Isa 31:1, 4, 6-7 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XXXI The Jews again reproved for their confidence in Egypt, finely contrasted with their neglect of the power and protection of God , 1-3. Deliverance and protection are, notwithstanding, promised, expressed by two similes; the first remarkably lofty and poetical, the latter singularly beautiful and tender , 4, 5. Exhortation to repentance, joined with the prediction of a more reformed period , 6, 7. This chapter concludes like the preceding, with a prophecy of the fall of Sennacherib , 8, 9. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI Verse 1. Wo to them that go down to Egypt ] This is a reproof to the Israelites for forming an alliance with the Egyptians, and not trusting in the Lord. And stay on horses -"Who trust in horses"] For veal, and upon , first twenty MSS. of Kennicott's , thirty of De Rossi's , one of my own, and the Septuagint, Arabic , and Vulgate , read al, upon , without the conjunction, which disturbs the sense.

‏ Isaiah 31:1

CHAPTER XXXI

The Jews again reproved for their confidence in Egypt, finely contrasted with their neglect of the power and protection of God, 1-3.

Deliverance and protection are, notwithstanding, promised, expressed by two similes; the first remarkably lofty and poetical, the latter singularly beautiful and tender, 4, 5.

Exhortation to repentance, joined with the prediction of a more reformed period, 6, 7.

This chapter concludes like the preceding, with a prophecy of the fall of Sennacherib, 8, 9.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI

Verse 1. Wo to them that go down to Egypt] This is a reproof to the Israelites for forming an alliance with the Egyptians, and not trusting in the Lord.

And stay on horses-"Who trust in horses"] For veal, and upon, first twenty MSS. of Kennicott's, thirty of De Rossi's, one of my own, and the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate, read al, upon, without the conjunction, which disturbs the sense.

‏ Isaiah 31:4

Verse 4. Like as the lion] This comparison is exactly in the spirit and manner, and very nearly approaching to the expression, of Homer.

βηριμενωστελεωνορεσιτροφοςοστεπιδευης

δηρονεηκρειωνκελεταιδεεθυμοςαγηνωρ

μηλωνπειρησοντακαιεςπυκινονδομονελθειν

ειπεργαρχευρησιπαραυτοψιβωτοραςανδρας

συνκυσικαιδουρεσσιφυλασσονταςπεριμηλα

ουραταπειρητοςμεμονεσταθμοιοδιεσθαι

αλλογαρηηρπαξεμεταλμενοςηεκαιαυτος

εβλητενπρωτοισιθοηςαποχειροςακοντι

Iliad xii. 299.

As the bold lion, mountain-bred, now long

Famished, with courage and with hunger stung

Attempts the thronged fold: him nought appals,

Though dogs and armed shepherds stand in guard

Collected; he nathless undaunted springs

O'er the high fence, and rends the trembling prey;

Or, rushing onward, in his breast receives

The well-aimed spear.

Of metaphors, allegories, and comparisons of the Hebrew poets, in which the Divine nature and attributes are represented under images taken from brutes and other low objects; of their effect, their sublimity, and the causes of it; see De Sac. Poes. Heb., Praelect. xvi. sub. fin.

‏ Isaiah 31:6-7

Verse 6. Have deeply revolted-"Have so deeply engaged in revolt."] All the ancient Versions read taamiku, in the second person, instead of heemiku, they have deeply revolted, &c.

Verse 7. Which your own hands have made unto you for a sin-"The sin, which their own hands have made."] The construction of the word chet, sin, in this place is not easy. The Septuagint have omitted it: MSS. Pachom. and I. D. II. and Cod. Marchal. in margine, supply the omission by the word αμαρτιαν, sin, or αμαρτημα, said to be from Aquila's Version, which I have followed. The learned Professor Schroeder, Institut. Ling. Heb. p. 298, makes it to be in regimine with yedeychem, as an epithet, your sinful hands. The Septuagint render the pronoun in the third person, αιχειρεςαυτων, their hands; and an ancient MS. has, agreeable to that rendering, lahem, to them, for lachem, to you; which word they have likewise omitted, as not necessary to complete the sense.