Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary-9
Verses 7-9. Your country is desolate] The description of the ruined and desolate state of the country in these verses does not suit with any part of the prosperous times of Uzziah and Jotham. It very well agrees with the time of Ahaz, when Judea was ravaged by the joint invasion of the Israelites and Syrians, and by the incursions of the Philistines and Edomites. The date of this prophecy is therefore generally fixed to the time of Ahaz. But on the other hand it may be considered whether those instances of idoltary which are urged in ver. 29-the worshipping in groves and gardens-having been at all times too commonly practiced, can be supposed to be the only ones which the prophet would insist upon in the time of Ahaz; who spread the grossest idolatry through the whole country, and introduced it even into the temple; and, to complete his abominations, made his son pass through the fire to Molech. It is said, 2 Kings xv. 37, that in Jotham's time "the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin-and Pekah." If we may suppose any invasion from that quarter to have been actually made at the latter end of Jotham's reign, I should choose to refer this prophecy to that time.
AND your cities are burned. - Nineteen of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. and twenty-two of De Rossi's, some of my own, with the Syriac and Arabic, add the conjunction which makes the hemistich more complete.
Verse 7. µyrz zarim at the end of the verse. This reading, though confirmed by all the ancient versions, gives us no good sense; for "your land is devoured by strangers; and is desolate, as if overthrown by strangers," is a mere tautology, or, what is as bad, an identical comparison.
Aben Ezra thought that the word in its present form might be taken for the same with µrz zerem, an inundation: Schultens is of the same opinion; (see Taylor's Concord.; ) and Schindler in his Lexicon explains it in the same manner: and so, says Zimchi, some explain it. Abendana endeavours to reconcile it to grammatical analogy in the following manner: " µyrz zarim is the same with µrz zerem; that is, as overthrown by an inundation of waters: and these two words have the same analogy as µdq kedem and µydq kadim. Or it may be a concrete of the same form with ryk shechir; and the meaning will be: as overthrown by rain pouring down violently, and causing a flood." On Sal. ben Melech, in loo. But I rather suppose the true reading to be µrz zerem, and have translated it accordingly: the word µyrz zerim, in the line above, seems to have caught the transcriber's eye, and to have led him into this mistake. But this conjecture of the learned prelate is not confirmed by any MS. yet discovered.
Is. 1:16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break of the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in which sinners of every age and ran may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, deep dye, a double dye, first in the wool of original corruption, an afterwards in the many threads of actual transgression; though we have often dipped into sin, by many backslidings; yet pardoning mercy wil take out the stain, Ps. 51:7. They should have all the happiness an comfort they could desire. Life and death, good and evil, are se before us. O Lord, incline all of us to live to thy glory.
Is. 1:21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spiri of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity, the worst slavery. The redemption of the spiritual Zion, by the righteousness and death of Christ, and by his powerful grace, most fully accord with what is her meant. Utter ruin is threatened. The Jews should become as a tree when blasted by heat; as a garden without water, which in those ho countries would soon be burned up. Thus shall they be that trust in idols, or in an arm of flesh. Even the strong man shall be as tow; no only soon broken, and pulled to pieces, but easily catching fire. When the sinner has made himself as tow and stubble, and God makes himsel as a consuming fire, what can prevent the utter ruin of the sinner __________________________________________________________________