The following commentary covers Chapters 19 through 23.
Jehovah's
dealings with the nations: Israel delivered
In chapters 19 and 20
Egypt shall be smitten in that day; but Jehovah will heal
it. Egypt, Assyria, and Israel shall together be blessed
of Jehovah. Chapter 20 teaches us that it will be Assyria
that leads Egypt captive (compare Daniel 11 at the end).
It will be observed here, that, in general, from chapter
13 to 17 there is deliverance. The sceptre of the wicked
is broken (chap. 14: 5). The throne of David will be
established in mercy (chap. 16: 5). The Assyrian is
destroyed —the Philistines subdued—Zion founded
by Jehovah—Damascus reduced. The latter event
introduces the evils of the last days. Only, as we have
remarked, the gathering of the nations is for their
destruction (Micah 4: 11-13). Chapter 18, resuming the
subject of chapter 17, shews us Israel as they are to be
in their land in the last days—oppressed by the
Gentiles, but in result brought back to God.
The overflowing
scourge: universal overthrow
The chapters following 18
do not, like the previous ones, tell of Israel's
deliverance. but of the invasion and overrunning of the
nations before mentioned—the overflowing scourge.
Egypt is overrun as well as Ethiopia, in which Israel had
trusted. Babylon is overcome—Dumah and Kedar
destroyed—Jerusalem is ravaged—Tyre falls. In
short it is a universal overthrow, the central scene of
which is the land of Canaan, but in which the whole world
is included (chap. 24: 4). Even the powers of heaven are
overturned, as well as the kings of the earth upon the
earth, giving place to the establishment of Zion, the
mountain of Jehovah, as the centre of power and blessing,
the power of the serpent, the dragon that is in the sea,
being annihilated.
The future fall of
Babylon and Jerusalem
After this outline
attention must be given to some details. It will be
observed that Babylon and Jerusalem fall (chaps. 21, 22),
one after the other, Jerusalem the last. Now it is quite
evident that this connection of events is yet future.
That which is said of Babylon and Jerusalem may have
found its occasion in the capture of Babylon by Cyrus,
and partly in the condition of Jerusalem when threatened
by Sennacherib. But there was neither the connection nor
the order of events noted in this prophecy. But Babylon
is named in a manner that gives no clue whatever to its
condition. The "desert of the sea" is a
singular term to describe a city. But a dreadful invasion
is before the prophet's eyes, and Babylon falls. It comes
like a whirlwind of the south, and the power of Babylon
is at an end—we are not told in what manner.
Jerusalem, the valley of
vision, is ravaged. The Persians and the Medes, who were
the invaders of the preceding chapter re-appear here as
attacking Jerusalem. There is no fighting outside; but,
the city being taken, its inhabitants are bound or slain
within it. Besides the prophetic revelations, this
chapter contains also moral instruction of the deepest
importance In the first place all the wisdom of man is
insufficient to ward off evil, if not accompanied by the
power of God. When the city of God is in question, this
wisdom, exercised in forgetfulness of the God who built
and founded the city of His holiness, is an unpardonable
sin (chap. 22: 11). Again, that which is related here
was, historically speaking, done by Hezekiah, of whom it
is said he prospered in all his works. Outward blessing
attended his labours; but, at the same time, the
condition of the people, even with respect to these
labours, was such that God could not pardon it. This is
often the case: outward faith in doing the work of God,
blessed by Him, corruption as to state of heart in the
thing, which God will assuredly judge, and forgetfulness
of God Himself and of their belonging to Him. This is
when the people of God lean upon human means. We see also
here one who held a settled office, according to man, in
the government of the house of David, set aside with
shame, and one chosen of God taking his place all glory
being given to him (a remarkable prefiguration of the
setting aside of the false Christ, and the establishment
of the true, in the last days). This prophecy gives room
to suppose that the nations will attack Jerusalem when
the Babylon of history is a desert. That which is Babylon
in those days shall fall. Nevertheless Jerusalem, the
object of the prophecies, shall be taken, its government
changed; the usurper must yield his place to the chosen
One of God.
The burden of Tyre
The burden of Tyre shews
us all the pride of human glory stained, and all the
honourable of the earth brought into contempt. The
occasion is the capture of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, but
the prophecy goes farther—even to the days when her
merchandise shall be holiness to Jehovah (chap. 23).
Isaiah 23 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Jehovah's dealings with the nations: Israel delivered
In chapters 19 and 20 Egypt shall be smitten in that day; but Jehovah will heal it. Egypt, Assyria, and Israel shall together be blessed of Jehovah. Chapter 20 teaches us that it will be Assyria that leads Egypt captive (compare Daniel 11 at the end). It will be observed here, that, in general, from chapter 13 to 17 there is deliverance. The sceptre of the wicked is broken (chap. 14: 5). The throne of David will be established in mercy (chap. 16: 5). The Assyrian is destroyed —the Philistines subdued—Zion founded by Jehovah—Damascus reduced. The latter event introduces the evils of the last days. Only, as we have remarked, the gathering of the nations is for their destruction (Micah 4: 11-13). Chapter 18, resuming the subject of chapter 17, shews us Israel as they are to be in their land in the last days—oppressed by the Gentiles, but in result brought back to God.
The overflowing scourge: universal overthrow
The chapters following 18 do not, like the previous ones, tell of Israel's deliverance. but of the invasion and overrunning of the nations before mentioned—the overflowing scourge. Egypt is overrun as well as Ethiopia, in which Israel had trusted. Babylon is overcome—Dumah and Kedar destroyed—Jerusalem is ravaged—Tyre falls. In short it is a universal overthrow, the central scene of which is the land of Canaan, but in which the whole world is included (chap. 24: 4). Even the powers of heaven are overturned, as well as the kings of the earth upon the earth, giving place to the establishment of Zion, the mountain of Jehovah, as the centre of power and blessing, the power of the serpent, the dragon that is in the sea, being annihilated.
The future fall of Babylon and Jerusalem
After this outline attention must be given to some details. It will be observed that Babylon and Jerusalem fall (chaps. 21, 22), one after the other, Jerusalem the last. Now it is quite evident that this connection of events is yet future. That which is said of Babylon and Jerusalem may have found its occasion in the capture of Babylon by Cyrus, and partly in the condition of Jerusalem when threatened by Sennacherib. But there was neither the connection nor the order of events noted in this prophecy. But Babylon is named in a manner that gives no clue whatever to its condition. The "desert of the sea" is a singular term to describe a city. But a dreadful invasion is before the prophet's eyes, and Babylon falls. It comes like a whirlwind of the south, and the power of Babylon is at an end—we are not told in what manner.
Jerusalem, the valley of vision, is ravaged. The Persians and the Medes, who were the invaders of the preceding chapter re-appear here as attacking Jerusalem. There is no fighting outside; but, the city being taken, its inhabitants are bound or slain within it. Besides the prophetic revelations, this chapter contains also moral instruction of the deepest importance In the first place all the wisdom of man is insufficient to ward off evil, if not accompanied by the power of God. When the city of God is in question, this wisdom, exercised in forgetfulness of the God who built and founded the city of His holiness, is an unpardonable sin (chap. 22: 11). Again, that which is related here was, historically speaking, done by Hezekiah, of whom it is said he prospered in all his works. Outward blessing attended his labours; but, at the same time, the condition of the people, even with respect to these labours, was such that God could not pardon it. This is often the case: outward faith in doing the work of God, blessed by Him, corruption as to state of heart in the thing, which God will assuredly judge, and forgetfulness of God Himself and of their belonging to Him. This is when the people of God lean upon human means. We see also here one who held a settled office, according to man, in the government of the house of David, set aside with shame, and one chosen of God taking his place all glory being given to him (a remarkable prefiguration of the setting aside of the false Christ, and the establishment of the true, in the last days). This prophecy gives room to suppose that the nations will attack Jerusalem when the Babylon of history is a desert. That which is Babylon in those days shall fall. Nevertheless Jerusalem, the object of the prophecies, shall be taken, its government changed; the usurper must yield his place to the chosen One of God.
The burden of Tyre
The burden of Tyre shews us all the pride of human glory stained, and all the honourable of the earth brought into contempt. The occasion is the capture of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, but the prophecy goes farther—even to the days when her merchandise shall be holiness to Jehovah (chap. 23).