Isa 7:17-25 | JFB

‏ Isaiah 7:17-25

18. hiss--whistle, to bring bees to settle (see on Is 5:26).

fly--found in numbers about the arms of the Nile and the canals from it (Is 19:5-7; 23:3), here called "rivers." Hence arose the plague of flies (Ex 8:21). Figurative, for numerous and troublesome foes from the remotest parts of Egypt, for example, Pharaoh-nechoh.

bee--(De 1:44; Psa 118:12). As numerous in Assyria as the fly in marshy Egypt. Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, and Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled this prediction.

19. rest--image of flies and bees kept up. The enemy shall overspread the land everywhere, even in "desolate valleys."

thorns--wild, contrasted with "bushes," which were valued and objects of care (see Margin).

20. razor--The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it (Is 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 (Psa 72:8); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included (Is 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 (Is 50:6; 2Sa 10:4, 5; Eze 5:1).

Is 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 Is 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 Jr 49:19).

25. shall be--rather, "were once."

digged--in order to plant and rear vines (Is 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.