33 For Tophet H8613 is ordained H6186 of old; H865 yea, for the king H4428 it is prepared; H3559 he hath made it deep H6009 and large: H7337 the pile H4071 thereof is fire H784 and much H7235 wood; H6086 the breath H5397 of the LORD, H3068 like a stream H5158 of brimstone, H1614 doth kindle H1197 it.
And he defiled H2930 Topheth, H8612 which is in the valley H1516 of the children H1121 H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 that no man H376 might make his son H1121 or his daughter H1323 to pass through H5674 the fire H784 to Molech. H4432
Then the LORD H3068 rained H4305 upon Sodom H5467 and upon Gomorrah H6017 brimstone H1614 and fire H784 from the LORD H3068 out of heaven; H8064
For G1063 there are certain G5100 men G444 crept in unawares, G3921 who G3588 were before G4270 of old G3819 ordained G4270 to G1519 this G5124 condemnation, G2917 ungodly men, G765 turning G3346 the grace G5485 of our G2257 God G2316 into G1519 lasciviousness, G766 and G2532 denying G720 the only G3441 Lord G1203 God, G2316 and G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Therefore, behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that this place H4725 shall no more be called H7121 Tophet, H8612 nor The valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 but The valley H1516 of slaughter. H2028
Then G5119 shall he say G2046 also G2532 unto them on G1537 the left hand, G2176 Depart G4198 from G575 me, G1700 ye cursed, G2672 into G1519 everlasting G166 fire, G4442 prepared G2090 for the devil G1228 and G2532 his G846 angels: G32
That G2443 ye may eat G5315 the flesh G4561 of kings, G935 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of captains, G5506 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of mighty men, G2478 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of horses, G2462 and G2532 of them that sit G2521 on G1909 them, G846 and G2532 the flesh G4561 of all G3956 men, both free G1658 and G2532 bond, G1401 both G2532 small G3398 and G2532 great. G3173 And G2532 I saw G1492 the beast, G2342 and G2532 the kings G935 of the earth, G1093 and G2532 their G846 armies, G4753 gathered together G4863 to make G4160 war G4171 against G3326 him that sat G2521 on G1909 the horse, G2462 and G2532 against G3326 his G846 army. G4753 And G2532 the beast G2342 was taken, G4084 and G2532 with G3326 him G5127 the false prophet G5578 that wrought G4160 miracles G4592 before G1799 him, G846 with G1722 which G3739 he deceived G4105 them that had received G2983 the mark G5480 of the beast, G2342 and G2532 them that worshipped G4352 his G846 image. G1504 These both G1417 were cast G906 alive G2198 into G1519 a lake G3041 of fire G4442 burning G2545 with G1722 brimstone. G2303
The same G846 G2532 shall drink G4095 of G1537 the wine G3631 of the wrath G2372 of God, G2316 which G3588 is poured out G2767 without mixture G194 into G1722 the cup G4221 of his G846 indignation; G3709 and G2532 he shall be tormented G928 with G1722 fire G4442 and G2532 brimstone G2303 in the presence G1799 of the holy G40 angels, G32 and G2532 in the presence G1799 of the Lamb: G721 And G2532 the smoke G2586 of their G846 torment G929 ascendeth up G305 for G1519 ever G165 and ever: G165 and G2532 they have G2192 no G3756 rest G372 day G2250 nor G2532 night, G3571 who G3588 worship G4352 the beast G2342 and G2532 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 whosoever G1536 receiveth G2983 the mark G5480 of his G846 name. G3686
Many, H7227 O LORD H3068 my God, H430 are thy wonderful H6381 works which thou hast done, H6213 and thy thoughts H4284 which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order H6186 unto thee: if I would declare H5046 and speak H1696 of them, they are more H6105 than can be numbered. H5608 Sacrifice H2077 and offering H4503 thou didst not desire; H2654 mine ears H241 hast thou opened: H3738 burnt offering H5930 and sin offering H2401 hast thou not required. H7592
Wherefore G1161 if G1487 thy G4675 hand G5495 or G2228 thy G4675 foot G4228 offend thee, G4624 cut G1581 them G846 off, G1581 and G2532 cast G906 them from G575 thee: G4571 G4675 it is G2076 better G2570 for thee G4671 to enter into G1525 G1519 life G2222 halt G5560 or G2228 maimed, G2948 rather than G2228 having G2192 two G1417 hands G5495 or G2228 two G1417 feet G4228 to be cast G906 into G1519 everlasting G166 fire. G4442 And G2532 if G1487 thine G4675 eye G3788 offend G4624 thee, G4571 pluck G1807 it G846 out, G1807 and G2532 cast G906 it from G575 thee: G4675 it is G2076 better G2570 for thee G4671 to enter G1525 into G1519 life G2222 with one eye, G3442 rather than G2228 having G2192 two G1417 eyes G3788 to be cast G906 into G1519 hell G1067 fire. G4442
Asshur H804 is there and all her company: H6951 his graves H6913 are about H5439 him: all of them slain, H2491 fallen H5307 by the sword: H2719 Whose graves H6913 are set H5414 in the sides H3411 of the pit, H953 and her company H6951 is round about H5439 her grave: H6900 all of them slain, H2491 fallen H5307 by the sword, H2719 which caused H5414 terror H2851 in the land H776 of the living. H2416
And shalt say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Even so H3602 will I break H7665 this people H5971 and this city, H5892 as one breaketh H7665 a potter's H3335 vessel, H3627 that cannot H3201 be made whole again: H7495 and they shall bury H6912 them in Tophet, H8612 till there be no place H4725 to bury. H6912 Thus will I do H6213 unto this place, H4725 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and to the inhabitants H3427 thereof, and even make H5414 this city H5892 as Tophet: H8612 And the houses H1004 of Jerusalem, H3389 and the houses H1004 of the kings H4428 of Judah, H3063 shall be defiled H2931 as the place H4725 of Tophet, H8612 because of all the houses H1004 upon whose roofs H1406 they have burned incense H6999 unto all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 and have poured out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto other H312 gods. H430 Then came H935 Jeremiah H3414 from Tophet, H8612 whither the LORD H3068 had sent H7971 him to prophesy; H5012 and he stood H5975 in the court H2691 of the LORD'S H3068 house; H1004 and said H559 to all the people, H5971
And they have built H1129 the high places H1116 of Tophet, H8612 which is in the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 to burn H8313 their sons H1121 and their daughters H1323 in the fire; H784 which I commanded H6680 them not, neither came H5927 it into my heart. H3820 Therefore, behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that it shall no more be called H559 Tophet, H8612 nor the valley H1516 of the son H1121 of Hinnom, H2011 but the valley H1516 of slaughter: H2028 for they shall bury H6912 in Tophet, H8612 till there be no H369 place. H4725
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping H7812 in the house H1004 of Nisroch H5268 his god, H430 that Adrammelech H152 and Sharezer H8272 his sons H1121 smote H5221 him with the sword; H2719 and they escaped H4422 into the land H776 of Armenia: H780 and Esarhaddon H634 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
Behold, the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 cometh H935 from far, H4801 burning H1197 with his anger, H639 and the burden H4858 thereof is heavy: H3514 his lips H8193 are full H4390 of indignation, H2195 and his tongue H3956 as a devouring H398 fire: H784 And his breath, H7307 as an overflowing H7857 stream, H5158 shall reach to the midst H2673 of the neck, H6677 to sift H5130 the nations H1471 with the sieve H5299 of vanity: H7723 and there shall be a bridle H7448 in the jaws H3895 of the people, H5971 causing them to err. H8582
Hell H7585 from beneath is moved H7264 for thee to meet H7125 thee at thy coming: H935 it stirreth up H5782 the dead H7496 for thee, even all the chief ones H6260 of the earth; H776 it hath raised up H6965 from their thrones H3678 all the kings H4428 of the nations. H1471 All they shall speak H6030 and say H559 unto thee, Art thou also become weak H2470 as we? art thou become like H4911 unto us? Thy pomp H1347 is brought down H3381 to the grave, H7585 and the noise H1998 of thy viols: H5035 the worm H7415 is spread H3331 under thee, and the worms H8438 cover H4374 thee. How art thou fallen H5307 from heaven, H8064 O Lucifer, H1966 son H1121 of the morning! H7837 H3213 how art thou cut down H1438 to the ground, H776 which didst weaken H2522 the nations! H1471 For thou hast said H559 in thine heart, H3824 I will ascend H5927 into heaven, H8064 I will exalt H7311 my throne H3678 above H4605 the stars H3556 of God: H410 I will sit H3427 also upon the mount H2022 of the congregation, H4150 in the sides H3411 of the north: H6828 I will ascend H5927 above the heights H1116 of the clouds; H5645 I will be like H1819 the most High. H5945 Yet thou shalt be brought down H3381 to hell, H7585 to the sides H3411 of the pit. H953 They that see H7200 thee shall narrowly look H7688 upon thee, and consider H995 thee, saying, Is this the man H376 that made the earth H776 to tremble, H7264 that did shake H7493 kingdoms; H4467 That made H7760 the world H8398 as a wilderness, H4057 and destroyed H2040 the cities H5892 thereof; that opened H6605 not the house H1004 of his prisoners? H615 All the kings H4428 of the nations, H1471 even all of them, lie H7901 in glory, H3519 every one H376 in his own house. H1004 But thou art cast out H7993 of thy grave H6913 like an abominable H8581 branch, H5342 and as the raiment H3830 of those that are slain, H2026 thrust through H2944 with a sword, H2719 that go down H3381 to the stones H68 of the pit; H953 as a carcase H6297 trodden under feet. H947 Thou shalt not be joined H3161 with them in burial, H6900 because thou hast destroyed H7843 thy land, H776 and slain H2026 thy people: H5971 the seed H2233 of evildoers H7489 shall never H5769 be renowned. H7121
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 30
Commentary on Isaiah 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 30
Isa 30:1-32. The Thirtieth Through Thirty-second Chapters Refer Probably to the Summer of 714 B.C., AS THE Twenty-ninth Chapter to the Passover of That Year.
Jewish ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria (Isa 30:2-6, 15; 31:1). Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt rather than on Jehovah. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people (Ex 23:32; De 7:2).
1. take counsel—rather, as Isa 30:4, 6 imply, "execute counsels."
cover … covering—that is, wrap themselves in reliances disloyal towards Jehovah. "Cover" thus answers to "seek to hide deeply their counsel from the Lord" (Isa 29:15). But the Hebrew is literally, "who pour out libations"; as it was by these that leagues were made (Ex 24:8; Zec 9:11), translate, "who make a league."
not of—not suggested by My Spirit" (Nu 27:21; Jos 9:14).
that they may add—The consequence is here spoken of as their intention, so reckless were they of sinning: one sin entails the commission of another (De 29:19).
2. walk—are now setting out, namely, their ambassadors (Isa 30:4).
Egypt—See on Isa 19:1; Isa 20:1.
Pharaoh—the generic name of the kings of Egypt, as Cæsar was at Rome. The word in Egyptian means "king" [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.6,2]. Phra, "the sun," was the hieroglyphic symbol and title of the king.
shadow—image from shelter against heat: protection (Ps 121:5, 6).
3. shame—disappointment. Egypt, weakened by its internal dissensions, can give no solid help.
4. his—Judah's (compare Isa 9:21).
at Zoan—are already arrived there on their errand to Pharaoh (see Isa 19:11).
came to Hanes—are come there. West of the Nile, in central Egypt: Egyptian Hnes; the Greek Heracleopolis: perhaps the Anysis of Herodotus (2.137); according to Grotius, Tahpanhes contracted (Jer 43:7-9); the seat of a reigning prince at the time, as was Zoan, hence the Jewish ambassadors go to both.
5. (Jer 2:36.)
6. burden—the prophecy as to, &c. [Maurer]; so the Septuagint, the fresh inscription here marks emphatically the prediction that follows. Or, rather, Isaiah sees in vision, the ambassador's beasts burdened with rich presents travelling southwards (namely, to Egypt, Da 11:5, 6), and exclaims, Oh, the burden of treasure on the beasts! &c. (Ho 8:9; 12:1).
land of trouble—the desert between Palestine and Egypt, destitute of water and abounding in dangerous animals (De 8:15; Jer 2:6).
flying serpent—(Isa 14:29), a species which springs like a dart from trees, on its prey.
will carry—rather, present, "carry," namely, as presents to Egypt (1Ki 15:19).
young asses—rather, "full-grown asses" [Maurer].
7. "Egypt is vanity, and to no purpose will they help" [G. V. Smith].
strength—Hebrew, Rabah, a designation for Egypt (Isa 51:9; Ps 87:4), implying her haughty fierceness; translate, "Therefore I call her Arrogance that sitteth still." She who boasted of the help she would give, when it came to the test, sat still (Isa 36:6). English Version agrees with Isa 30:15; Isa 7:4.
8. table—a tablet (Hab 2:2), which should be set in public, containing the prophecy in a briefer form, to be read by all.
a book—namely, a parchment roll, containing the prophecy in full, for the use of distant posterity. Its truth will be seen hereafter when the event has come to pass. See on Isa 8:1; Isa 8:16.
for ever and ever—rather read, "For a testimony for ever" [Chaldee, Jerome, Lowth]: "testimony is often joined to the notion of perpetuity (De 31:19, 21, 26).
9. lying—unfaithful to Jehovah, whose covenant they had taken on them as His adopted children (Isa 59:13; Pr 30:9).
10. (Mic 2:6, 11; 3:5).
See not—as you now do, foretelling misfortune.
Prophesy not … right things—Not that they avowedly requested this, but their conduct virtually expressed it. No man, professedly, wished to be deceived; but many seek a kind of teaching which is deceit; and which, if they would examine, they might know to be such (1Ki 22:13). The Jews desired success to be foretold as the issue of their league with Egypt, though ill had been announced by God's prophet as the result; this constituted the "deceits."
11. Depart from the true "way" (so in Ac 19:9, 23) of religion.
cause … to cease—Let us hear no more of His name. God's holiness is what troubles sinners most.
12. Holy One—Isaiah so little yields to their wicked prejudices that he repeats the very name and truth which they disliked.
this word—Isaiah's exhortation to reliance on Jehovah.
oppression—whereby they levied the treasures to be sent to conciliate Egypt (Isa 30:6).
perverseness—in relying on Egypt, rather than on Jehovah.
13. Image from a curve swelling out in a wall (Ps 62:3); when the former gives way, it causes the downfall of the whole wall; so their policy as to Egypt.
14. he—the enemy; or rather, God (Ps 2:9; Jer 19:11).
It—the Jewish state.
potter's vessel—earthen and fragile.
sherd—a fragment of the vessel large enough to take up a live coal, &c.
pit—cistern or pool. The swell of the wall is at first imperceptible and gradual, but at last it comes to the crisis; so the decay of the Jewish state.
15. returning and rest—turning back from your embassy to Egypt, and ceasing from warlike preparations.
quietness—answering to "wait for Him (God)" (Isa 30:18).
16. flee—not as fugitives, but we will speed our course; namely, against the Assyrians, by the help of cavalry supplied by Egypt (Isa 31:1). This was expressly against the Mosaic law (De 17:16; see on Isa 2:7; Ho 14:3).
shall … flee—literally, "before your enemies"; their sin and its punishment correspond.
17. One thousand—A thousand at once, or, "As one man" [Maurer].
rebuke—the battle cry.
shall ye—at the rebuke of five shall ye, namely, all (in contrast to the "one thousand") flee so utterly that even two shall not be left together, but each one shall be as solitary "as a signal staff" [G. V. Smith], or "a banner on a hill" (Isa 5:26; 11:12). The signal staff was erected to rally a nation in war. The remnant of Jews left would be beacons to warn all men of the justice of God, and the truth of His threatenings. Gesenius (from Le 26:8; De 32:30) arbitrarily inserts "ten thousand." "At the rebuke of five shall ten thousand of you flee."
18. therefore—on account of your wicked perverseness (Isa 30:1, 2, 9, 15, 16), Jehovah will delay to be gracious [Horsley]. Rather, wait or delay in punishing, to give you time for repentance (Isa 30:13, 14, 17) [Maurer]. Or, "Yet therefore" (namely, because of the distress spoken of in the previous verses; that distress will lead the Jews to repentance, and so Jehovah will pity them) [Gesenius].
be exalted—Men will have more elevated views of God's mercy; or else, "He will rise up to pity you" [G. V. Smith]. Or (taking the previous clause as Maurer, "Therefore Jehovah will delay" in punishing you, "in order that He may be gracious to you," if ye repent), He will be far removed from you (so in Ps 10:5, far above out sight); that is, He will not immediately descend to punish, "in order that He may have mercy," &c.
judgment—justice; faithfulness to His covenant.
wait—compare Isa 30:15, wait, namely, for His times of having mercy.
19. (Isa 65:9). The restoration from Babylon only typifies the full accomplishment of the prophecy (Isa 30:18-33).
weep no more—(Isa 25:8).
thy cry—(Isa 26:8, 9; Jer 29:12-14).
20. Rather, "The Lord will give"; the "though" is not in the original.
bread of adversity—He will not deny you food enough to save you in your adversity (1Ki 22:27; Ps 127:2).
be removed—rather, "hide themselves"; they shall no more be forced to hide themselves from persecution, but shall be openly received with reverence [Maurer]. Contrast with this Ps 74:9; Am 8:11.
21. word—conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit (Joh 16:13).
22. covering of … images—rather, "images" (formed of wood or potter's clay, and) "covered with silver." Hezekiah, and afterwards Josiah, defiled them (2Ki 23:8, 10, 14, 16; 2Ch 31:1; compare Isa 2:20; De 7:25).
23. rain of—rather, "for thy seed." Physical prosperity accompanies national piety; especially under the Old Testament. The early rain fell soon after the seed was sown in October or November; the latter rain in the spring, before the ripening of the corn. Both were needed for a good harvest.
increase—the produce.
fat—bread made of the best wheat flour (compare Ge 49:20; De 32:14).
24. ear—that is, till. Asses were employed in tillage, as well as oxen (De 22:10).
clean—rather, salted provender [Gesenius]. The Arab proverb is, "Sweet provender is as bread to camels—salted provender as confectionery." The very cattle shall share the coming felicity. Or else, well-fermented maslin, that is, provender formed of a mixture of various substances: grain, beans, vetches, hay, and salt.
winnowed—not as it is usually given to cattle before it is separated from the chaff; the grain shall be so abundant that it shall be given winnowed.
shovel—by which the grain was thrown up in the wind to separate it from the chaff.
fan—an instrument for winnowing.
25. Even the otherwise barren hills shall then be well-watered (Isa 44:3).
the day, &c.—when the disobedient among the Jews shall have been slain, as foretold in Isa 30:16: "towers," that is, mighty men (Isa 2:15). Or else, the towers of the Assyrian Sennacherib, or of Babylon, types of all enemies of God's people.
26. Image from the heavenly bodies to express the increase of spiritual light and felicity. "Sevenfold" implies the perfection of that felicity, seven being the sacred number. It shall also be literally fulfilled hereafter in the heavenly city (Isa 60:19, 20; Re 21:23, 24; 22:5).
breach—the wound, or calamity, sent by God on account of their sins (Isa 1:5).
27. name of … Lord—that is, Jehovah Himself (Ps 44:5; 54:1); represented as a storm approaching and ready to burst over the Assyrians (Isa 30:30, 31).
burden … is heavy—literally, "grievousness is the flame," that is, the flame which darts from Him is grievous. Or else (as the Hebrew means an "uplifting") the uprising cloud is grievous [G. V. Smith]; the gathering cloud gradually rising till it bursts.
28. (Isa 11:4; 2Th 2:8).
reach … neck—the most extreme danger; yet as the head, or capital of Judah, was to be spared (Isa 8:8), so the head, or sovereign of Assyria, Sennacherib, should escape.
sieve of vanity—Rather, "the winnowing fan of destruction" [Lowth] (Isa 41:16).
bridle in … jaws—as prisoners are represented in the Assyrian inscriptions (Isa 37:29).
causing … to err—(Isa 63:17). "People," Hebrew, "peoples," namely, the various races composing the Assyrian armies (Isa 5:26).
29. the night … solemnity—As in the passover night ye celebrate your deliverance from Egypt, so shall ye celebrate your rescue from Assyrian bondage. Translate, "the solemnity" (Ex 12:42).
goeth with a pipe—or flute. They used to go up to Jerusalem ("the mountain of the Lord," Zion) at the three feasts with music and gladness (De 16:16; Ezr 2:65; Ps 122:1-4).
30. Jehovah's "glorious voice," raised against the enemy (Isa 30:27), is again mentioned here, in contrast to the music (Isa 30:29) with which His people shall come to worship Him.
lighting down of … arm—(Isa 30:32; Ps 38:2). The descent of His arm in striking.
scattering—namely, a blast that scatters, or an "inundation" [Maurer].
31. The Assyrian rod which beat shall itself be beaten, and that by the mere voice of the Lord, that is, an unseen divine agency (Isa 10:5, 24).
32. grounded—rather, "decreed," "appointed" [Maurer].
staff—the avenging rod.
him—the Assyrian; type of all God's enemies in every age. Margin and Maurer construe, "Every passing through (infliction, Isa 28:15) of the appointed rod, which, &c., shall be with tabrets," that is, accompanied with joy on the part of the rescued peoples.
battles of shaking—that is, shock of battles (Isa 19:16; compare "sift … sieve," Isa 30:28).
with it—namely, Assyria.
33. Tophet—literally, "A place of abomination"; the valley of the sons of Hinnom, southeast of Jerusalem, where Israel offered human sacrifices to Moloch by fire; hence a place of burning (2Ki 23:10; Jer 7:31). Latterly Gehinnom or Gehenna, that is, valley of Hinnom, was the receptacle of the refuse of the city, to consume which fires were constantly burning. Hence it came to express hell, the place of torment. In the former sense it was a fit place to symbolize the funeral pyre of the Assyrian army (not that it actually perished there); the Hebrews did not burn, but buried their dead, but the heathen Assyrians are to be burnt as a mark of ignominy. In the latter sense Tophet is the receptacle "prepared for the devil (antitype to the king, Isa 14:12-15) and his angels," and unbelieving men (Mt 5:22; 25:41; Mr 9:43, 44).