Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. The wolf also shall, &c. "Then shall the wolf," &c.] The idea of the renewal of the golden age, as it is called, is much the same in the Oriental writers with that of the Greeks and Romans: - the wild beasts grow tame; serpents and poisonous herbs become harmless; all is peace and harmony, plenty and happiness:- Occidet et serpens, et fallax herba veneni Occidet. Vega. Eclog. iv. 24.
"The serpent's brood shall die. The sacred ground Shall weeds and noxious plants refuse to bear." - Nec magnos metuent armenta leones. VIRG. Eclog. iv. 22.
"Nor shall the flocks fear the great lions." Non lupus insidias explorat ovilia circum, Nec gregibus nocturnus obambulat: acrior illum Cura domat: timidae damae cervique fugaces Nunc interque canes, et circum tecta vagantur. VIRG. Georg. iii. 537.
"The nightly wolf that round the enclosure prowled, To leap the fence, now plots not on the fold: Tamed with a sharper pain, the fearful doe And flying stag amidst the greyhounds go; And round the dwellings roam, of man, their former foe." DRYDEN.
Nec vespertinus circumgemit ursus ovile, Nec intumescit alta viperis humus. HOR. Epod. xvi. 51.
"Nor evening bears the sheepfold growl around, Nor mining vipers heave the tainted ground." DRYDEN.
estai dh toutÆ amar, ophnika nebron en euna karcarodwn dinesqai idwn lukov ouk eqelhsei. THEOC. Idyl. xxiv. 84.
There shall be a time when the ravenous wolf shall see the kid lying at ease, and shall feel no desire to do it an injury.
I have laid before the reader these common passages from the most elegant of the ancient poets, that he may see how greatly the prophet on the same subject has the advantage upon the comparison; how much the former fall short of that beauty and elegance, and variety of imagery, with which Isaiah has set forth the very same ideas. The wolf and the leopard not only forbear to destroy the lamb and the kid, but even take their abode and lie down together with them. The calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, not only come together, but are led quietly in the same band, and that by a little child. The heifer and the she-bear not only feed together, but even lodge their young ones, for whom they used to be most jealously fearful, in the same place. All the serpent kind is so perfectly harmless, that the sucking infant and the newly weaned child puts his hand on the basilisk's den, and plays upon the hole of the aspic. The lion not only abstains from preying on the weaker animals, but becomes tame and domestic, and feeds on straw like the ox. These are all beautiful circumstances, not one of which has been touched upon by the ancient poets. The Arabian and Persian poets elegantly apply the same ideas to show the effects of justice impartially administered, and firmly supported, by a great and good king:- "Mahmoud the powerful king, the ruler of the world, To whose tank the wolf and the lamb come, together to drink." FERDUSI.
"Through the influence of righteousness, the hungry wolf Becomes mild, though in the presence of the white kid." IBN ONEIN.JONES, Poes. Asiat. Comment., p. 380.
The application is extremely ingenious and beautiful: but the exquisite imagery of Isaiah is not equalled.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Woes against proud oppressors. (Is. 10:1-4) The Assyrian but a instrument in the hand of God for the punishment of his people. (Is 10:5-19) The deliverance from him. (Is. 10:20-34)
Is. 10:1-4 These verses are to be joined with the foregoing chapter Woe to the superior powers that devise and decree unrighteous decrees And woe to the inferior officers that draw them up, and enter them of record! But what will sinners do? Whither will they flee?
Is. 10:5-19 See what a change sin made. The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought to act by his own will. The tyrants of the world ar tools of Providence. God designs to correct his people for their hypocrisy, and bring them nearer to him; but is that Sennacherib' design? No; he designs to gratify his own covetousness and ambition The Assyrian boasts what great things he has done to other nations, by his own policy and power. He knows not that it is God who makes his what he is, and puts the staff into his hand. He had done all this with ease; none moved the wing, or cried as birds do when their nests ar rifled. Because he conquered Samaria, he thinks Jerusalem would fall of course. It was lamentable that Jerusalem should have set up grave images, and we cannot wonder that she was excelled in them by the heathen. But is it not equally foolish for Christians to emulate the people of the world in vanities, instead of keeping to things which ar their special honour? For a tool to boast, or to strive against his that formed it, would not be more out of the way, than for Sennacheri to vaunt himself against Jehovah. When God brings his people int trouble, it is to bring sin to their remembrance, and humble them, an to awaken them to a sense of their duty; this must be the fruit, eve the taking away of sin. When these points are gained by the affliction it shall be removed in mercy. This attempt upon Zion and Jerusale should come to nothing. God will be as a fire to consume the workers of iniquity, both soul and body. The desolation should be as when standard-bearer fainteth, and those who follow are put to confusion Who is able to stand before this great and holy Lord God?
Is. 10:20-34 By our afflictions we may learn not to make creatures ou confidence. Those only can with comfort stay upon God, who return to him in truth, not in pretence and profession only. God will justl bring this wasting away on a provoking people, but will graciously se bounds to it. It is against the mind and will of God, that his people whatever happens, should give way to fear. God's anger against his people is but for a moment; and when that is turned from us, we nee not fear the fury of man. The rod with which he corrected his people shall not only be laid aside, but thrown into the fire. To encourag God's people, the prophet puts them in mind of what God had formerl done against the enemies of his church. God's people shall be delivere from the Assyrians. Some think it looks to the deliverance of the Jew out of their captivity; and further yet, to the redemption of believer from the tyranny of sin and Satan. And this, "because of the anointing;" for his people Israel's sake, the believers among them tha had received the unction of Divine grace. And for the sake of the Messiah, the Anointed of God. Here is, Is. 10:28-34, a prophetica description of Sennacherib's march towards Jerusalem, when he threatened to destroy that city. Then the Lord, in whom Hezekia trusted, cut down his army like the hewing of a forest. Let us appl what is here written, to like matters in other ages of the church of Christ. Because of the anointing of our great Redeemer, the yoke of every antichrist must be broken from off his church: and if our soul partake of the unction of the Holy Spirit, complete and eterna deliverances will be secured to us _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וגר1481 זאב2061 עם5973 כבשׂ3532 ונמר5246 עם5973 גדי1423 ירבץ7257 ועגל5695 וכפיר3715 ומריא4806 יחדו3162 ונער5288 קטן6996 נהג׃5090
