Isa 27:1, 51:9, Jer 51:34, Eze 29:3, 32:2 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XXVII Destruction of the enemies of the Church , 1. God's care of his vineyard , 2-11. Prosperity of the descendants of Abraham in the latter days , 12, 13. The subject of this chapter seems to be the nature, the measure, and the design of God's dealings with his people. 1. His judgments inflicted on their great and powerful enemies, . 2. His constant care and protection of his favourite vineyard, in the form of a dialogue, . 3. The moderation and lenity with which the severity of his judgments have been tempered, . 4. The end and design of them, to recover them from idolatry, . And, 5. The recalling of them, on their repentance, from their several dispersions, . The first verse seems connected with the two last verses of the preceding chapter.-L. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII Verse 1. Leviathan ] The animals here mentioned seem to be the crocodile , rigid by the stiffness of the backbone, so that he cannot readily turn himself when he pursues his prey; hence the easiest way of escaping from him is by making frequent and short turnings: the serpent or dragon , flexible and winding, which coils himself up in a circular form: and the sea-monster , or whale . These are used allegorically, without doubt for great potentates, enemies and persecutors of the people of God: but to specify the particular persons or states designed by the prophet under these images, is a matter of great difficulty, and comes not necessarily with in the design of these notes. R. D. Kimchi says, leviathan is a parable concerning the kings of the Gentiles: it is the largest fish in the sea, called also tannin, the dragon , or rather the whale . By these names the Grecian, Turkish, and Roman empires are intended. The dragon of the sea seems to mean some nation having a strong naval force and extensive commerce. See Kimchi on the place.

‏ Isaiah 27:1

CHAPTER XXVII

Destruction of the enemies of the Church, 1.

God's care of his vineyard, 2-11.

Prosperity of the descendants of Abraham in the latter days,

12, 13.

The subject of this chapter seems to be the nature, the measure, and the design of God's dealings with his people. 1. His judgments inflicted on their great and powerful enemies, Isa 27:1. 2. His constant care and protection of his favourite vineyard, in the form of a dialogue, Isa 27:2. 3. The moderation and lenity with which the severity of his judgments have been tempered, Isa 27:7. 4. The end and design of them, to recover them from idolatry, Isa 27:9. And, 5. The recalling of them, on their repentance, from their several dispersions, Isa 27:12. The first verse seems connected with the two last verses of the preceding chapter.-L.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII

Verse 1. Leviathan] The animals here mentioned seem to be the crocodile, rigid by the stiffness of the backbone, so that he cannot readily turn himself when he pursues his prey; hence the easiest way of escaping from him is by making frequent and short turnings: the serpent or dragon, flexible and winding, which coils himself up in a circular form: and the sea-monster, or whale. These are used allegorically, without doubt for great potentates, enemies and persecutors of the people of God: but to specify the particular persons or states designed by the prophet under these images, is a matter of great difficulty, and comes not necessarily with in the design of these notes. R. D. Kimchi says, leviathan is a parable concerning the kings of the Gentiles: it is the largest fish in the sea, called also tannin, the dragon, or rather the whale. By these names the Grecian, Turkish, and Roman empires are intended. The dragon of the sea seems to mean some nation having a strong naval force and extensive commerce. See Kimchi on the place.

‏ Isaiah 51:9

‏ Jeremiah 51:34

Verse 34. Nebuchadrezzar-hath devoured me] These are the words of Judea; he has taken away all my riches.

He hath cast me out.] He shall vomit all up; i.e., they shall be regained.

‏ Ezekiel 29:3

Verse 3. The great dragon] hattannim should here be translated crocodile, as that is a real animal, and numerous in the Nile; whereas the dragon is wholly fabulous. The original signifies any large animal.

The midst of his rivers] This refers to the several branches of the Nile, by which this river empties itself into the Mediterranean. The ancients termed them septem ostia Nili, "the seven mouths of the Nile." The crocodile was the emblem of Egypt.

‏ Ezekiel 32:2

Verse 2. Thou art like a young lion-and thou art as a whale in the seas] Thou mayest be likened to two of the fiercest animals in the creation; to a lion, the fiercest on the land; to a crocodile, tannin, (see Eze 29:3,) the fiercest in the waters. It may, however, point out the hippopotamus, as there seems to be a reference to his mode of feeding. He walks deliberately into the water over head, and pursues his way in the same manner; still keeping on his feet, and feeding on the plants, &c., that grow at the bottom. Thus he fouls the water with his feet.