Perazim. Gibeon. This could not be known or understood without reference to 2 Samuel 5:20 , and Joshua 10:10 ; and this reference must have been in writing: too long before (700 years) to be a matter of mere memory. See App-92 . His strange work = strange His work [is]. Hebrew. zur = foreign. His strange act = unwonted [is] His act. Hebrew. nakar. read more
Isaiah 28:17-22. Judgment also will I lay to the line— The prophet, having provided for the safety of those who put their trust in God, prepares himself to denounce the judgments ready for the profane and hypocritical scorners of Jerusalem, who boasted that they had made a covenant with death and with hell, renouncing all hope of salvation from God; and the denunciation of this judgment is comprehended in various articles, the first whereof is in the 17th verse, wherein God testifies that he... read more
21. Perazim—In the valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5:18; 2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11), there Jehovah, by David, broke forth as waters do, and made a breach among the Philistines, David's enemies, as Perazim means, expressing a sudden and complete overthrow. Gibeon— (1 Chronicles 14:16; 2 Samuel 5:25, Margin); not Joshua's victory (Joshua 10:10). strange—as being against His own people; judgment is not what God delights in; it is, though necessary, yet strange to Him (Joshua 10:10- :).... read more
The folly of Judah’s leaders 28:7-22Isaiah now compared the pride and indulgence of the Ephraimite leaders to that of their Southern Kingdom brethren. The leaders of Judah were even worse. There is some debate among scholars about where reference to Ephraim’s rulers ends and where reference to Judah’s leaders begins. It seems to me that the context favors the change occurring between Isaiah 28:6-7. read more
A second reason for the Jerusalemites’ terror (cf. Isaiah 28:18-19) would be divine hostility. The Lord would rise up against His people to defeat them, as He formerly rose up to defeat the Philistines at Mount Perazim (lit. breaking forth) "like the break-through of waters" (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11). He had also defeated the Canaanites in the valley of Gibeon with hailstones (Joshua 10:11). Defeating the Israelites was strange work for the Lord because He customarily defended them.... read more
Warnings to JudahThese chapters refer to the state of affairs during the reign of Hezekiah, when Palestine was threatened by Assyria, and an influential party in Judah favoured resistance, relying on the support of Egypt; a line of policy consistently opposed by Isaiah. read more
This chapter must be assigned (Isaiah 28:1) to a date prior to the capture of Samaria by the Assyrians (722 b.c.) and fall of the northern kingdom.1-6. Samaria’s luxury and self-indulgence pave the way to ruin. 7-10. Judah likewise is given up to indulgence and heeds not the prophet’s warning, 11-13. Therefore Jehovah will teach the people by means of foreign invasion and disaster. 14-22. Judah’s safety lies not in faithless diplomacy, but in trust in Jehovah. 23-29. A parable of Jehovah’s way... read more
(21) The Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim . . .—The point of the reference to David’s victories at Baal Perazim (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11), and at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 14:16) is that then Jehuah had interposed on behalf of His people against their enemies. The “new and strange” work—the very paradox of prophecy—was that He would now rise up to overthrow His own people. read more
The Verifying Faculty Isaiah 28:12 The Bible is always talking in our mother tongue. The oldest and greatest of the Prophets spoke in language which almost children can understand and appreciate. Take such words as 'weary'; the child knows what it means when it sees its father returning from the fields and stretching himself in token of fatigue. And 'rest,' the little word needs no translation; and 'refreshing,' the very word which an apostle uses in later times when he speaks of 'times of... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:1-29
28:1-33:24 HEZEKIAH AND THE ASSYRIANSBefore reading Chapters 28-33, readers should be familiar with the historical background found in the introduction under the heading ‘Judah’s new policies under Hezekiah’. Hezekiah reversed the policies of his father Ahaz. Whereas Ahaz sought help from Assyria to oppose Israel and Syria, Hezekiah sought help from Egypt to oppose Assyria. Isaiah opposed both policies alike. Faith in God, not reliance on foreign powers, is Judah’s only hope for survival. The... read more