Isaiah 29

Isaiah 29:1

Woe] A sad prophesie against Jerusalem, and the Temple; and consequently the whole State of the Jewes.

to Ariel] The word signifies a Lion of God. Hereby is meant the brazen Altar, so called, Ezek. XLIII. 15, 16. and called Gods furnace or chimney, ch. XXXI. 9.

the Citie] Or of, Or in. Or, and to the Citie.

adde ye year to year] Cause feastival sacrifices still to be slaine.

Isaiah 29:2

and it shall be unto me as Ariel] The whole Citie shall be as an Ariel; all on a light fire, all full of gore blood, and dead bodies of men slaughtered, after the surprisal of it.

Isaiah 29:3

And I will camp] Bring an enemy to do it, verse 8. my self commanding them, as in chief. This enemy may be understood both of the Assyrian Sennacherib; and the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar.

Isaiah 29:5

of thy strangers] All thy help’s from abroad, or at home.

Isaiah 29:6

with thunder] In a most dreadful and direful maner.

Isaiah 29:8

As when an hungry man] Sets out the appetite, the eagernesse and unsatiablenesse of the enemies cruelty and thirst after blood.

Isaiah 29:9

and wonder] At the strange stupidity of the body of the people; that regarded not what had been threatned.

Isaiah 29:10

the Lord hath powred] Verse 14. See the Observations on ch. VI. 10. See ch. XIX. 14. And the Apostles allegation of this text, Rom. XI. 8.

Isaiah 29:13

Draw near me with their mouth] Matth. XV. 3, 8, 9.

Isaiah 29:15

deep to hide] Hide deep, from the Lord, for him to be able to discerne and discover. Thus these scoffing States-men conceived of their own contrivances, their wiles and shifts for themselves: and derided all that the Prophets spake.

Isaiah 29:16

as the potters clay] Lieth as open to his eye; and as easie for him to mould, or marre.

Isaiah 29:17

Is it not yet, &c.] This seemes rather a Promise, then a Commination, chap. XXXII. 15. That great should be the fruitfulnesse of the Land, upon the restitution of their State, either after the Assyrian devastation; or after the Babylonian deportation.

Isaiah 29:18

shall the deaf hear] Esay here, after his usual maner, beginneth to close up his Sermon, with matter of comfort, and gracious promises; fulfilled partly in those times; but chiefly in the Kingdome of the Messias: The Promises concerne the illumination of the minde, in this verse, the joy of the godly, verse 19. the confusion of those that wronged them, verse 20, 21. the vindication from shame and fear; and the propagation and enlargement of the Church, by accesse of many Proselites, verse 22, 23, 24.

In this, and the next Chapter, Esay principaly bends himself against those that sought and trusted to forreigne helps and succours; and not to God.