; for we soon learn to follow the ways of persons whose company we keep. It is not having silver and gold, horses and chariots, that displeases God, but depending upon them, as if we could not be safe, and easy, and happy without them, and could not but be so with them. Sin is a disgrace to the poorest and the lowest. And though lands called Christian are not full of idols, in the literal sense, are they not full of idolized riches? and are not men so busy about their gains and indulgences, that the Lord, his truths, and precepts, are forgotten or despised?

Verses 10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down, either by the grace of God convincing them of the evil of pride, or by the providence of God depriving them of all the things they were proud of. The day of the Lord shall be upon those things in which they put their confidence. Those who will not be reasoned out of their sins, sooner or later shall be frightened out of them. Covetous men make money their god; but the time will come when they will feel it as much their burden. This whole passage may be applied to the case of an awakened sinner, ready to leave all that his soul may be saved. The Jews were prone to rely on their heathen neighbours; but they are here called upon to cease from depending on mortal man. We are all prone to the same sin. Then let not man be your fear, let not him be your hope; but let your hope be in the Lord your God. Let us make this our great concern.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 2

This chapter contains a vision or prophecy of the enlargement of Christ's kingdom and interest, and of the glory of his church in the latter day, by the calling of the Gentiles, and the numerous conversions of them to it, and of the abolition of idolatry, and the destruction of the antichristian party. The inscription to it is in Isa 2:1 the prophecy itself follows; the date of it is the last days; the subject matter of it, the kingdom, interest, and church of Christ, signified by the mountain of the Lord's house; its glorious estate is expressed by its establishment on the mountains; by its exaltation above the hills; and by the great numbers that should flock to it, and should encourage one another to go up to it, in order to learn the ways of God, and walk in them; the means of which is the Gospel preached, that should go out of Jerusalem; the effect of that is peace among the nations: hence the house of Jacob is exhorted to walk in the light held forth by it, Isa 2:2-5 and then the reasons are given of God's rejecting and forsaking some that bear the Christian name, called the house of Jacob; namely, their Heathenish superstition, idolatry, covetousness, and confidence in their riches; who are sarcastically called upon to hide themselves in the rocks for fear of the Lord, Isa 2:6-10 when the judgments of God are denounced on the proud and lofty, comparable to cedars, oaks, mountains, hills, high towers, fenced walls, and ships of the ocean, at which time, Christ, and he alone, will be exalted, and idolatry utterly abolished; the consequence of which will be the utmost dread and terror to all idolaters, Isa 2:11-21 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to such to cease from the man of sin, and have him in no account, Isa 2:22.