1 The judgments wherewith God revenges his church
11 The desolation of her enemies
16 The certainty of the prophecy

come. This and the following chapter, as Bp. Lowth observes, form one distinct prophecy; an entire, regular, and beautiful poem, consisting of two parts; the first containing a denunciation of Divine vengeance against the enemies of the people or church of God' the second describing the flourishing state of that church consequent upon those judgments. The event foretold is represented as of the highest importance, and of universal concern; all nations are called upon to attend to the declaration of it; and the wrath of God is denounced against all the nations who had provoked to anger the Defender of the cause of Zion. By a figure frequently occurring in the prophetical writings, the cities and people mentioned here, who were remarkably distinguished as the enemies of the people of God are put for those enemies in general. Isa 18:3 33:13 41:1 43:9 49:1 Jud 5:3,31 Ps 49:1,2 50:1 96:10 Mr 16:15,16 Re 2:7

let the Isa 1:2 De 4:16 32:1 Jer 22:29 Mic 6:1,2

all that is therein. Heb. the fulness thereof Ps 24:1 1Co 10:26

2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

the indignation Isa 24:1 Jer 25:15-29 Joe 3:9-14 Am 1:1 2:1-6 Zep 3:8 Zec 14:3,12-16 Ro 1:18 Re 6:12-17 14:15-20 19:15-21 20:9,15

and his Isa 30:27-30 Na 1:2-6

3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

slain Isa 14:19,20 2Ki 9:35-37 Jer 8:1,2 22:19 Eze 39:4,11 Joe 2:20

and the mountains Isa 34:7 Eze 32:5,6 Re 14:20 16:3,4

4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

all the Isa 13:10 14:12 Ps 102:25,26 Jer 4:23,24 Eze 32:7,8 Joe 2:30,31 3:15 Mt 24:29,35 Mr 13:24,25 Ac 2:19,20 2Pe 3:7-12 Re 6:13,14 8:12 20:11

5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

my sword De 32:14,42 Ps 17:13 Jer 46:10 47:6 Eze 21:3-5,9-11 Zep 2:12 Re 1:16

upon Idumea Isa 63:1 Ps 137:7 Jer 49:7-22 Eze 25:12-14 Am 1:11,12 Ob 1:1 Mal 1:4

the people De 27:15 29:18-21 Mt 25:41 1Co 16:22 Ga 3:10 2Pe 2:14

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

filled Isa 63:3 Jer 49:13 Eze 21:4,5,10

the fast De 32:14

the Lord hath Isa 34:5 63:1 Jer 50:27 51:40 Eze 39:17-20 Zep 1:7 Re 19:17,18

7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

unicorns. or, rhinoceroses Nu 23:22 24:8 De 33:17 Job 39:9,10 Ps 92:10

the bullocks Ps 68:30 Jer 46:21 50:11,27

soaked. or, drunken Isa 34:3

8 For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

Isa 26:21 35:4 49:26 59:17,18 61:2 63:4 De 32:35,41-43 Ps 94:1 Mic 6:1 Lu 18:7 Ro 2:5,8,9 2Th 1:6-10 Re 6:10,11 18:20 19:2

9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

Ge 19:28 Job 18:15 Ps 11:6 Lu 17:29 Jude 1:7 Re 19:20 21:8

10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

shall not Isa 1:31 66:24 Jer 7:20 Eze 20:47,48 Mr 9:43-48

the smoke Re 14:10,11 18:18 19:3

from Isa 13:20 Eze 29:11 Mal 1:3,4

11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

cormorant. or, pelican Isa 13:20-22 14:23 Zep 2:14 Re 18:2,21-23

stretch 2Sa 8:2 2Ki 21:13 La 2:8 Mal 1:3,4

12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.

call Isa 3:6-8 Ec 10:16,17

nothing Isa 41:24 1Co 8:4 13:2 2Co 12:11

13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.

thorns Isa 32:13,14 Ho 9:6 Zep 2:9

an habitation Isa 13:21,22 35:7 Jer 9:11 10:22 49:33 50:39,40 51:37 Mal 1:3 Re 18:2,20-24

owls. or, ostriches. Heb. daughters of the owl

14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

the wild beasts of the desert. Heb. Zim. the wild beasts of the island. Heb. Ijim. screech owl. or, night-monster

15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.

no reference

16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

seek Isa 30:8 De 31:21 Isa 8:10 Am 3:7 Mal 3:16 Joh 5:39 10:35 2Pe 1:19 Mt 5:18 Lu 21:33

my mouth Ge 6:17 Ps 33:6,9

17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

he hath cast Jos 18:8 Ps 78:55 Ac 13:19 17:26

they shall Isa 34:10 13:20-22