---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 34"
description: "CHAPTER 34   :-. JUDGMENT ON
IDUMEA. The thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth
chapters form one prophecy, the former part of which denounces God"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/34"
---

CHAPTER 34

. JUDGMENT ON
IDUMEA.
The thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth
chapters form one prophecy, the former part of which denounces God's
judgment against His people's enemies, of whom Edom is the
representative; the second part, of the flourishing state of the
Church consequent on those judgments. This forms the termination of
the prophecies of the first part of Isaiah (the thirty-sixth through
thirty-ninth chapters being historical) and is a kind of summary of
what went before, setting forth the one main truth, *Israel shall
be delivered from all its foes, and happier times shall succeed under
Messiah.*

**1.** All creation is summoned to
hear God's judgments ([Ezekiel 6:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/6/3);
[Deuteronomy 32:1](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/1); [Psalms 50:4](../../../kjv/psalms/50/4);
[Micah 6:1](../../../kjv/micah/6/1); [Micah 6:2](../../../kjv/micah/6/2)),
for they set forth His glory, which is the end of creation ([Revelation 15:3](../../../kjv/revelation/15/3);
[Revelation 4:11](../../../kjv/revelation/4/11)).
**that come forth of
it**—answering to "all that is therein"; or *Hebrew,*
"all whatever fills it," *Margin.*

**2. utterly destroyed**—rather,
"doomed them to an utter curse" [HORSLEY].
**delivered**—rather,
"appointed."

**3. cast out**—unburied ().
**melted**—washed away as
with a descending torrent.

**4.** ([Psalms 102:26](../../../kjv/psalms/102/26);
[Joel 2:31](../../../kjv/joel/2/31); [Joel 3:15](../../../kjv/joel/3/15);
[Matthew 24:29](../../../kjv/matthew/24/29)).
**dissolved**— ([Matthew 24:29](../../../kjv/matthew/24/29)). Violent convulsions of nature are in Scripture made the
*images* of great changes in the human world ([Matthew 24:29](../../../kjv/matthew/24/29)), and shall *literally* accompany them at the
winding up of the present dispensation.
**scroll**—Books were in
those days sheets of parchment rolled together ([Matthew 24:29](../../../kjv/matthew/24/29)).
**fall down**—The stars
shall fall when the heavens in which they are fixed pass away.
**fig tree**— ([Matthew 24:29](../../../kjv/matthew/24/29)).

**5. sword**— (). Or else, *knife* for sacrifice for God does not here
appear as a warrior with His sword, but as one about to sacrifice
victims doomed to slaughter [VITRINGA].
([Ezekiel 39:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/39/17)).
**bathed**—rather
"intoxicated," namely, with anger (so [Ezekiel 39:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/39/17)). "In heaven" implies the place where God's
*purpose* of wrath is formed in antithesis to its "coming
down" in the next clause.
**Idumea**—originally
extending from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea; afterwards they obtained
possession of the country east of Moab, of which Bozrah was capital.
Petra or Selah, called Joktheel ([Ezekiel 39:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/39/17)), was capital of South Edom (see on [Ezekiel 39:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/39/17)). David subjugated Edom ([2 Samuel 8:13](../../../kjv/2-samuel/8/13);
[2 Samuel 8:14](../../../kjv/2-samuel/8/14)). Under Jehoram they
regained independence ([2 Chronicles 21:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/8)).
Under Amaziah they were again subdued, and Selah taken ([2 Chronicles 21:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/8)). When Judah was captive in Babylon, Edom, in every way,
insulted over her fallen mistress, killed many of those Jews whom the
Chaldeans had left, and hence was held guilty of fratricide by God
(Esau, their ancestor, having been brother to Jacob): this was the
cause of the denunciations of the prophets against Edom ([Isaiah 63:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/1);
[Jeremiah 49:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/7); [Ezekiel 25:12-14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/12-14);
[Ezekiel 35:3-15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/35/3-15); [Joel 3:19](../../../kjv/joel/3/19);
[Amos 1:11](../../../kjv/amos/1/11); [Amos 1:12](../../../kjv/amos/1/12);
[Obadiah 1:8](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/8); [Obadiah 1:10](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/10);
[Obadiah 1:12-18](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/12-18); [Malachi 1:3](../../../kjv/malachi/1/3);
[Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4)). Nebuchadnezzar humbled
Idumea accordingly ([Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4)).
**of my curse**—that is,
doomed to it.
**to judgment**—that is, to
execute it.

**6. filled**—glutted. The image
of a sacrifice is continued.
**blood . . . fat**—the
parts especially devoted to God in a sacrifice ().
**lambs . . . goats**—*sacrificial*
animals: the Idumeans, of all classes, doomed to slaughter, are meant
([Zephaniah 1:7](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/7)).
**Bozrah**—called *Bostra*
by the Romans, c., assigned in [Zephaniah 1:7](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/7) to Moab, so that it seems to have been at one time in the
dominion of Edom, and at another in that of Moab ([Isaiah 63:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/1)
[Jeremiah 49:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/13); [Jeremiah 49:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/20);
[Jeremiah 49:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/22)); it was strictly not
in Edom, but the capital of Auranitis (the *Houran*). Edom seems
to have extended its dominion so as to include it (compare [Jeremiah 49:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/22)).

**7. unicorns**—*Hebrew, reem:*
conveying the idea of loftiness, power, and pre-eminence (see on ), in the Bible. At one time the image in the term answers to
a reality in nature; at another it symbolizes an abstraction. The
rhinoceros was the original type. The Arab *rim* is two-horned:
it was the oryx (the *leucoryx,* antelope, bold and pugnacious);
but when accident or artifice deprived it of one horn, the notion of
the unicorn arose. Here is meant the portion of the Edomites which
was strong and warlike.
**come down**—rather, "fall
down," slain [LOWTH].
**with them**—with the
"lambs and goats," the less powerful Edomites ().
**bullocks . . . bulls**—the
young and old Edomites: *all* classes.
**dust**—ground.

**8. recompenses for the controversy
of Zion**—that is, the year when God will retaliate on those who
have contended with Zion. Her controversy is *His.* Edom had
thought to extend its borders by laying hold of its neighbor's lands
and has instigated Babylon to cruelty towards fallen Judah ([Psalms 137:7](../../../kjv/psalms/137/7);
[Ezekiel 36:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/36/5)); therefore Edom shall
suffer the same herself ([Lamentations 4:21](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/21);
[Lamentations 4:22](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/22)). The final winding up
of the controversy between God and all enemies of Him and His people
is also foreshadowed ([Isaiah 61:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/2);
[Isaiah 63:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/4); [Isaiah 66:14-16](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/14-16);
[Malachi 4:1](../../../kjv/malachi/4/1); [Malachi 4:3](../../../kjv/malachi/4/3);
[2 Thessalonians 1:7-9](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/1/7-9); [Revelation 11:18](../../../kjv/revelation/11/18);
[Revelation 18:20](../../../kjv/revelation/18/20); [Revelation 19:2](../../../kjv/revelation/19/2)).

**9.** Images from the overthrow of
Sodom and Gomorrah (; so [Deuteronomy 29:23](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/23);
[Jeremiah 49:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/17); [Jeremiah 49:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/18)).

**10. It**—The burning pitch, c.
([Isaiah 34:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/34/9)).
**smoke . . . for ever**—
([Revelation 14:11](../../../kjv/revelation/14/11) [Revelation 18:18](../../../kjv/revelation/18/18)).
**generation to generation**—
([Malachi 1:4](../../../kjv/malachi/1/4)).
**none . . . pass
through**—Edom's original offense was: they would not let Israel
*pass through* their land in peace to Canaan: God *recompenses*
them in kind, no traveller shall *pass through* Edom. VOLNEY,
the infidel, was forced to confirm the truth of this prophecy: "From
the reports of the Arabs, southeast of the Dead Sea, *within three
days' journey* are upwards of thirty ruined towns, *absolutely
deserted.*"

**11. cormorant**—The *Hebrew*
is rendered, in [Psalms 102:6](../../../kjv/psalms/102/6),
"pelican," which is a seafowl, and cannot be meant here:
some waterfowl (*katta,* according to BURCKHARDT)
that tenants desert places is intended.
**bittern**—rather, "the
hedgehog," or "porcupine" [GESENIUS]
([Isaiah 14:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/23)).
**owl**—from its being
enumerated among water birds in [Leviticus 11:17](../../../kjv/leviticus/11/17);
[Deuteronomy 14:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/14/16). MAURER
thinks rather the heron or crane is meant; from a *Hebrew* root,
"to blow," as it utters a sound like the blowing of a horn
([Revelation 18:2](../../../kjv/revelation/18/2)).
**confusion**—devastation.
**line . . . stones**—metaphor
from an architect with line and *plummet-stone* (see on [Revelation 18:2](../../../kjv/revelation/18/2); [Isaiah 34:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/34/2)); God will
render to it the *exact measure of justice* without mercy
([James 2:13](../../../kjv/james/2/13); [2 Kings 21:13](../../../kjv/2-kings/21/13);
[Lamentations 2:8](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/8); [Amos 7:7](../../../kjv/amos/7/7);
[Amos 7:8](../../../kjv/amos/7/8)).
**emptiness**—desolation.
Edom is now a waste of "stones."

**12.** Rather, "As to her
nobles, there shall be none there who shall declare a kingdom,"
that is, a king [MAURER];
or else, "There shall be no one there whom they shall call to
the kingdom" [ROSENMULLER]
([Isaiah 3:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/6), c.). Idumea was at
first governed by dukes ([Genesis 36:15](../../../kjv/genesis/36/15))
out of them the king wan chosen when the constitution became a
monarchy.

**13. dragons**—(See on ; [Isaiah 34:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/34/1)).
**court for owls**—rather,
"a dwelling for ostriches."

**14. wild beasts of the desert . . .
island**—rather, "wild cats . . . jackals" ().
**screech owl**—rather,
"the night specter"; in Jewish superstition a female,
elegantly dressed, that carried off children by night. The text does
not assert the *existence* of such objects of superstition, but
describes the place as one which superstition would people with such
beings.

**15. great owl**—rather, "the
arrow snake," so called from its darting on its prey [GESENIUS].
**lay**—namely, eggs.
**gather under her
shadow**—rather, "cherishes" her young under, &c.
([Jeremiah 17:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/17/11)).

**16. book of the Lord**—the
volume in which the various prophecies and other parts of Scripture
began henceforward to be collected together ([Isaiah 30:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/8);
[Daniel 9:2](../../../kjv/daniel/9/2)).
**Seek**—(so [Isaiah 8:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/16);
[Isaiah 8:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/20); [John 5:39](../../../kjv/john/5/39);
[John 7:52](../../../kjv/john/7/52)).
**no one . . . fail**—of
these prophecies ([Matthew 5:18](../../../kjv/matthew/5/18)).
**none shall want . . .
mate**—image from *pairing* of animals mentioned, [Matthew 5:18](../../../kjv/matthew/5/18) ("mate"); no prediction shall want a fulfilment
as its companion. Or rather, "none of these wild animals (just
spoken of) shall be wanting: none shall be without its mate" to
pair and breed with, in desolate Idumea.
**my . . . his**—Such
changes of person are frequent in *Hebrew poetry.*
**them**—the wild beasts.

**17. cast . . . lot**—As
conquerors apportion lands by lot, so Jehovah has appointed and
marked out ("divided") Edom for the wild beasts ([Numbers 26:55](../../../kjv/numbers/26/55);
[Numbers 26:56](../../../kjv/numbers/26/56); [Joshua 18:4-6](../../../kjv/joshua/18/4-6)).

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