CHAPTER 35
. CONTINUATION OF THE
PROPHECY IN THE
THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER.
See on , introduction there.
1. solitary place—literally,
"a dry place," without springs of water. A moral
wilderness is meant.
for them—namely, on
account of the punishment inflicted according to the preceding
prophecy on the enemy; probably the blessings set forth in this
chapter are included in the causes for joy ().
rose—rather, "the
meadow-saffron," an autumnal flower with bulbous roots; so
Syriac translation.
2. glory of Lebanon—its
ornament, namely, its cedars ().
excellency of Carmel—namely,
its beauty.
Sharon—famed for its
fertility.
see . . . glory of the Lord .
. . excellency— (Isaiah 40:5;
Isaiah 40:9). While the wilderness
which had neither "glory" nor "excellency" shall
have both "given to it," the Lord shall have all the
"glory" and "excellency" ascribed to Him,
not to the transformed wilderness (Isaiah 40:9).
3. Strengthen . . . hands . . .
confirm . . . knees—The Hebrew for "strengthen"
refers to the strength residing in the hand for grasping and
holding a thing manfully; "confirm," to the firmness with
which one keeps his ground, so as not to be dislodged by any other
[MAURER]. Encourage the
Jews, now desponding, by the assurance of the blessings promised.
4. fearful—"hasty,"
Margin; that is, with a heart fluttered with agitation.
with—the Hebrew
is more forcible than the English Version: "God will
come, vengeance! even God, a recompense!" The sense is the same.
5, 6. Language figuratively,
descriptive of the joy felt at the deliverance from Assyria and
Babylon; literally, true of the antitypical times of Messiah and His
miracles (see Margin references, Matthew 11:5;
Luke 7:2; 2 John 1:5;
2 John 1:8; Acts 3:2).
7. parched ground—rather, "the
mirage (Hebrew, Sharab, 'the sun's heat') shall become a
(real) lake." The sun's rays refracted on the glowing sands at
midday give the appearance of a lake of water and often deceive the
thirsty traveller (compare Jeremiah 2:13;
Isaiah 41:18).
dragons—rather,
"jackals."
each—namely, jackal.
grass—rather, "a
dwelling or receptacle (answering to the previous
habitation) for reeds," &c. (which only grow where there is
water, Job 8:11). Where once
there was no water, water shall abound.
8. highway—such a causeway
(raised way, from a Hebrew root, "to cast up")
as was used for the march of armies; valleys being filled up, hills
and other obstructions removed (; compare Isaiah 40:3;
Isaiah 40:4).
way of holiness—Hebraism
for "the holy way." HORSLEY
translates, "the way of the Holy One;" but the words that
follow, and Isaiah 35:10, show it
is the way leading the redeemed back to Jerusalem, both the literal
and the heavenly (Isaiah 52:1;
Joel 3:17; Revelation 21:27);
still Christ at His coming again shall be the Leader on the way, for
which reason it is called, "The way of the Lord"
(Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).
it shall be for those: the
wayfaring men—rather, "He (the Holy One) shall be with
them, walking in the way" [HORSLEY].
though fools—rather,
"And (even) fools," that is, the simple shall not go
astray, namely, because "He shall be with them" (Matthew 11:25;
1 Corinthians 1:26-28).
9. No lion—such as might be
feared on the way through the wilderness which abounded in wild
beasts, back to Judea. Every danger shall be warded off the returning
people (Isaiah 11:6-9; Ezekiel 34:25;
Hosea 2:18). Compare spiritually,
Proverbs 3:17.
10. Language: literally,
applying to the return from Babylon; figuratively and more fully to
the completed redemption of both literal and spiritual Israel.
joy upon . . . heads—
(Psalms 126:2). Joy manifested in
their countenances. Some fancy an allusion to the custom of pouring
oil "upon the head," or wearing chaplets in times of public
festivity (Ecclesiastes 9:8).
CHAPTER 35
. CONTINUATION OF THE PROPHECY IN THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER.
See on , introduction there.
1. solitary place—literally, "a dry place," without springs of water. A moral wilderness is meant.
for them—namely, on account of the punishment inflicted according to the preceding prophecy on the enemy; probably the blessings set forth in this chapter are included in the causes for joy ().
rose—rather, "the meadow-saffron," an autumnal flower with bulbous roots; so Syriac translation.
2. glory of Lebanon—its ornament, namely, its cedars ().
excellency of Carmel—namely, its beauty.
Sharon—famed for its fertility.
see . . . glory of the Lord . . . excellency— (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 40:9). While the wilderness which had neither "glory" nor "excellency" shall have both "given to it," the Lord shall have all the "glory" and "excellency" ascribed to Him, not to the transformed wilderness (Isaiah 40:9).
3. Strengthen . . . hands . . . confirm . . . knees—The Hebrew for "strengthen" refers to the strength residing in the hand for grasping and holding a thing manfully; "confirm," to the firmness with which one keeps his ground, so as not to be dislodged by any other [MAURER]. Encourage the Jews, now desponding, by the assurance of the blessings promised.
4. fearful—"hasty," Margin; that is, with a heart fluttered with agitation.
with—the Hebrew is more forcible than the English Version: "God will come, vengeance! even God, a recompense!" The sense is the same.
5, 6. Language figuratively, descriptive of the joy felt at the deliverance from Assyria and Babylon; literally, true of the antitypical times of Messiah and His miracles (see Margin references, Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:2; 2 John 1:5; 2 John 1:8; Acts 3:2).
6. leap—literally, "fulfilled" (Acts 3:8; Acts 14:10).
sing—joyful thanksgiving.
in . . . wilderness . . . waters— (Isaiah 41:18).
7. parched ground—rather, "the mirage (Hebrew, Sharab, 'the sun's heat') shall become a (real) lake." The sun's rays refracted on the glowing sands at midday give the appearance of a lake of water and often deceive the thirsty traveller (compare Jeremiah 2:13; Isaiah 41:18).
dragons—rather, "jackals."
each—namely, jackal.
grass—rather, "a dwelling or receptacle (answering to the previous habitation) for reeds," &c. (which only grow where there is water, Job 8:11). Where once there was no water, water shall abound.
8. highway—such a causeway (raised way, from a Hebrew root, "to cast up") as was used for the march of armies; valleys being filled up, hills and other obstructions removed (; compare Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 40:4).
way of holiness—Hebraism for "the holy way." HORSLEY translates, "the way of the Holy One;" but the words that follow, and Isaiah 35:10, show it is the way leading the redeemed back to Jerusalem, both the literal and the heavenly (Isaiah 52:1; Joel 3:17; Revelation 21:27); still Christ at His coming again shall be the Leader on the way, for which reason it is called, "The way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).
it shall be for those: the wayfaring men—rather, "He (the Holy One) shall be with them, walking in the way" [HORSLEY].
though fools—rather, "And (even) fools," that is, the simple shall not go astray, namely, because "He shall be with them" (Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-28).
9. No lion—such as might be feared on the way through the wilderness which abounded in wild beasts, back to Judea. Every danger shall be warded off the returning people (Isaiah 11:6-9; Ezekiel 34:25; Hosea 2:18). Compare spiritually, Proverbs 3:17.
10. Language: literally, applying to the return from Babylon; figuratively and more fully to the completed redemption of both literal and spiritual Israel.
joy upon . . . heads— (Psalms 126:2). Joy manifested in their countenances. Some fancy an allusion to the custom of pouring oil "upon the head," or wearing chaplets in times of public festivity (Ecclesiastes 9:8).