Isaiah 29

12. The unlearned succeed no better than the learned, not from want of human learning, as they fancy, but from not having the teaching of God ( Isaiah 54:13 Jeremiah 31:34 John 6:45 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 1 John 2:20 ).

13. precept of men--instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external, and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires ( John 4:24 ). Compare Christ's quotation of this verse from the Septuagint.

14. ( Habakkuk 1:5 , Acts 13:41 ). The "marvellous work" is one of unparalleled vengeance on the hypocrites: compare "strange work," Isaiah 28:21 . The judgment, too, will visit the wise in that respect in which they most pride themselves; their wisdom shall be hid, that is, shall no longer appear, so as to help the nation in its distress (compare 1 Corinthians 1:19 ).

15. seek deep to hide--rather, "That seek to hide deeply," &c. (compare Isaiah 30:1 Isaiah 30:2 ). The reference is to the secret plan which many of the Jewish nobles had of seeking Egyptian aid against Assyria, contrary to the advice of Isaiah. At the same time the hypocrite in general is described, who, under a plausible exterior, tries to hide his real character, not only from men, but even from God.

16. Rather, "Ah! your perverseness! just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay!" [MAURER]. Or, "Ye invert (turn upside down) the order of things, putting yourselves instead of God," and vice versa, just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay [HORSLEY], ( Isaiah 45:9 , 64:8 ).

17. turned--as contrasted with your "turnings of things upside down" ( Isaiah 29:16 ), there shall be other and better turnings or revolutions; the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days ( Isaiah 32:15 ); first on the Jews; which shall be followed by their ( Joel 2:28 ).
fruitful field--literally, "a Carmel" moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful field, and vice versa. Compare Matthew 11:12 , Greek: "the kingdom of heaven forces itself," as it were, on man's acceptance; instead of men having to seek Messiah, as they had John, in a desert, He presents Himself before them with loving invitations; thus men's hearts, once a moral desert, are reclaimed so as to bear fruits of righteousness: vice versa, the ungodly who seemed prosperous, both in the moral and literal sense, shall be exhibited in their real barrenness.

18. deaf . . . blind--(Compare Matthew 11:5 ). The spiritually blind, &c., are chiefly meant; "the book," as Revelation is called pre-eminently, shall be no longer "sealed," as is described ( Isaiah 29:11 ), but the most unintelligent shall hear and see ( Isaiah 35:5 ).

19. meek--rather, the afflicted godly: the idea is, virtuous suffering ( Isaiah 61:1 , Psalms 25:9 , 37:11 ) [BARNES].
poor among men--that is, the poorest of men, namely, the pious poor.
rejoice--when they see their oppressors punished ( Isaiah 29:20 Isaiah 29:21 ), and Jehovah exhibited as their protector and rewarder ( Isaiah 29:22-24 , Isaiah 41:17 , 2:5 ).

20. terrible--namely, the persecutors among the Jewish nobles.
scorner--( Isaiah 28:14 Isaiah 28:22 ).
watch for--not only commit iniquity, but watch for opportunities of committing it, and make it their whole study (see Micah 2:1 , Matthew 26:59 , 27:1 ).

21. Rather, "Who make a man guilty in his cause" [GESENIUS], that is, unjustly condemn him. "A man" is in the Hebrew a poor man, upon whom such unjust condemnations might be practiced with more impunity than on the rich; compare Isaiah 29:19 , "the meek . . . the poor."
him that reproveth--rather, "pleadeth"; one who has a suit at issue.
gate--the place of concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held ( Ruth 4:11 , Proverbs 31:23 , Amos 5:10 Amos 5:12 ).
just--one who has a just cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" [HORSLEY].
for a thing of naught--rather, "through falsehood," "by a decision that is null in justice" [BARNES]. Compare as to Christ, Proverbs 28:21 , Matthew 26:15 , Acts 3:13 Acts 3:14 , 8:33 .

22. Join "saith . . . concerning the house of Jacob."
redeemed--out of Ur, a land of idolaters ( Joshua 24:3 ).
not now--After the moral revolution described ( Isaiah 29:17 ), the children of Jacob shall no longer give cause to their forefathers to blush for them.
wax pale--with shame and disappointment at the wicked degeneracy of his posterity, and fear as to their punishment.

23. But--rather, "For."
he--Jacob.
work of mine hands--spiritually, as well as physically ( Isaiah 19:25 , 60:21 , Ephesians 2:10 ). By Jehovah's agency Israel shall be cleansed of its corruptions, and shall consist wholly of pious men ( Isaiah 54:13 Isaiah 54:14 , 2:1 , 60:21 ).
midst of him--that is, his land. Or else "His children" are the Gentiles adopted among the Israelites, his lineal descendants ( Romans 9:26 , Ephesians 3:6 ) [HORSLEY].

24. They . . . that erred--( Isaiah 28:7 ).
learn doctrine--rather, "shall receive discipline" or "instruction." "Murmuring" was the characteristic of Israel's rebellion against God ( Exodus 16:8 , Psalms 106:25 ). This shall be so no more. Chastisements, and, in HORSLEY'S view, the piety of the Gentiles provoking the Jews to holy jealousy ( Romans 11:11 Romans 11:14 ), shall then produce the desired effect.