Isa 24:1-12 | JFB | STEP | The four chapters (the twenty-fourth through the twenty-seventh) form one continuous poetical prophecy: descriptive of the dispersion and successive calamities of the Jews ( ); the preaching of the Gospel by the first Hebrew converts throughout the world ( ); the judgments on the adversaries of the Church and its final triumph ( ); thanksgiving for the overthrow of the apostate faction ( ), and establishment of the righteous in lasting peace ( ); judgment on leviathan and entire purgation of the Church ( ). Having treated of the several nations in particular-- Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Edom, and Tyre (the miniature representative of all, as all kingdoms flocked into it)--he passes to the last times of the world at large and of Judah the representative and future head of the churches. 1. the earth-- rather, "the land" of Judah (so in , ; ). The desolation under Nebuchadnezzar prefigured that under Titus.

‏ Isaiah 24:1-12

CHAPTER 24 Is 24:1-23. The Last Times of the World in General, and of Judah and the Church in Particular.

The four chapters (the twenty-fourth through the twenty-seventh) form one continuous poetical prophecy: descriptive of the dispersion and successive calamities of the Jews (Is 24:1-12); the preaching of the Gospel by the first Hebrew converts throughout the world (Is 24:13-16); the judgments on the adversaries of the Church and its final triumph (Is 24:16-23); thanksgiving for the overthrow of the apostate faction (Is 25:1-12), and establishment of the righteous in lasting peace (Is 26:1-21); judgment on leviathan and entire purgation of the Church (Is 27:1-13). Having treated of the several nations in particular--Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Edom, and Tyre (the miniature representative of all, as all kingdoms flocked into it)--he passes to the last times of the world at large and of Judah the representative and future head of the churches.

1. the earth--rather, "the land" of Judah (so in Is 24:3, 5, 6; Joe 1:2). The desolation under Nebuchadnezzar prefigured that under Titus.

2. as with the people, so with the priest--All alike shall share the same calamity: no favored class shall escape (compare Eze 7:12, 13; Ho 4:9; Re 6:15).

4. world--the kingdom of Israel; as in Is 13:11, Babylon.

haughty--literally, "the height" of the people: abstract for concrete, that is, the high people; even the nobles share the general distress.

5. earth--rather, "the land."

defiled under ... inhabitants--namely, with innocent blood (Ge 4:11; Nu 35:33; Psa 106:38).

laws ... ordinance ... everlasting covenant--The moral laws, positive statutes, and national covenant designed to be for ever between God and them.

6. earth--the land.

burned--namely, with the consuming wrath of heaven: either internally, as in Job 30:30 [Rosenmuller]; or externally, the prophet has before his eyes the people being consumed with the withering dryness of their doomed land (so Joe 1:10, 12), [Maurer].

7. mourneth--because there are none to drink it [Barnes]. Rather, "is become vapid" [Horsley].

languisheth--because there are none to cultivate it now.

8. (Re 18:22).

9. with a song--the usual accompaniment of feasts.

strong drink--(See on Is 5:11). "Date wine" [Horsley].

bitter--in consequence of the national calamities.

10. city of confusion--rather, "desolation." What Jerusalem would be; by anticipation it is called so. Horsley translates, "The city is broken down; it is a ruin."

shut up--through fear; or rather, "choked up by ruins."

11. crying for wine--to drown their sorrows in drink (Is 16:9); Joe 1:5, written about the same time, resembles this.

12. with destruction--rather "crash" [Gesenius]. "With a great tumult the gate is battered down" [Horsley].