Isa 7:20-25 | JFB | STEP | 20. razor —The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it ( ). hired —alluding to Ahaz' hiring ( ) Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel; namely, by them beyond the river —namely, the Euphrates; the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge ( ); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included ( ) [G. V. SMITH ]. GESENIUS translates, "With a razor hired in the parts beyond the river. " head . . . feet —the whole body, including the most honored parts. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Easterner ( ). . THE COMING DESOLATE STATE OF THE LAND OWING TO THE ASSYRIANS AND EGYPTIANS.

Isaiah 7:20-25

20. razor—The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it (Isa 10:5; Eze 29:19, 20).

hired—alluding to Ahaz' hiring (2Ki 16:7, 8) Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel; namely,

by them beyond the river—namely, the Euphrates; the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge (Ps 72:8); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included (Isa 7:18) [G. V. SMITH]. GESENIUS translates, "With a razor hired in the parts beyond the river."

head . . . feet—the whole body, including the most honored parts. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Easterner (Isa 50:6; 2Sa 10:4, 5; Eze 5:1).

Isa 7:21-25. THE COMING DESOLATE STATE OF THE LAND OWING TO THE ASSYRIANS AND EGYPTIANS.

21. nourish—that is, own.

young cow—a heifer giving milk. Agriculture shall cease, and the land become one great pasturage.

22. abundance—by reason of the wide range of land lying desolate over which the cows and sheep (including goats) may range.

butter—thick milk, or cream.

honey—(See on Isa 7:15). Food of spontaneous growth will be the resource of the few inhabitants left. Honey shall be abundant as the bees will find the wild flowers abounding everywhere.

23. where there were, &c.—where up to that time there was so valuable a vineyard as to have in it a 1000 vines, worth a silverling (shekel, about 2s. 3d.; a large price) each, there shall be only briers (So 8:11). Vineyards are estimated by the number of the vines, and the goodness of the kind of vine. Judea admits of a high state of cultivation, and requires it, in order to be productive; its present barrenness is due to neglect.

24. It shall become a vast hunting ground, abounding in wild beasts (compare Jer 49:19).

25. shall be—rather, "were once."

digged—in order to plant and rear vines (Isa 5:6).

there shall not come—that is, none shall come who fear thorns, seeing that thorns shall abound on all sides [MAURER]. Otherwise, "Thou shalt not come for fear of thorns" [GESENIUS]. Only cattle shall be able to penetrate the briery ground.

lesser cattle—sheep and goats.