Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Art-gone up to the house-tops "Are gone up to the house-tops"] The houses in the east were in ancient times, as they are still, generally, built in one and the same uniform manner. The roof or top of the house is always flat, covered with broad stones, or a strong plaster of terrace, and guarded on every side with a low parapet wall; see Deuteronomy xxii. 8. The terrace is frequented as much as any part of the house. On this, as the season favours, they walk, they eat, they sleep, they transact business, (1 Sam. ix. 25, see also the Septuagint in that place,) they perform their devotions Acts x. 9. The house is built with a court within, into which chiefly the windows open: those that open to the street are so obstructed with lattice-work that no one either without or within can see through them. Whenever, therefore, any thing is to be seen or heard in the streets, any public spectacle, any alarm of a public nature, every one immediately goes up to the house-top to satisfy his curiosity. In the same manner, when any one has occasion to make any thing public, the readiest and most effectual way of doing it is to proclaim it from the house-tops to the people in the streets. "What ye hear in the ear, that publish ye on the house-top, "saith our saviour, Matthew x. 27. The people running all to the tops of their houses gives a lively image of a sudden general alarm. Sir John Chardin's MS. note on this place is as follows: "Dans les festes pour voir passer quelque chose, et dans les maladies pour les annoncer aux voisins en allumant des lumieres, le peuple monte sur les terrasses. "In festivals, in order to see what is going forward, and in times of sickness, in order to indicate them to neighbours by lighting of candles, the people go up to the house-tops."
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The taking of Babylon. (Is. 21:1-10) Of the Edomites. (Is. 21:11,12) O the Arabs. (Is. 21:13-17)
Is. 21:1-10 Babylon was a flat country, abundantly watered. The destruction of Babylon, so often prophesied of by Isaiah, was typica of the destruction of the great foe of the New Testament church foretold in the Revelation. To the poor oppressed captives it would be welcome news; to the proud oppressors it would be grievous. Let thi check vain mirth and sensual pleasures, that we know not in what heaviness the mirth may end. Here is the alarm given to Babylon, when forced by Cyrus. An ass and a camel seem to be the symbols of the Mede and Persians. Babylon's idols shall be so far from protecting her, tha they shall be broken down. True believers are the corn of God's floor hypocrites are but as chaff and straw, with which the wheat is no mixed, but from which it shall be separated. The corn of God's floo must expect to be threshed by afflictions and persecutions. God' Israel of old was afflicted. Even then God owns it is his still. In all events concerning the church, past, present, and to come, we must loo to God, who has power to do any thing for his church, and grace to d every thing that is for her good.
Is. 21:11,12 God's prophets and ministers are as watchmen in the cit in a time of peace, to see that all is safe. As watchmen in the camp i time of war, to warn of the motions of the enemy. After a long sleep i sin and security, it is time to rise, to awake out of sleep. We have great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; it is time to be stirring. After a long dark night is there any hope of the day dawning What tidings of the night? What happens to-night? We must never be secure. But many make curious inquiries of the watchmen. They woul willingly have nice questions solved, or difficult prophecie interpreted; but they do not seek into the state of their own souls about the way of salvation, and the path of duty. The watchman answer by way of prophecy. There comes first a morning of light, and peace and opportunity; but afterward comes a night of trouble and calamity If there be a morning of youth and health, there will come a night of sickness and old age; if a morning of prosperity in the family, in the public, yet we must look for changes. It is our wisdom to improve the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it Inquire, return, come. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is n time to trifle. Those that return and come to God, will find they have a great deal of work to do, and but little time to do it in.
Is. 21:13-17 The Arabians lived in tents, and kept cattle. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, and make them an easy prey. We know not what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those may know the want of necessary food who now eat bread to the full. Neither the skill of archers, nor the courage of mighty men, can protect from the judgments of God. That is poor glory, which will thus quickly come to nothing. Thus hath the Lord said to me; and no word of his shall fal to the ground. We may be sure the Strength of Israel will not lie Happy are those only whose riches and glory are out of the reach of invaders; all other prosperity will speedily pass away _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew משׂא4853 גיא1516 חזיון2384 מה4100 לך אפוא645 כי3588 עלית5927 כלך3605 לגגות׃1406
