8 A word hath the Lord sent into Jacob, And it hath fallen in Israel. 9 And the people have known—all of it, Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria, In pride and in greatness of heart, saying, 10 'Bricks have fallen, and hewn work we build, Sycamores have been cut down, and cedars we renew.' 11 And Jehovah setteth the adversaries of Rezin on high above him, And his enemies he joineth together, 12 Aram from before, and Philistia from behind, And they devour Israel with the whole mouth. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out. 13 And the people hath not turned back unto Him who is smiting it, And Jehovah of Hosts they have not sought. 14 And Jehovah cutteth off from Israel head and tail, Branch and reed—the same day, 15 Elder, and accepted of face, he 'is' the head, Prophet, teacher of falsehood, he 'is' the tail. 16 And the eulogists of this people are causing to err, And its eulogised ones are consumed. 17 Therefore, over its young men the Lord rejoiceth not, And its orphans, and its widows He pitieth not, For every one 'is' profane, and an evil doer, And every mouth is speaking folly. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out. 18 For burned as a fire hath wickedness, Brier and thorn it devoureth, And it kindleth in thickets of the forest, And they lift themselves up, an exaltation of smoke! 19 In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts Hath the land been consumed, And the people is as fuel of fire; A man on his brother hath no pity, 20 And cutteth down on the right, and hath been hungry, And he devoureth on the left, And they have not been satisfied, Each the flesh of his own arm they devour. 21 Manasseh—Ephraim, and Ephraim—Manasseh, Together they 'are' against Judah, With all this not turned back hath His anger. And still His hand is stretched out!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 9:8-21
Commentary on Isaiah 9:8-21
(Read Isaiah 9:8-21)
Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts are unhumbled under humbling providences. For that which God designs, in smiting us, is, to turn us to himself; and if this point be not gained by lesser judgments, greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill. Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in trouble, and see no way out; and when men's ways displease the Lord, he makes even their friends to be at war with them. God would take away those they thought to have help from. Their rulers were the head. Their false prophets were the tail and the rush, the most despicable. In these civil contests, men preyed on near relations who were as their own flesh. The people turn not to Him who smites them, therefore he continues to smite: for when God judges, he will overcome; and the proudest, stoutest sinner shall either bend or break.