*H At the first time the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali was lightly touched: and at the last the way of the sea beyond the Jordan of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily loaded.
Ver. 1. Loaded. Theglathphalassar took away whole tribes, (2 Par. v. 26.) the year after this. Yet these people were the first enlightened with the rays of the gospel, (Matt. iv. 13.) though so much despised. Jo. vii. 52. C. — Here Christ preached first. But after his passion, few Jews believed in him. W.
* Footnote * Matthew 4 : 15
Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:*H The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.
Ver. 2. Risen. The kingdom of Juda hoped for redress, when they saw the people of Israel humbled, (H.) or rather after the defeat of Sennacherib. C.
*H Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils.
Ver. 3. And hast. Parkhurst says it should be, "(whom) thou hast not brought up (the Gentiles) with joy they," &c. Sym. H. — The numerous forces of the Assyrians could not save them from the angel. Under Ezechias the people increased. Was not his reign a figure of the Church persecuted and increasing: but on that account, in danger from a relaxation of discipline? Lu. v. 7. — Spoils. They shall return thanks to God for the unexpected liberation.
*H For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome, as in the day of Madian.
Ver. 4. Oppressor. Who levied taxes for Assyria. 4 K. xviii. 7. Sennacherib made war, because Ezechias refused to pay them any longer, and his troops fell upon each other, (C.) as the Madianites had done. Judg. vii. H.
* Footnote * Judges 7 : 12
But Madian and Amalec, and all the eastern people, lay scattered in the valley, as a multitude of locusts: their camels also were innumerable, as the sand that lieth on the sea shore.*H For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire.
Ver. 5. Fire. Being cut and useless. See Diss. on the defeat of Sennacherib. C.
*H For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
Ver. 6. Child. The Messias, whom the son of Isaias prefigured. — Shoulder. Where the badges of royalty were worn. C. — Christ bore his cross. Tert. &c. — Wonderful. In his birth, &c. — Counsellor. From whom all good advice proceeds. Grotius falsely translates, "the consulter of the strong God," meaning Ezechias. Though he deemed the Socinians unworthy of the Christian name, (Ep. ad Valleum.) he too often sides with them. Johets always means one who "gives counsel." C. xl. 13. Ezechias was at this time ten years old, and he did not always take advice, nor was his reign peaceful, &c. — God. The three Greek versions maliciously render El "the strong," though it be uncertain that it ever has that meaning, as it certainly has not when joined with gibbor, "mighty." Why should two terms of the same import be used? The Sept. copies vary much. Some read only, "he shall be called the angel of the great council, for I will bring peace upon the princes and his health." S. Jerom thinks they were afraid to style the child God. But this reason falls to the ground, as other copies have, (C.) after council, "Wonderful, Counsellor, God, the Mighty, the Potent, εξουσιασζης, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come, for, &c. (7.) His." Grabe (de Vitiis lxx. p. 29.) asserts that the former is the genuine version, and that the inserted titles are a secondary one; so that there must have been two version before the days of Aquila, as the text is thus quoted at large by Clement and S. Iræneus, A. 180; Kennicott adds also by S. Ignatius, A. 110. H. — The omnipotent God became a little child, and without violence subdued the world, which he still governs. W.
*H His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Ver. 7. Peace. Christ gives it, and propagates his Church. Heb. xii. 2.
*H The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
Ver. 8. Word. Sept. "death." This also agrees with the Heb. term, and with the context.
*H And all the people of Ephraim shall know, and the inhabitants of Samaria that say in the pride and haughtiness of their heart:
Ver. 9. Cedars. They speak in a proverbial way, that they will shortly repair the injuries done by the Assyrians depending on king Osee.
*H And the Lord shall set up the enemies of Rasin over him, and shall bring on his enemies in a crowd:
Ver. 11. Him. Israel. Salmanasar came to ruin the kingdom. C.
* Footnote * 4_Kings 16 : 9
And he agreed to his desire: for the king of the Assyrians went up against Damascus, and laid it waste: and he carried away the inhabitants thereof to Cyrene; but Rasin he slew.*H The Syrians from the east, and, the Philistines from the west: and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Ver. 12. Still. God punishes the impenitent throughout eternity. v. 12. c. x. 4. W.
*H And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day.
Ver. 14. Him. Heb. "the branch and the rush." C. — Sept. "the great and the small."
*H And they that call this people blessed, shall cause them to err: and they that are called blessed, shall be thrown down, headlong.
Ver. 16. Headlong. If the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch. Matt. xv. 14. H.
*H Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men: neither shall he have mercy on their fatherless, and widows: for every one is a hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth hath spoken folly. For all this his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Ver. 17. Folly. Sin. They are all guilty. He will shew no compassion.
*H For wickedness is kindled as a fire, it shall devour the brier and the thorn: and shall kindle in the thicket of the forest, and it shall be wrapped up in smoke ascending on high.
Ver. 18. High. All shall witness the fall of Israel, (C.) like a forest on fire. H.
*H By the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is troubled, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
Ver. 19. Brother. Civil wars shall rage. 4 K. xv. Josephus (Bel. vii.) perhaps alluded to this passage, when he said, that an ancient prophecy announced ruin to the Jews, when they should turn their arms against each other. C.