9 Its streams will be turned into pitch,
its dust into sulfur,
And its land will become burning pitch. 10 It won’t be quenched night nor day.
Its smoke will go up forever.
From generation to generation, it will lie waste.
No one will pass through it forever and ever. 11 But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it.
The owl and the raven will dwell in it.
He will stretch the line of confusion over it,
and the plumb line of emptiness. 12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there;
and all its princes shall be nothing. 13 Thorns will come up in its palaces,
nettles and thistles in its fortresses;
and it will be a habitation of jackals,
a court for ostriches. 14 The wild animals of the desert will meet with the wolves,
and the wild goat will cry to his fellow.
Yes, the night creature [1] shall settle there,
and shall find herself a place of rest. 15 The arrow snake will make her nest there,
and lay, hatch, and gather under her shade.
Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate. 16 Search in the book of Yahweh, and read:
not one of these will be missing.
none will lack her mate.
For my mouth has commanded,
and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them,
and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line.
They shall possess it forever.
From generation to generation they will dwell in it.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 34:9-17

Commentary on Isaiah 34:9-17

(Read Isaiah 34:9-17)

Those who aim to ruin the church, can never do that, but will ruin themselves. What dismal changes sin can make! It turns a fruitful land into barrenness, a crowded city into a wilderness. Let us compare all we discover in the book of the Lord, with the dealings of providence around us, that we may be more diligent in seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. What the mouth of the Lord has commanded, his Spirit will perform. And let us observe how the evidences of the truth continually increase, as one prophecy after another is fulfilled, until these awful scenes bring in more happy days. As Israel was a figure of the Christian church, so the Edomites, their bitter enemies, represent the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. God's Jerusalem may be laid in ruins for a time, but the enemies of the church shall be desolate for ever.