1 The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness
5 The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ
7 He rebukes their error
9 Their untowardness to learn
14 And their security
16 Christ the sure foundation is promised
17 Their security shall be tried
23 They are incited to the consideration of God's discreet providence

A.M.3279. B.C.725
the crown. This chapter begins a new subject, chiefly relating to the devastations of Israel and Judah by the Assyrian kings. The ancient Samaria being beautifully situated on the top of a round hill, and surrounded immediately with a rich valley, and then a circle of other hills around it, suggested the idea of a chaplet, or wreath of flowers. Isa 28:3 Ho 5:5 6:10

drunkards Isa 28:7 5:11,22 Pr 23:29 Ho 4:11 7:5 Am 2:8,12 6:6

whose Isa 28:4 7:8,9 8:4 2Ki 14:25-27 15:29 18:10-12 2Ch 28:6 30:6,7 Am 6:1

overcome. Heb. broken

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

the Lord Isa 9:9-12 27:1 Eze 30:10,11

as a tempest Isa 28:15-19 8:7,8 25:4 29:6 30:30 Eze 13:11 Na 1:8 Mt 7:25-27 Re 18:8

3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

the crown Isa 28:1

shall Isa 25:10 26:6 2Ki 9:33 La 1:15 Da 8:13 Heb 10:29 Re 11:2

under feet. Heb. with feet

4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

shall be Isa 28:1 Ps 73:19,20 Ho 6:4 9:10,11,16 13:1,15 Jas 1:10,11

the hasty. 'No sooner,' says Dr. Shaw, 'doth the boccore (or early fig) draw near to perfection in the middle or latter end of June, than the kermez, or summer fig, begins to be formed, though it rarely ripens before August; about which time the same tree frequently throws out a third crop, or winter fig, as we may call it. This is usually of a much longer shape and darker complexion than the kermez, hanging and ripening upon the tree, even after the leaves are shed; and provided the winter proves mild and temperate, is gathered as a delicious morsel in the spring.' Mic 7:1 Na 3:12 Re 6:13

eateth. Heb. swalloweth

5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

shall the Isa 41:16 45:25 60:1-3,19 62:3 Jer 9:23,24 Zec 6:13-15 Lu 2:32 1Co 1:30,31 2Co 4:17 1Pe 5:4

for a diadem Job 29:14 Ps 90:16,17

residue Isa 10:20,21 11:16 37:31,32 Ro 11:5,6

6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

for a spirit Isa 11:2-4 32:15,16 Ge 41:38,39 Nu 11:16,17 27:16-18 1Ki 3:28 Ps 72:1-4 Pr 20:8 Joh 3:34 5:30 1Co 12:8

and for strength De 20:4 Jos 1:9 Ps 18:32-34 46:1,11

7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

erred Isa 19:14 56:10-12 Le 10:9,10 Pr 20:1 31:4,5 Ec 10:17 Eze 44:21 Ho 4:11 Mic 2:11 Mt 24:29 Lu 21:34 Eph 5:28

are swallowed Ps 107:27

err in Isa 3:12 9:16 Jer 14:14 23:13,16 La 2:4 Eze 13:7 Ho 4:12

8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

Pr 26:11 Jer 48:26 Hab 2:14,16

9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

shall he teach Isa 30:10-12 Ps 50:17 Pr 1:29 Jer 5:31 6:10 Joh 3:19 12:38,47,48

doctrine. Heb. the hearing Isa 53:1

weaned Ps 131:2 Mt 11:25 21:15,16 Mr 10:15 1Pe 2:2

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

for precept Isa 28:13 5:4 De 6:1-6 2Ch 36:15,16 Ne 9:29,30 Jer 11:7 25:3-7 Mt 21:34-41 Php 3:1 2Ti 3:7 Heb 5:12

must be. or, hath been

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

with De 28:49 Jer 5:15 1Co 14:21

stammering lips. Heb. stammerings of lips.
will he speak. or, he hath spoken

12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

this Isa 30:15 2Ch 14:11 16:8,9 Jer 6:16 Mt 11:28,29

yet Ps 81:11-13 Jer 44:16 Zec 7:11,14 Heb 12:25

13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

precept upon precept Isa 28:10 Jer 23:36-38 Ho 6:5,8

that Isa 6:9,10 8:14,15 Ps 69:22 Mt 13:14 21:44 Ro 11:9 2Co 2:16 1Pe 2:7,8 2Pe 3:16

14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

ye Isa 28:22 1:10 5:9 29:20 Pr 1:22 3:34 29:8 Ho 7:5 Ac 13:41

15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

we have. To be in covenant with a thing, says Bp. Lowth, is a proverbial expression to denote perfect security from mischief or evil of which it is the cause. Isa 5:18,19 Ec 8:8 Job 5:23 15:25-27 Jer 44:17 Eze 8:12 Ho 2:18 Zep 1:12

when Isa 8:7,8 Da 11:22

we have made Isa 30:10 Jer 5:31 14:13 16:19 28:15-17 Eze 13:16,22 Am 2:4 Jon 2:8 2Th 2:9-11

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

behold Isa 8:14 Ge 49:10,24 Ps 118:22 Zec 3:9 Mt 21:42 Mr 12:10 Lu 20:17,18 Ac 4:11,12 Ro 9:33 10:11 1Co 3:11 Eph 2:20 1Pe 2:6-8

he that Isa 30:18 Ps 112:7,8 Hab 2:3,4 Jas 5:7,8

17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

judgment Isa 10:22 2Ki 21:13 Ps 94:15 Am 7:7-9 Ro 2:2,5 9:28 Re 19:2

and the hail Isa 28:2,15 25:4 32:2,18,19 Ex 9:18,19 Jos 10:11 Jer 7:4-8,14,20 23:19 30:23,24 Eze 13:10-16 38:22 Re 8:7 11:19 16:21

and the waters Isa 30:28 Job 22:16 Da 11:22 Mt 7:27 2Pe 3:6,7

18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

your covenant Isa 7:7 8:10 Jer 44:28 Eze 17:15 Zec 1:6

shall be disannulled. For kuppar, Houbigant, Archbp. Secker, and Bp. Lowth, would read tuppar; but the former may well have the sense ascribed to it here, as it signifies in Chaldee and Syriac.

when Isa 2:15 8:8 Jer 47:2 Da 8:9-13 9:26,27 11:40 Re 12:15 17:15

trodden down by it. Heb. a treading down to it Isa 28:3 Mal 4:1-3

19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

the time Isa 10:5,6 2Ki 17:6 18:13 Eze 21:19-23

and it Isa 33:7 36:22 37:3 1Sa 3:11 2Ki 21:12 Jer 19:3 Da 7:28 8:27 Hab 3:16 Lu 21:25,26

to understand the report. or, when he shall make you to understand doctrine

20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

the bed Isa 57:12,13 59:5,6 64:6 66:3-6 Jer 7:8-10 Ro 9:30-32 1Co 1:18-31

21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

in mount Perazim 2Sa 5:20 1Ch 14:11

the valley Jos 10:10,12 2Sa 5:25 1Ch 14:16

his strange Isa 28:19 De 29:21-24 Jer 30:14 La 2:15 3:33 Eze 33:21 Lu 19:41

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

be ye Isa 28:15 2Ch 30:10 36:16 Jer 15:17 20:7 Mt 27:39,44 Ac 13:40,41 17:32

lest 2Ch 33:11 Ps 107:16 Jer 39:7 La 1:14 Re 22:18,19

a consumption Isa 10:22,23 24:1 32:12-14 Jer 25:11 Da 9:26,27 Lu 21:24

23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Isa 1:2 De 32:1 Jer 22:29 Re 2:7,11,14,29

24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

break Jer 4:3 Ho 10:11,12

25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?

in the principal, etc. or, the wheat in the principal place, and the barley in the appointed place.

rye. or, spelt Ex 9:31,32 Eze 4:9

place. Heb. border

26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

for his God, etc. or, and he bindeth it in such sort as his God doth teach him Ex 28:3 31:3-6 36:2 Job 35:11 39:17 Ps 144:1 Da 1:17 Jas 1:17

27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

threshed Isa 41:15 2Ki 13:7 Am 1:3

the fitches Isa 27:7,8 Jer 10:24 46:28

28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.

bread Isa 21:10 Am 9:9 Mt 3:12 13:37-43 Lu 22:31,32 Joh 12:24 1Co 3:9 9:9,10

the wheel Isa 28:27

29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

cometh Isa 28:21,22 9:6 Job 5:9 37:23 Ps 40:5 92:5 Jer 32:19 Da 4:2,3 Ro 11:33