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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 34:1-8

Here we have a prophecy, as elsewhere we have a history, of the wars of the Lord, which we are sure are all both righteous and successful. This world, as it is his creature, he does good to; but as it is in the interest of Satan, who is called the god of this world, he fights against it. I. Here is the trumpet sounded and the war proclaimed, Isa. 34:1. All nations must hear and hearken, not only because what God is about to do is well worthy their remark (as Isa. 33:13), but because they are... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 34:9-17

This prophecy looks very black, but surely it looks so further than upon Edom and Bozrah. 1. It describes the melancholy changes that are often made by the divine Providence, in countries, cities, palaces, and families. Places that have flourished and been much frequented strangely go to decay. We know not where to find the places where many great towns, celebrated in history, once stood. Fruitful countries, in process of time, are turned into barrenness, and pompous populous cities into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:5

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven ,.... That is, the sword of the Lord, as it is called in the next verse Isaiah 34:6 , and it is he that is speaking; it designs the vengeance of the Lord, the punishment he will inflict on the wicked, said to be "bathed in heaven", because determined and prepared there; the allusion may be to the bathing of swords in some sort of liquor, to harden or brighten them, and so fit them for use. Kimchi renders it, "my sword" which is "in heaven shall be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:6

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood ,.... Multitudes being slain by it; the "Lord" here is that divine Person that is described as a warrior, as a General of an army, with a sharp sword, by whom many are slain, such a number as that it is filled with the blood of them, Revelation 19:11 , it is made fat with fatness : not only filled with the blood, but fattened by it; the allusion is to ravenous creatures gorged and sated with the blood of others, and thereby made fat; perhaps... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:7

And the unicorns shall come down with them ,.... With the lambs, goats, and rams; that is, either the rhinoceros, as some, there being no such creature as the unicorn; or the buffaloes, as F13 So Gussetius understands it of a larger sort of oxen, Comment. Ebr. p. 783. others; these "shall fall", as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it, they shall be slain, as well as the rest; meaning, that along with the common soldiers, and inferior officers, the general officers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:8

For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance ,.... The time which he has appointed to take vengeance on antichrist, his 1260 days, or years; being up, in which he is to reign; these being expired, the time is come for the Lord to avenge the blood of his saints; see Revelation 18:20 , and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion ; the church of God, which has been for many ages abused and injured by the antichristian powers, for which the Lord will have a controversy with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:9

And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch ,.... The Septuagint render it, "the valleys"; the word signifying both rivers and valleys, most render it rivers or streams. The Targum is express, "the rivers of Rome shall be turned into pitch;' by which may be meant the maritime places belonging to the Romish jurisdiction, the same on which the third vial will be poured, by which the rivers and fountains of waters will become blood; and which refers to this very time, when blood... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:10

It shall not be quenched night nor day ,.... It will be long burning, and shall not be extinguished until it is utterly consumed. The burning of Rome will continue long, especially the smoke of it; the kings of the earth, and others, are represented as standing and looking at it, and lamenting for it, Revelation 18:9 , the smoke thereof shall go up for ever ; this very phrase is what will be used by the saints in their "allelujahs", at the burning of Rome, Revelation 19:3 with which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:11

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it ,.... The word for "cormorant" is rendered a "pelican", in Psalm 102:6 they were both unclean fowls according to the law, of which see Leviticus 11:17 and See Gill on Isaiah 14:23 , the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it ; which were likewise unclean creatures; and these, with the former, and other creatures after mentioned, delight to dwell in desolate and ruinous places; and so Babylon or Rome being destroyed, will become a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 34:12

They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there ,.... They shall call them to take upon them the kingdom and government, and there shall be none to do it, or that will care to do it; or rather there will be no kingdom to take unto them. The words may be rendered either, "as for the nobles thereof, not there a kingdom shall they be called" F16 חריה ואין שם מלוכה יקראו "nobiles ejus, et non ibi regnum vocabuntur", Forerius. ; or, "the nobles shall... read more

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