Isaiah 46

Isaiah 46:1

In the midst - In all the parts of the land, not excepting Jerusalem, which was to be preserved in the Assyrian invasion.

Isaiah 46:2

Therefore - This is an inference, not from the words immediately foregoing, but from the whole prophecy. Seeing the Assyrian shall be destroyed. Smite - He shall afflict, but not destroy thee. Egypt - As the Egyptians formerly did.

Isaiah 46:3

Indignation - Mine anger towards the Assyrian. Cease - As anger commonly does when vengeance is fully executed.

Isaiah 46:4

Stir up - Shall send a destroying angel. Midian - Whom God slew suddenly and unexpectedly, in the night. Oreb - Upon which one of their chief princes was slain, and nigh unto which the Midianites were destroyed. The sea - To divide it, and make way for thy deliverance, and for the destruction of the Egyptians.

Isaiah 46:5

Burden - The burden of the Assyrian. The anointing - Possibly this may be understood of David, who is often mentioned in scripture by the name of God’s anointed; and for whose sake, God gave many deliverances to the succeeding kings and ages, as is expressly affirmed, 1 Kings 11:32,34. God declares that he would give this very deliverance from the Assyrian, for David’s sake, 2 Kings 19:34 20:6. But the Messiah is principally intended, of whom David was but a type; and who was in a particular manner anointed above his fellows, as is said, Psal 45:7. For he is the foundation of all the promises, 2 Corinthians 1:20, and of all the deliverances and mercies granted to God’s people in all ages.

Isaiah 46:6

He - Here the prophet returns to the Assyrian invasion; which he describes, after the manner of the prophets, as a thing present, and sets down the several stages by which he marched towards Jerusalem. He, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, is come, in his way to Jerusalem. Laid up - Leaving such things there as were less necessary, that so he might march with more expedition.

Isaiah 46:7

Fled - The people fled to Jerusalem for fear of the Assyrian.

Isaiah 46:8

Daughter - Jerusalem was the mother city, and lesser towns are commonly called her daughters.

Isaiah 46:10

Shake - By way of comminution.

Isaiah 46:11

The bough - The top - bough, Sennacherib, with a most terrible stroke.

Isaiah 46:12

Iron - Or, as with iron, as the trees of the forest are cut down with instruments of iron. Lebanon - Or, his Lebanon, the Assyrian army, which being before compared to a forest, and being called his Carmel in the Hebrew text, ver.18, may very fitly upon the same ground, be called his Lebanon here.