---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 30"
description: "CHAPTER 30   :-. THE THIRTIETH
THROUGH THIRTY-SECOND
CHAPTERS REFER
PROBABLY TO THE SUMMER
OF 714 B.C., AS THE
TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER
TO THE PASSOVER OF
THA"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/30"
---

CHAPTER 30

. 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 ([Isaiah 30:2-6](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/2-6);
[Isaiah 30:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/15); [Isaiah 31:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/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
([Exodus 23:32](../../../kjv/exodus/23/32); [Deuteronomy 7:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/2)).

**1. take counsel**—rather, as
[Isaiah 30:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/4); [Isaiah 30:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/6)
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" ([Isaiah 29:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/15)). But
the *Hebrew* is literally, "who pour out libations";
as it was by these that *leagues* were made ([Exodus 24:8](../../../kjv/exodus/24/8);
[Zechariah 9:11](../../../kjv/zechariah/9/11)), translate, "who
make a league."
**not of**—not suggested by
My Spirit" ([Numbers 27:21](../../../kjv/numbers/27/21);
[Joshua 9:14](../../../kjv/joshua/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 ([Deuteronomy 29:19](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/19)).

**2. walk**—are now setting out,
namely, their ambassadors ().
**Egypt**—See on ; [Isaiah 30:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/2).
**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* ([Psalms 121:5](../../../kjv/psalms/121/5);
[Psalms 121:6](../../../kjv/psalms/121/6)).

**3. shame**—disappointment.
Egypt, weakened by its internal dissensions, can give no solid help.

**4. his**—Judah's (compare ).
**at Zoan**—are already
arrived there on their errand to Pharaoh (see ).
**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 (); the seat of a reigning prince at the time, as was Zoan,
hence the Jewish ambassadors go to both.

**5.** (.)

**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, [Daniel 11:5](../../../kjv/daniel/11/5);
[Daniel 11:6](../../../kjv/daniel/11/6)), and exclaims, Oh, the
*burden of treasure* on the beasts! c. ([Hosea 8:9](../../../kjv/hosea/8/9)
[Hosea 12:1](../../../kjv/hosea/12/1)).
**land of trouble**—the
desert between Palestine and Egypt, destitute of water and abounding
in dangerous animals ([Deuteronomy 8:15](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/8/15);
[Jeremiah 2:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/6)).
**flying serpent**— ([Jeremiah 2:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/6)), a species which springs like a dart from trees, on its
prey.
**will carry**—rather,
present, "carry," namely, as presents to Egypt ([Jeremiah 2:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/6)).
**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 ([Isaiah 51:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/9);
[Psalms 87:4](../../../kjv/psalms/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 ([Psalms 87:4](../../../kjv/psalms/87/4)). *English Version* agrees with [Isaiah 30:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/15);
[Isaiah 7:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/4).

**8. table**—a tablet (), 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 [Isaiah 8:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/1);
[Isaiah 8:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/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*
([Deuteronomy 31:19](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/31/19); [Deuteronomy 31:21](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/31/21);
[Deuteronomy 31:26](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/31/26)).

**9. lying**—unfaithful to
Jehovah, whose covenant they had taken on them as His adopted
*children* ([Isaiah 59:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/13);
[Proverbs 30:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/9)).

**10.** ([Micah 2:6](../../../kjv/micah/2/6);
[Micah 2:11](../../../kjv/micah/2/11); [Micah 3:5](../../../kjv/micah/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 ([Micah 3:5](../../../kjv/micah/3/5)). 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 [Acts 19:9](../../../kjv/acts/19/9); [Acts 19:23](../../../kjv/acts/19/23))
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 ().
**perverseness**—in relying
on Egypt, rather than on Jehovah.

**13.** Image from a curve swelling
out in a wall ([Psalms 62:3](../../../kjv/psalms/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 ([Psalms 2:9](../../../kjv/psalms/2/9); [Jeremiah 19:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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)" ().

**16. flee**—not as fugitives, but
we will *speed* our course; namely, against the Assyrians, by
the help of cavalry supplied by Egypt (). This was expressly against the Mosaic law (; see on [Isaiah 2:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/7); [Isaiah 2:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/7)).
**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*" ([Isaiah 5:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/26);
[Isaiah 11:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/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 [Leviticus 26:8](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/8); [Deuteronomy 32:30](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/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 ([Isaiah 30:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/1);
[Isaiah 30:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/2); [Isaiah 30:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/9);
[Isaiah 30:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/15); [Isaiah 30:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/16)),
Jehovah will *delay* to be gracious [HORSLEY].
Rather, *wait* or *delay* in punishing, to give you time
for repentance ([Isaiah 30:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/13);
[Isaiah 30:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/14); [Isaiah 30:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/17))
[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 [Isaiah 30:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/17), *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 [Isaiah 30:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/17), wait, namely, for His times of having mercy.

**19.** (). The restoration from Babylon only typifies the *full*
accomplishment of the prophecy ().
**weep no more**— ().
**thy cry**— ([Isaiah 26:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/8);
[Isaiah 26:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/9); [Jeremiah 29:12-14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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 ([1 Kings 22:27](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/27);
[Psalms 127:2](../../../kjv/psalms/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 [Psalms 74:9](../../../kjv/psalms/74/9);
[Amos 8:11](../../../kjv/amos/8/11).

**21. word**—conscience, guided by
the Holy Spirit ([John 16:13](../../../kjv/john/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
([2 Kings 23:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/8); [2 Kings 23:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/10);
[2 Kings 23:14](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/14); [2 Kings 23:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/16);
[2 Chronicles 31:1](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/31/1); compare [Isaiah 2:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/20);
[Deuteronomy 7:25](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/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 [Genesis 49:20](../../../kjv/genesis/49/20);
[Deuteronomy 32:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/14)).

**24. ear**—that is, till. Asses
were employed in tillage, as well as oxen ().
**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 ().
**the day,** &c.—when
the disobedient among *the Jews* shall have been slain, as
foretold in [Isaiah 30:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/16):
"towers," that is, mighty men ([Isaiah 30:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/16)). 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 ([Isaiah 60:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/19);
[Isaiah 60:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/20); [Revelation 21:23](../../../kjv/revelation/21/23);
[Revelation 21:24](../../../kjv/revelation/21/24); [Revelation 22:5](../../../kjv/revelation/22/5)).
**breach**—the wound, or
calamity, sent by God on account of their sins ([Revelation 22:5](../../../kjv/revelation/22/5)).

**27. name of . . . Lord**—that
is, Jehovah Himself ([Psalms 44:5](../../../kjv/psalms/44/5);
[Psalms 54:1](../../../kjv/psalms/54/1)); represented as a storm
approaching and ready to burst over the Assyrians ([Isaiah 30:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/30);
[Isaiah 30:31](../../../kjv/isaiah/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.** ([Isaiah 11:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/4);
[2 Thessalonians 2:8](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/2/8)).
**reach . . . neck**—the
most extreme danger; yet as the *head,* or capital of Judah, was
to be spared ([Isaiah 8:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/8)), so the
head, or sovereign of Assyria, Sennacherib, should escape.
**sieve of vanity**—Rather,
"the winnowing fan of destruction" [LOWTH]
([Isaiah 41:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/16)).
**bridle in . . . jaws**—as
prisoners are represented in the Assyrian inscriptions ([Isaiah 41:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/16)).
**causing . . . to err**—
([Isaiah 63:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/17)). "People,"
*Hebrew,* "peoples," namely, the various races
composing the Assyrian armies ([Isaiah 63:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/17)).

**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" ([Exodus 12:42](../../../kjv/exodus/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
([Deuteronomy 16:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/16/16); [Ezra 2:65](../../../kjv/ezra/2/65);
[Psalms 122:1-4](../../../kjv/psalms/122/1-4)).

**30.** Jehovah's "glorious
voice," raised against the enemy (), is again mentioned here, in contrast to the music () with which His people shall come to worship Him.
**lighting down of . . . arm**—
([Isaiah 30:32](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/32); [Psalms 38:2](../../../kjv/psalms/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 ([Isaiah 10:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/5);
[Isaiah 10:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/24)).

**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, ) 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 ([Isaiah 19:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/16)
compare "sift . . . sieve," [Isaiah 19:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/16)).
**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 ([2 Kings 23:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/10);
[Jeremiah 7:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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, [Jeremiah 7:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/31)) and his angels," and unbelieving men ([Matthew 5:22](../../../kjv/matthew/5/22);
[Matthew 25:41](../../../kjv/matthew/25/41); [Mark 9:43](../../../kjv/mark/9/43);
[Mark 9:44](../../../kjv/mark/9/44)).

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