---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 29"
description: "CHAPTER 29   :-. COMING
INVASION OF JERUSALEM:
ITS FAILURE:
UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS. This chapter opens the series of
prophecies as to the invasion of Judea"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29"
---

CHAPTER 29

. COMING
INVASION OF JERUSALEM:
ITS FAILURE:
UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS.
This chapter opens the series of
prophecies as to the invasion of Judea under Sennacherib, and its
deliverance.

**1. Ariel**—Jerusalem; Ariel
means "Lion of God," that is, city rendered by God
invincible: the lion is emblem of a mighty hero (). Otherwise "Hearth of God," that is, place where
the altar-fire continually burns to God ([Isaiah 31:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/9);
[Ezekiel 43:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/43/15); [Ezekiel 43:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/43/16)).
**add . . . year to
year**—ironically; suffer one year after another to glide on in
the round of formal, heartless "sacrifices." Rather, "add
yet another year" to the one just closed [MAURER].
Let a year elapse and a little more ([Ezekiel 43:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/43/16), *Margin*).
**let . . . kill
sacrifices**—rather, "let the beasts (of another year) go
round" [MAURER]; that
is, after the completion of a year "I will distress Ariel."

**2. Yet**—rather, "Then."
**heaviness . . .
sorrow**—rather, preserving the *Hebrew* paronomasia,
"groaning" and "moaning."
**as Ariel**—either, "the
city shall be as *a lion of God,*" that is, it shall emerge
from its dangers unvanquished; or "it shall be as the *altar
of burnt offering,*" consuming with fire the besiegers
([Isaiah 29:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/6); [Isaiah 30:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/30);
[Isaiah 31:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/9); [Leviticus 10:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/2));
or best, as [Isaiah 29:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/3) continues
the *threat,* and the promise of *deliverance* does not
come till [Isaiah 29:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/4), "it
shall be like a hearth of burning," that is, a scene of
devastation by fire [G. V. SMITH].
The prophecy, probably, contemplates *ultimately,* besides the
affliction and deliverance in Sennacherib's time, the destruction of
Jerusalem by Rome, the dispersion of the Jews, their restoration, the
destruction of the enemies that besiege the city ([Isaiah 29:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/4)), and the final glory of Israel ([Isaiah 29:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/4)).

**3. I**—*Jehovah,* acting
through the Assyrian, c., His instruments ().
**mount**—an artificial
*mound* formed to out-top high walls () else *a station,* namely, of warriors, for the siege.
**round about**—not *fully*
realized under Sennacherib, but in the Roman siege ([Luke 19:43](../../../kjv/luke/19/43);
[Luke 21:20](../../../kjv/luke/21/20)).
**forts**—siege-towers ([Luke 21:20](../../../kjv/luke/21/20)).

**4.** Jerusalem shall be as a
captive, humbled to the dust. Her voice shall come from the earth as
that of the spirit-charmers or necromancers (), faint and shrill, as the voice of the dead was supposed to
be. Ventriloquism was doubtless the trick caused to make the voice
appear to come from the earth (). An appropriate retribution that Jerusalem, which consulted
necromancers, should be made like them!

**5. Moreover**—rather, "Yet";
yet in this extremity help shall come, and the enemy be scattered.
**strangers**—foreign
enemies, invaders ([Isaiah 25:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/25/2)).
**it shall be**—namely, the
destruction of the enemy.
**at an instant**—in a
moment ([Isaiah 30:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/23)).

**6. Thou**—the Assyrian army.
**thunder,** c.—not
literally, in the case of the Assyrians () but figuratively for an awful judgment ([Isaiah 30:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/30);
[Isaiah 28:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/17)). The ulterior
fulfilment, in the case of the Jews' foes in the last days, may be
more literal (see as to "earthquake," [Isaiah 28:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/17)).

**7. munition**—fortress.

**8.** Their disappointment in the
very height of their confident expectation of taking Jerusalem shall
be as great as that of the hungry man who in a dream fancies he eats,
but awakes to hunger still (); their dream shall be dissipated on the fatal morning ().
**soul**—simply *his
appetite:* he is still thirsty.

**9. Stay**—rather, "Be
astounded"; expressing the stupid and amazed incredulity with
which the Jews received Isaiah's announcement.
**wonder**—The second
imperative, as often ([Isaiah 8:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/9)),
is a threat; the first is a simple declaration of a fact, "Be
astounded, since you choose to be so, at the prophecy, soon *you
will be amazed* at the sight of the actual event" [MAURER].
**cry . . . out . . .
cry**—rather, "Be ye blinded (since you choose to be so,
though the light shines all round you), and soon ye shall be blinded"
in good earnest to your sorrow [MAURER],
([Isaiah 6:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/9); [Isaiah 6:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/10)).
**not with wine**—but with
spiritual paralysis ([Isaiah 51:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/17);
[Isaiah 51:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/21)).
**ye . . . they**—The
change from speaking *to,* to speaking *of* them, intimates
that the prophet turns away from them to a greater distance, because
of their stupid unbelief.

**10.** Jehovah gives them up
judicially to their own hardness of heart (compare ). Quoted by Paul, with variations from the *Septuagint,*
[Romans 11:8](../../../kjv/romans/11/8). See [Isaiah 6:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/10);
[Psalms 69:23](../../../kjv/psalms/69/23).
**eyes; the prophets,**
c.—rather, "hath closed your eyes, the prophets and your heads
(*Margin;* see also [Isaiah 3:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/2)),
the seers, He hath covered." The Orientals cover the head to
sleep; thus "covered" is parallel to "closed your
eyes" ([Judges 4:19](../../../kjv/judges/4/19)). Covering
the face was also preparatory to execution ([Judges 4:19](../../../kjv/judges/4/19)). This cannot apply to the time when Isaiah himself
prophesied, but to subsequent times.

**11. of all**—rather, "*the
whole* vision." "Vision" is the same here as
"revelation," or "law"; in , the same *Hebrew* word is translated, "covenant"
[MAURER].
**sealed**— (), God seals up the truth so that even the learned, because
they lack believing docility, cannot discern it ([Matthew 13:10-17](../../../kjv/matthew/13/10-17);
[Matthew 11:25](../../../kjv/matthew/11/25)). Prophecy remained
comparatively a *sealed* volume ([Daniel 12:4](../../../kjv/daniel/12/4);
[Daniel 12:9](../../../kjv/daniel/12/9)), until Jesus, who
"alone is worthy," "opened the seals" ([Revelation 5:1-5](../../../kjv/revelation/5/1-5);
[Revelation 5:9](../../../kjv/revelation/5/9); [Revelation 6:1](../../../kjv/revelation/6/1)).

**12.** The unlearned succeed no
better than the learned, not from want of human learning, as they
fancy, but from not having the teaching of God ([Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13);
[Jeremiah 31:34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/34); [John 6:45](../../../kjv/john/6/45);
[1 Corinthians 2:7-10](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/2/7-10); [1 John 2:20](../../../kjv/1-john/2/20)).

**13. precept of men**—instead of
the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external,
and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires (). Compare Christ's quotation of this verse from the
*Septuagint.*

**14.** ([Habakkuk 1:5](../../../kjv/habakkuk/1/5);
[Acts 13:41](../../../kjv/acts/13/41)). The "*marvellous*
work" is one of *unparalleled* vengeance on the hypocrites:
compare "*strange* work," [Acts 13:41](../../../kjv/acts/13/41). The judgment, too, will visit the wise in that respect in
which they most pride themselves; their *wisdom* shall be hid,
that is, shall no longer appear, so as to help the nation in its
distress (compare [1 Corinthians 1:19](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/1/19)).

**15. seek deep to hide**—rather,
"That seek to hide deeply," c. (compare [Isaiah 30:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/1)
[Isaiah 30:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/2)). The reference is to
the *secret* plan which many of the Jewish nobles had of seeking
Egyptian aid against Assyria, contrary to the advice of Isaiah. At
the same time the hypocrite in general is described, who, under a
plausible exterior, tries to hide his real character, not only from
men, but even from God.

**16.** Rather, "Ah! your
perverseness! just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay!"
[MAURER]. Or, "Ye
invert (turn upside down) the order of things, putting yourselves
instead of God," and vice versa, just as if the potter should be
esteemed as the clay [HORSLEY],
([Isaiah 45:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/9); [Isaiah 64:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/64/8)).

**17. turned**—as contrasted with
*your* "turnings of things upside down" (), there shall be other and better *turnings* or
revolutions; the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days (); first on the Jews; which shall be followed by their
national restoration (see on ; ) then on the
Gentiles ([Joel 2:28](../../../kjv/joel/2/28)).
**fruitful field**—literally,
"a Carmel" (see on [Joel 2:28](../../../kjv/joel/2/28)). The moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great
as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful field, and vice
versa. Compare [Matthew 11:12](../../../kjv/matthew/11/12),
*Greek:* "the kingdom of heaven *forces itself,*"
as it were, on man's acceptance; instead of men having to seek
Messiah, as they had John, in a *desert,* He presents Himself
before them with loving invitations; thus men's hearts, once a moral
desert, are reclaimed so as to bear fruits of righteousness: vice
versa, the ungodly who seemed prosperous, both in the moral and
literal sense, shall be exhibited in their real barrenness.

**18. deaf . . . blind**—(Compare
[Matthew 11:5](../../../kjv/matthew/11/5)). The spiritually
blind, c., are chiefly meant "the book," as Revelation is
called pre-eminently, shall be no longer "sealed," as is
described ([Isaiah 29:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/11)), but the
most unintelligent shall hear and see ([Isaiah 29:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/11)).

**19. meek**—rather, *the
afflicted* godly: the idea is, *virtuous suffering* ([Isaiah 61:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/1);
[Psalms 25:9](../../../kjv/psalms/25/9); [Psalms 37:11](../../../kjv/psalms/37/11))
[BARNES].
**poor among men**—that is,
the poorest of men, namely, the pious poor.
**rejoice**—when they see
their oppressors punished ([Isaiah 29:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/20);
[Isaiah 29:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/21)), and Jehovah exhibited
as their protector and rewarder ([Isaiah 29:22-24](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/22-24);
[Isaiah 41:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/17); [James 2:5](../../../kjv/james/2/5)).

**20. terrible**—namely, the
persecutors among the Jewish nobles.
**scorner**— ([Isaiah 28:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/14);
[Isaiah 28:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/22)).
**watch for**—not only
commit iniquity, but watch for opportunities of committing it, and
make it their whole study (see [Micah 2:1](../../../kjv/micah/2/1);
[Matthew 26:59](../../../kjv/matthew/26/59); [Matthew 27:1](../../../kjv/matthew/27/1)).

**21.** Rather, "Who make a man
guilty in his *cause*" [GESENIUS],
that is, unjustly condemn him. "A man" is in the *Hebrew
a poor man,* upon whom such unjust condemnations might be
practiced with more impunity than on the rich; compare , "the meek . . . the poor."
**him that reproveth**—rather,
"pleadeth"; one who has a suit at issue.
**gate**—the place of
concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held ([Ruth 4:11](../../../kjv/ruth/4/11);
[Proverbs 31:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/31/23); [Amos 5:10](../../../kjv/amos/5/10);
[Amos 5:12](../../../kjv/amos/5/12)).
**just**—one who has a just
cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" [HORSLEY].
**for a thing of naught**—rather,
"through falsehood," "by a decision that is null in
justice" [BARNES].
Compare as to Christ, [Proverbs 28:21](../../../kjv/proverbs/28/21);
[Matthew 26:15](../../../kjv/matthew/26/15); [Acts 3:13](../../../kjv/acts/3/13);
[Acts 3:14](../../../kjv/acts/3/14); [Acts 8:33](../../../kjv/acts/8/33).

**22.** Join "saith . . .
concerning the house of Jacob."
**redeemed**—out of Ur, a
land of idolaters ([Joshua 24:3](../../../kjv/joshua/24/3)).
**not now**—After the moral
revolution described ([Isaiah 29:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/17)),
the children of Jacob shall no longer give cause to their forefathers
to blush for them.
**wax pale**—with shame and
disappointment at the wicked degeneracy of his posterity, and fear as
to their punishment.

**23. But**—rather, "For."
**he**—Jacob.
**work of mine
hands**—spiritually, as well as physically ([Isaiah 19:25](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/25);
[Isaiah 60:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/21); [Ephesians 2:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/10)).
By Jehovah's agency Israel shall be cleansed of its corruptions, and
shall consist wholly of pious men ([Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13);
[Isaiah 54:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/14); [Isaiah 2:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/1);
[Isaiah 60:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/21)).
**midst of him**—that is,
his land. Or else "His children" are the *Gentiles
adopted among the Israelites, his lineal descendants* ([Romans 9:26](../../../kjv/romans/9/26);
[Ephesians 3:6](../../../kjv/ephesians/3/6)) [HORSLEY].

**24. They . . . that erred**—
([Isaiah 28:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/7)).
**learn doctrine**—rather,
"shall receive discipline" or "instruction."
"Murmuring" was the characteristic of Israel's rebellion
against God ([Exodus 16:8](../../../kjv/exodus/16/8); [Psalms 106:25](../../../kjv/psalms/106/25)).
This shall be so no more. Chastisements, and, in HORSLEY'S
view, the piety of the Gentiles provoking the Jews to holy jealousy
([Romans 11:11](../../../kjv/romans/11/11); [Romans 11:14](../../../kjv/romans/11/14)),
shall then produce the desired effect.

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