Isaiah 9:11

11 The Lord has stirred up their enemies to attack them.

Isaiah 9:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 9:11

Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin
against him
Set them up on high, as the word ^F1 signifies; exalt them above him, and make them superior to him, and conquerors of him, meaning the Assyrians; who, being sent for by Ahab, went up against Damascus, took it, and carried the people captive, and slew Rezin the king of Syria, the head of which was Damascus, ( 2 Kings 16:7-9 ) this is mentioned, because the Israelites put great trust and confidence in this prince, with whom they were in alliance; and this is said to abate their pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, before expressed: and join his enemies together;
or mix them; the Assyrian army, consisting of a mixture of various nations; or "stir" them "up", as the Targum; instigate them against him. Some understand the whole of Israel, against whom the adversaries of Rezin, namely, the Assyrians, would come, as they did, and invade their land, and carry them captive; with whom were various other people, as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (bgvy) "elevabit, sive extollet", Forerius.

Isaiah 9:11 In-Context

9 All the people of Israel, everyone who lives in the city of Samaria, will know that he has done this. Now they are proud and arrogant. They say,

10 "The brick buildings have fallen down, but we will replace them with stone buildings. The beams of sycamore wood have been cut down, but we will replace them with the finest cedar."

11 The Lord has stirred up their enemies to attack them.

12 Syria on the east and Philistia on the west have opened their mouths to devour Israel. Yet even so the Lord's anger is not ended; his hand is still stretched out to punish.

13 The people of Israel have not repented; even though the Lord Almighty has punished them, they have not returned to him.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Probable text] their enemies; [Hebrew] the enemies of Rezin.