unto Pharaoh, "I am the son of the wise, || for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch the son of ancient kings? or rush, may do. X 12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. 14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. c 16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. 17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, h because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it. m [Practical Observations.] 18 ¶ In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt 'speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; 15 Neither shall there be any work one shall be called, The city of destrucmarg. Zech. 10:4. 1 Pet. 2: tion. d u Gen. 41 33,39. 1 Kings 4.30. Acts 7:22. 5:21. 47:10-13. Judg. 9:38. Jer. 2:28. 1 Cor. 1:20. y 40 13,14. 41:22,23. 44-7. 11:6,7. Rom. 11:33,34. z Se on 11. a Jer. 2:15. 46:14,19. 13. Job Ez. 30. Or, governors. Heb. corners. Num. 24.17. 1 Sam. 14:39. 7. b See on 2.-29:10,14. 47:10,11. c 28:7,8. 29:9. Job 12.25. Jer. d 9:14,15. Ps. 128.2. Prov. 14: e 30:17. Ps. 48:6. Jer. 30:5 i 19,21. 2:11. Zech. 2:11. k 11:11. 27:13. Ps. 68:31. 1 Zeph. 39. Heb. lip. Gen. 111. marg. m 45 23,24. Deut. 10:20. Neh. 10:29. Jer. 12.16. f 10 32. 11.15. 30:30-32. Zech. 'shall mourn and be grieved in soul.' (10) The commonly excited in such circumstances, and Egyptians had few vines; and the use of fer-in the time which had nothing to occupy it; as mented liquor from barley, or other grain, was very general among them. concurring in fomenting their intestine dissensions and jars, (Note, 2,3.) seems rather to be meant. (30: V. 11-14. The Egyptians pretended to an antiquity far beyond any of the neighboring V. 16. 'When God intends the destruction nations; and their kings (of whom Pharaoh of any people, he commonly takes from them was the common name,) were descended, as 'their strength and courage; so that "a thouthey boasted, from a royal race which had 'sand shall flee at the rebuke of one." continued for some thousands of years. This '17. Deut. 28:25. Jer. 50:37. Nah. 3:13.) This was altogether fabulous: but doubtless Egypt is what the heathen expressed by a panic was renowned for wisdom and science, before 'terror: but Isaiah more properly calls it here, any other nation, at least in the countries of "the shaking of the hand of the LORD of which the records are much known. (Note, 'hosts:" God's holding his rod over a people, Ps. 105:22.) Yet now their princes and coun- 'and still threatening them with severer judgsellors, who should have been the stay, or "pil-'ments.' Lowth. Marg. Ref.—Notes, 10:28—34. lars," of the land, and of all its tribes, were be- 30:15-17,29–33.) come foolish and brutish: and whilst they flattered their king, as the son of wise, as well as ancient kings; they seduced him into very foolish measures: or, while they boasted of the wisdom and dignity of their own ancestors, they could neither foresee nor prevent the calamities, which God had purposed to bring upon them. If there were any possessed of this wisdom, where were they to be found?Indeed the Lord would give them up to their own perverse schemes, and to quarrel with each other, as their private interests or humors led them; till the land would be reduced, by their fierce and bloody contests, to the condition of a drunken man, who can scarcely stagger along, and is equally the object of contempt and pity. (Marg. Ref. b, c.- Notes, 13. 28:7,8. 29:9-12. Jer. 25:15-17.)-Zoan was also called Tanais; and Noph, Memphis. The latter is called Moph, in the original of Hos. 9: 6.-The stay. (13) "The corner." Marg. and Marg. Ref. V. 17. Considering, through their occa'sion, the Jews made not God their defence, but put their trust in them, and were there'fore now punished; they' (the Egyptians,) 'shall fear lest the like light on them.'—The first invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, when "he took all its fenced cities," preceded his march into Egypt: and it is probable, that the rumor of the ravages and cruelties, committed in Judah, excited great consternation among the Egyptians. (Notes, 20:1. 2 Kings 18:13. 19:9-13.) In like manner the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the surviving Jews, preceded the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar; and would be heard of with very great alarm by the distressed inhabitants. (Notes, Jer. 43:8-13. Ex. 29:17-20.) V. 18. The preceding prophecy includes a series of years, reaching at least to the time of Alexander the Great, and the favor shewn to the Egyptians by him and his successors: (Note, 1.) and some think, that their subsequent servitude to the Romans, Saracens, and Turks, to this present day, is also predicted. But, in the mean time, some of them would become acquainted with the true God, learn the lan V. 15. All orders and degrees of men shall 'fail in the discharge of their duty, from the 'highest to the lowest.' Lowth. The want of employment, however, through the failure of commerce, and manufactures of every kind,guage of Canaan, and "swear to the LORD of and the suspension through drought even of the usual occupations of agriculture; (Note, 5 -10.) together with the effects of this failure of work, in deeply distressing scarcity, and that exasperation of men's spirits which is hosts:" i. e. they would learn to speak of God and his word and worship, as the Jews did, and to vow obedience to him: or to use his name, and to call him to witness in their soleinn oaths, as his worshippers. 'Notes, 45:23 19 In that day shall "there be an altar" he shall smite and heal it: and they shall to the LORD, in the midst of the land of return even to the LORD, and he shall be Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to entreated of them, and shall heal them. the LORD. 23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day 'shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. -25. Jer. 12:14-17, v. 16.) It is not known their laws no temple ought to be built but in what five cities were intended; and especially, Jerusalem. ... From whence it appears, that there is considerable uncertainty respecting they thought this prophecy was to have a mysthat, which would be "called the city of de-'tical, and not a literal completion.' Louth. struction:" though it is commonly supposed to (Note, Ez. 40:2.)-These verses seem typically mean Heliopolis, or "the city of the sun;" and it to describe the effects which followed when is thought that it should be thus read. (Marg.) the Egyptians were converted to Christianity; Several cities, however, would be thus favor- and not merely the proselyting of some of ed, especially one, which had been notorious them previously to the worship of the true for idolatry, or was apparently ripe for destruc- God. The altar may denote the atonement o tion.-Under the Macedonian kings, who suc- Christ, and access to God through him; (Notes, ceeded Alexander and reigned in Egypt, pecu-Heb. liar privileges were granted to the Jews, and numbers of them settled in that country; where they professed their religion, and worshipped God in the synagogues which they built. In process of time the scriptures were translated into Greek, which was then understood by numbers in Egypt; and this translation is now called the Septuagint. Thus the natives gradually became acquainted with God, and his truth and will; and probably many were proselyted to the Jewish religion. A temple was also built by Onias, at Heliopolis, where a worship was performed, similar to that at the temple in Jerusalem: and though this was ir regular, and could by no means be justified, yet it might be over-ruled to draw the attention of the Egyptians to the true religion. (Notes, Acts 1:4-8. 8:5-8.) But though these events might be, in some degree, an accomplishment of the prophecy before us: yet it seems more immediately to relate to the planting and flourishing of Christianity in Egypt, in the primitive ages.-Learned men observe from this place, where the Jews' language is 'called the language of Canaan, that the Hebrew is the same with the old Phenician lan-1-3.) 'guage.' Lowth. (Note, Gen. 11:6-9.) V. 19-22. It is a judicious observation of 'Calvin upon 56:7. ... The prophets, when they speak of the Gentiles coming into the church, express their serving the true God, by such 'acts of devotion as were most in use in their own time, and therefore could be best under'stood by those to whom they directed their 'discourses. . Onias indeed in after times built 'an altar and temple in Egypt for the use of the Jews, thinking to fulfil this prophecy literally; but it was against the general sense of his 'own nation, who thought that according to 13:9-16.) and the pillar, either their avowal of the Lord, as the Object of their worship, or his acknowledging of them as his people; and his ordinances, among them, would be a sign and a witness of their relation to him. (Marg. Ref. o.) Their crying unto the Lord, and his sending them a Savior and a great One, to deliver them from their oppressors, can be interpreted of their deliverance by Alexander the Great from the Persian yoke, only in a very subordinate sense, if at all: indeed, there is little reason to conclude, that in his days there were many Egyptians, who sought deliverance from God by earnest prayers. Christ himself and his spiritual redemption no doubt were principally intended: and probably some future grand deliverance from oppressors, to whom the Egyptians are or shall be exposed, is specially predicted. (Notes, 11:11 -16. Dan. 11:40–45. Zech. 10:5-12.) The Lord, however, promised to make himself known unto them, and that they should acknowledge him, and worship him, and pay their vows to him: for his smiting of thein would make way for their conversion, prayers, and healing in answer to them. (Note, Hos. 6: V. 23-25. For many ages, the Assyrians, (or the Chaldeans, Persians, and Macedonians, who successively had dominion in the same regions,) were engaged in hostilities with the Egyptians; and they strongly fortified their countries against each other: (Notes, 2 Chr. 35: 20-24. Dan. 11:1-30. Zech. 9:8.) but it is here predicted, that there would be an unobstructed and well prepared way, or road, made between the two countries, to favor the intercourse of the inhabitants with each other, and with Israel, as situated directly in this frequented road: that they would also unite together, and with Israel, in serving and worshipping the come the ruin, who should be the stay, of the LORD; and that Israel would prove a blessing tribes of the land. But he leaves rulers to be between the two nations, by communicating actuated by a perverse spirit, and to bring to them the knowledge of God, and his salva- public affairs to the utmost confusion and contion. (Notes, Gen. 12:1-3. Zech. 8:20-23.) tempt, in order to punish the lower orders also Nay, the Lord himself would pronounce them for their transgressions: and every view of this blessed, and shew favor to them, as his people subject proves, that "righteousness exaltet a and the work of his hands, new created unto nation, but that sin is the reproach of any peoholiness, even as he had been used to do to Is-ple:" (Note, Prov. 14:34.) and that invasions, rael his inheritance. ""The work of my hands," civil wars, and the decay of trade, and the ... is always used in this prophet, of those who want of employment, or even food for the poor, 'are in covenant with God, and members of his are calls from God to national repentance and 'church. Lowth. (Notes, 29:22-24. 45:11. 60: reformation. When he "shaketh his hand," 15-22. Ps. 100:3. 149:2. Eph. 2:19–22. 1 Pet. and shews tokens of indignation; the most 2:9,10.)-I apprehend that the grand accom-courageous become as women; and he renders plishment of these verses, and of the latter sinners afraid of those, whom before they depart of this extraordinary prophecy, is still to spised or oppressed. "The counsel of the LORD be expected. At the same time, I would ob- of hosts, which he hath determined" against serve, that to explain the whole chapter, as pre-all the workers of iniquity, will make them a dicting one grand event, supposed to be fore-terror to themselves and to each other; and told in very many scriptures; so as to exclude every surrounding object a terror to them. the evident literal accomplishment of the former part of the chapter; is calculated to weak- The severest temporal judgments of God en the evidence, from prophecies already ful- combine with his designs of mercy: and revofilled, to the divine inspiration of the scripture, lutions in mighty kingdoms make way for the to confound the ininds of plain readers, and to success of his gospel. Already numbers have furnish cavils to those, who say, there is no learned to "speak the language of Canaan, and certainty in prophecy.-It is of immense im-to swear to the LORD of hosts;" to erect altars portance to draw the line as exactly as possible, between what has been fulfilled, and what has not. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-17. V. 18-23. to his name, and to offer him spiritual sacrifices, in those places which were the most addicted to idolatry: and every event of this kind is a proof of the divine original of that blessed book, in which so many prophecies to this effect are contained, which are fulfilling from age to age in the view of the whole world.The Lord has indeed sent a Savior and a great One, to deliver those, who were oppressed by Satan; all that cry unto him for that redemption, are made partakers of it; and ere long he will open a way for his gospel into the remotest nations of the earth. Then hostile nations shall amicably accord in serving him; and commerce shall become, in a most eminent degree, the means of religious intercourse, and the communion of saints,' in regions most remote from each other. For they shall then alike know, trust, and worship "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," he will acknowledge them as "his people, the work of his hands," and "his chosen inheritance:" and it shall then be known, that Israel, which has been so despised and hated on earth, was indeed blessed of God, and a blessing in the midst of every land. But, what a change does the grace of God effect upon men's dispositions, conversation, and behavior! Believing his truth and attending on his ordinauces, they learn to speak a new language, sincere, pure, pious, heavenly, and instructive: (Note, Zeph. 3:9,10.) they become just, harmless, kind, and peaceable; and they live in harmony and do good, and aim to be a blessing to their neighbors, and even to their enemies. (Note, 11:6—、 9. P. O. 1-9.)-Finally, let the broken-hearted and afflicted, who call on God for his mercy, take courage; for he will be entreated, and heal their souls, and turn their sorrowing sup When ungodly men escape one threatening danger, they think themselves secure: but "evil pursueth sinners," and will speedily overtake them: and when the Lord comes to execute judgment, every false confidence will fail, and every sinner's heart will melt within him. To punish a guilty nation, the inhabitants need only to be left to themselves, and they will soon be set against one another, "every one against his brother, or his neighbor; city against city," and province against province. Thus the righteous Lord weakens offending nations, and destroys their counsel; and their foolish expedients for deliverance, involve them in still deeper guilt and misery. When collective bodies are thus divided among themselves, and either struggling to acquire or retain dominion, or aiming to preserve or recover their liberties, without regard to God, he often gives them into the hands of some foreign power, which rules over them "as a cruel lord, and a fierce king;" so that the true friends of civil liberty, and all who would be considered as reformers, should begin by seeking the favor of God, and liberty from the bondage of sin. He can soon cut off those sources of national wealth, which are looked upon as most certain: and whilst kings and nobles are forming and executing their infatuated projects, to aggrandize themselves; the poor are often deprived of employment and subsistence, and so hurried on by designing men into turbulent and ruinous measures. Indeed the comfort of the lower orders in society is seldom, if ever,||plications into joyful praises. duly regarded by ambitious men: yet, where this is neglected, the counsel of the wisest is brutish, and tends to deceive, whilst it flatters CHAP. XX. V. 1. Tartan was one of Senthose who depend upon it: and thus they be-nacherib's captains, who seems here to be NOTES. And 5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. 2 At the same time spake the LORD by *Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. 6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall he did so, walking naked and barefoot. say in that day, Behold, such is our ex3 And the LORD said, Like as my pectation, whither we flee for help to be servant Isaiah hath walked naked and delivered from the king of Assyria: 9 and barefoot three years, for a sign and how shall we escape? wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; 4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks. uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. k * Heb. the hand of Isaiah. d Jer. 13:1-11. 19:1,&c. Ez. 4.5. Matt. 16:24. CHAP. XXI. A prophecy of the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, 1-10. The burden of Dumah, 11, 12. The burden of Arabia, 13-17. a HE burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south c | h Num. 14:34. Ez. 4:5,6. Rev. pass through; so it cometh from the desert, 11:2,3. i 8:18. called Sargon. (2 Kings 18:17.) Tartan was sent by him to form the siege of Ashdod, very strong city in Philistia, (Marg. Ref. b.) which is recorded to have afterwards held out V. 6. This isle.] Or, "country." Marg.-The against a king of Egypt for twenty-nine years. Jews also, hearing of the successes of SennaTirhakah, against whom Sennacherib march-cherib against their allies, would despair of ed, was king of Cush: whether Cush meant help from that quarter, and be ready to give Ethiopia south of Egypt in Africa, or a part up all for lost. God, however, purposed to deof Arabia in Asia. (2 Kings 19:9.) The inhab- liver them by his own power, and not by heaitants of Ashdod expected help from the Egyp- then succors. (Notes, 30:1-7. 31:1–5.)` tians and Ethiopians; and many of the Jews did the same; but the prophet was ordered to predict Sennacherib's victory over those confederated nations.-Some think that Ashdod was at this time in the hands of Hezekiah. from the Ethiopians, and glorying in their alaliance with Egypt, would, on this event, despair of help, and surrender to the besiegers. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. We should by no means habituate ourselves to indulgence, sloth, or delicacy: for we know not how soon we may be called to endure V. 2-4. Multitudes of prisoners, taken by hardship, reproach, and contempt, for the the Assyrians, and reserved for sale as slaves, Lord's sake. We ought not indeed to do any would be driven before them bare-foot and un- thing of our own minds, which may appear abcovered, save with a short garment, which surd or ridiculous: but the world will often scarcely sufficed to hide their nakedness; the deem us foolish or mad, when we are singuprophet therefore, was ordered to walk abroad lar in obedience to God: (Note, 2 Kings 9:11.) in the same manner. As a mourner for the and we must at all times refuse conformity to sins and miseries of his people, and as de- its vain fashions, and be mortified to its pleasnouncing judgments on them, and as morti-ures.-The attire and demeanor of ministers fied to the world, he was used, it seems, to wear sackcloth constantly: (Notes, 2 Kings 1: 8. Zech. 13:2,3. Matt. 3:4. Rev. 11:3-6.) but on this occasion, he was to lay even that aside, and to appear exactly as the captives were exposed. This would subject him to ridicule and reproach, and be uneasy both to his body and mind: yet he promptly obeyed. It is not probable, that he continued to appear in this manner for three years: but rather it was a sign of what would take place after three years; and the wonder excited by seeing the prophet walking publicly in this manner, would render his prediction the more noticed. If he once walked out thus, it might answer this end; but it is most likely he continued to do so for three days. (Notes, Jer. 13:1-11. Ez. 4:)|| -Sennacherib is computed to have been absent above three years, from the time that he first laid Hezekiah under contributions, till he came back with the design of besieging Jerusalem. During this time he gained many advantages over the Egyptians: and just before his return, he obtained a complete victory over Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, when, it is probable, this prediction was literally fulfilled. (Notes, 2 Kings 18:13. 19:9-13.) V. 5. The Ashdodites, who had hitherto held out against the Assyrians, expecting help should be such, as may best give emphasis to their message, and call men's attention to them as the servants of God: and in order to be a sign and an example to others, we must be such men as the world wonders at.-True faith will produce implicit obedience: and the minister cannot reasonably expect that his hearers should regard his doctrine, unless he demonstrate his own belief of it by his practice.-The Lord will effectually support his servants under the most painful and mortifying effects of their obedience: and what we are called to suffer for his sake, is commonly very trivial or transient, compared with what numbers groan under from year to year, through the cruelty of conquerors, or lordly oppressors, who hold them in bondage.-All men's expectations from creatures, and glorying in them, will end in terror and shame: those who flee for succor to such deceitful refuges, will often be reduced to despair; and if the people of God have recourse to these carnal confidences, they will infallibly tend to discourage their hope and comfort: but they, who trust in the Lord, shall never finally be confounded. NOTES. CHAP. XXI. V. 1. "The ten first verses of 'this chapter contain a prediction of the taking 0 6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what 2 Agrievous vision is declared unto || e the treacherous dealer dealeth treachme; erously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, he seeth. O Elam; besiege, O Media: & all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. 3 Therefore are my loins filled with pains: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. 4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. 5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink; arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. Heb. hard. Ps. 60:3. Prov. 13:15. 48:41. 49:22. 50:43. Mic. 4:9, e 24:16. 33:1. 1 Sam. 24:13.k Deut. 28:67. Dan. 5:5,6. f 13:2-4,17,18. Jer. 50:14,34. h 15:5. 16:9,11. Hab. 3:16. 1 13:8. 26:17. Ps. 48:6. Jer. † Or, mind wandered. 1 5.11-14. 1 Sam. 25:36-38. m 22:13,14. Cor. 15:32. Dan. 5:1-5. n 13:2,17,18. 45:1-3. Jer. 51: 1 7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened. diligently with much heed. 8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and I am set in my ward whole nights: 9 And behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. 10 O my threshing, and the "corn of o 62:6. 2 Kings 9:17-20. Jer. ||| Or, every night. t Jer. 50 3,9,29,42. 51:27. u 13:19. 14.4. Jer. 50:2. 51:8, 64. Rev. 14:8. 18:2,21. x 46:1,2. Jer. 50:2,38. 51:44,47, 52. r 5:29. Jer. 4:7. 25:33. 49:19. y 41:15,16. 2 Kings 13:7. Jer. 26. 51:20-25.) For the Lord had called t. 'am, or Persia, and Media, to go up and bes ege Babylon; and thus to terminate the sighing of the captive Jews, and many others, who had been grievously oppressed by Babylon. 'of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. It is 'a passage singular in its kind, for its brevity 'and force; for the rapidity and variety of the 'movements; and for the strength and energy 'of coloring, with which the action and event is painted. It opens by the prophet seeing at V. 3-5. Almost two hundred years before 'a distance the dreadful storm that is gather- the time, the prophet here seems to personate 'ing, and ready to burst upon Babylon.' Bp. Belshazzar, on the night when Babylon was Lowth.-Babylon and the adjacent country is taken, and he was slain. (Notes, Dan. 5:) We here called "the desert of the sea;" (9) because are introduced, as it were, into the banqueting it was shortly to become desert, and a marsh room of that prince, and witness his astonishfull of pools of water; as if converted into a ment: he declares to us his dismay and anlake, or inland sea; (Vote, 14:21-23.) or be-guish, when he saw the hand which wrote, cause it stood in a large plain, which was often and the writing, on the wall; and how he overflowed by the Euphrates and the Tigris; was bowed down, when Daniel read and and had been drained by great labor and ex- explained it to him; how "his heart pantpense. The country about Babylon, and es-ed, and fearfulness affrighted him;" and the pecially below it toward the sea, was a great 'flat morass, often overflowed by the Euphrates 'and Tigris. It became habitable by being 'drained by the many canals that were made in it.' Bp. Lowth. The whirlwinds in the south of Arabia often come with destructive fury: (Marg. Ref.-Zech. 9:14. Note, Jer. 4:11 13.) thus ruin would irresistibly come upon Babylon from Media and Persia, the armies of which were very terrible; and through the deserts, which intervened between those countries and Babylon.-"The prophet renews his 'threatenings against Babylon, as he does af'terwards, (47) to convince the Jews, by this 'repetition, of the certainty of the event; and 'thereby support them under their captivity, "when that should come.' Lowth. ... V. 2. The grievous calamities coming on Babylon, were revealed in vision to the prophet. The words may be thus translated... "A 'grievous vision: there is made known to me 'an oppressor of the oppressor, and spoiler for 'the spoiler:" that is, It is now come to the king 'of Babylon's turn, to feel that oppression and 'ravage himself, which he had before brought on others. Lowth.-"The plunderer is plundered, and the destroyer is destroyed." Bp. Lowth. No change of the text is needful, for this rendering; but merely a trifling one of the vowel points. (Notes, 14:1--6. 33:1. Jer. 25:8-|| VOL. IV. 10 night, which he had set apart for peculiar pleasure, was thus turned into terror and dismay. For whilst he had given orders to prepare the feast and to set the watch, and whilst he and his princes ate and drank; Cyrus had commanded his captains, to burnish their arms, and prepare for the assault: or, Belshazzar's princes were loudly called to arms, from their riotous feasting. V.6-9. The prophet here speaks in his own person. The Lord cominanded him to set a watchman, who was required to make observations, and give notice of them: and he informed the prophet, that "he saw a chariot, with a couple of horsemen, &c." This may mean the chariots of war, and the united cavalry of the Medes and Persians; and the chariot of asses, and that of camels, may mean the carriages loaded with their baggage, drawn by these animals. It, however, described the. march of Cyrus's army, farnished with every thing requisite for forming the siege of Babylon. Having "hearkened diligently with much heed," he further cried, "a lion:" that is, the destroyers of Babylon march forward with boldness and fury, as a lion in quest of his prey: or, according to the margin, "He cried as a lion," that is, very vehemently. Mus g.) — "The particle as is frequently undersod.' Lowth. Though the watchman had been used 173 |