HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ISAIAS 10

CHAPTER X.

Ver. 1. Injustice. These great ones excite God's indignation. C. --- Jeroboam forbidding any to go to Jerusalem; and the Pharisees establishing their wicked traditions, ruined all. W.

Ver. 3. Afar. When Salmanasar shall come from Ninive to destroy Samaria, to punish the people for their idolatry (C.) and oppressions. H. --- Glory. Golden calves, (Ose. viii. 5. and x. 5.) or possessions. C. ix. 8.

Ver. 5. Woe. Or come on, Heus, though (C.) ho is ordinarily rendered, alas! It here indicates that God makes use of this scourge with regret, and will afterwards consign it to the flames. H. --- The prophet speaks of Salmanasar, or of Sennacherib. S. Cyr. S. Jer.

Ver. 6. Deceitful. Heb. "hypocritical," joining my worship with that of idols. C. --- They had solemnly promised to serve the Lord. Ex. xix. 8. W.

Ver. 7. So. He will not think that he is executing my vengeance, supposing that he conquers by his own power.

Ver. 9. As. Lit. "altogether kings." H. --- Thus Nabuchodonosor kept the conquered princes for derision. Hab. i. 10. Judg. i. 7. --- Arphad, Arad, or rather RaphanÃ¦. Jer. xlix. 23. --- Damascus. These two cities were not yet subdued.

Ver. 10. Idols. He looks upon the true God as no better than any idols, (4 K. xviii. 32.) and falsely supposes that the latter were adored in Jerusalem. C.

Ver. 12. Works. Humbling and terrifying Ezechias and his subjects, who were reduced to great distress, in order to avert the impending war. H. --- Eyes. The Assyrians were punished in their turn.

Ver. 14. Nest. Some put these words in the mouth of God. Tert. Abdias 4. --- But they shew the insolence of Sennacherib.

Ver. 15. Axe. The Assyrian has no right to boast. What can man do without God's assistance? C. --- GratiÃ¦ tuÃ¦ deputo et quÃ¦cumque non feci mala. S. Aug. Conf. ii. 7. --- Sennacherib persecuted the Jews of his own free will, though he was God's instrument. W.

Ver. 16. Fire. The Jews assert, that 185,000 perished by an inward burning, so that only ten men were left. v. 19. S. Jer.

Ver. 17. Light. God. H. --- Thorns. Private soldiers. C.

Ver. 18. Glory. Officers. --- Flesh. Or body. All shall perish. H. --- Fear. Sennacherib escaped alone, and fell by the sword of his own sons.

Ver. 20. Israel now submitted to Ezechias, as their kingdom was overturned in the sixth year of his reign, eight years before Sennacherib's arrival. Isaias speaks of this time, and therefore makes no distinction of the kingdoms. Striketh the Assyrian.

Ver. 22. Converted. This was partly verified in the children of Israel who remained after the devastations of the Assyrians, in the time of king Ezechias: and partly in the conversion of a remnant of the Jews to the faith of Christ. Ch. --- 4 K. xviii. 3. Rom. ix. 27. The apostle follows the Sept. (C.) "and if the people of Israel be." --- Converted. Sept. "saved, for perfecting the word and abridging in justice. Because God, the Lord of hosts, will make an abridged word in the universe." H. --- As the apostle has explained this passage, "every other interpretation must cease." S. Jer. --- The few who were converted under Ezechias were a figure of those who should embrace the faith of Christ. C. --- Consumption. That is, the number of them cut short, and reduced to few, shall flourish in the abundance of justice. Ch. --- Heb. "the desolation is decreed, justice shall overflow." God will treat all with rigour. Nah. i. 8. The incredulous Jews shall be rejected. v. 23. Rom. ix.

Ver. 24. Egypt. He sent Rabsaces from Lachis, when he set out to meet Tharaca. 4 K. xix.

Ver. 25. Little. Twenty-eight years, (Ps. lxxxix. 4.) or he alludes to the destruction which took place in a single night, (C.) or in a moment. v. 16. H.

Ver. 26. Oreb. Judg. vii. 25. --- And his. Moses thus let loose the waters of the Red Sea on the Egyptians, by stretching forth his rod. C.

Ver. 27. Oil. That is, by the sweet unction of divine mercy. Ch. --- Chal. "before the anointed," in consideration of Ezechias and Isaias. In the higher sense, it denotes the victory of Christ over the devil. C.

Ver. 28. Into Aiath, &c. Here the prophet describes the march of the Assyrians under Sennacherib; and the terror they should carry with them; and how they should suddenly be destroyed. Ch.

Ver. 29. Lodging. Here, say the Assyrians, we will encamp.

Ver. 31. Take. Prot. "gather themselves to flee." H.

Ver. 32. Nobe. He may arrive thither shortly, in the environs of Jerusalem. C. --- Sept. "exhort to-day, that they may continue on the road. Comfort with the hand the daughter of Sion, thou rock and hills within Jerusalem." H. --- Hand. As Nicanor did against the temple. 2 Mac. xv. 32. C.

Ver. 33. Vessel. Like Gideon, when he attacked Madian. v. 26. Judg. vii. 19. Sept. "the nobles." H. --- Heb. "their beauty." The empire of Assyria shall presently fall. C.