33:1 Woe to thee that a layest waste, and thou [wast] not laid
waste; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not
treacherously with thee! when thou shalt b cease to lay
waste, thou shalt be wasted; [and] when thou shalt make an
end of dealing treacherously, c they shall deal
treacherously with thee.
(a) Meaning, the enemies of the Church, as were the
Chaldeans and Assyrians, but chiefly of Sennacherib,
but not only.
(b) When your appointed time will come that God will take
away your power: and that which you have wrongfully
gained, will be given to others, as in (Am 5:11).
(c) The Chaldeans will do the same to the Assyrians, as the
Assyrians did to Israel, and the Medes and Persians
will do the same to the Chaldeans.
33:2d O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for thee: be
thou e their arm every morning, our salvation also in the
time of trouble.
(d) He declares by this what is the chief refuge of the
faithful, when troubles come, to pray, and seek help
from God.
(e) Which helped our fathers as soon as they called on you.
33:3 At the noise of the tumult the f people fled; at the g
lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
(f) That is, the Assyrians fled before the army of the
Chaldeans, or the Chaldeans for fear of the Medes and
Persians.
(g) When you, O Lord, lifted up your arm to punish your
enemies.
33:4 And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of
the h caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts
shall i he run upon them.
(h) You who as caterpillars destroyed with your number the
whole world, will have no strength to resist your
enemies the Chaldeans: but will be gathered on a heap
and destroyed.
(i) Meaning, the Medes and Persians against the Chaldeans.
33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of k thy
times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD
[is] his treasure.
(k) That is, in the days of Hezekiah.
33:7 Behold, l their valiant ones shall cry outside: the m
ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
(l) Sent from Sennacherib.
(m) Whom they of Jerusalem sent to intreat of peace.
33:8 The n highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he
hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he
regardeth no man.
(n) These are the words of the ambassadors, when they
returned from Sennacherib.
33:9 The earth mourneth [and] languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed
[and] hewn down: o Sharon is like a wilderness; and
Bashan and Carmel shake off [their fruits].
(o) Which was a plentiful country, meaning, that
Sennacherib would destroy all.
33:10 Now will I p rise, saith the LORD; now will I be
exalted; now will I lift up myself.
(p) To help and deliver my Church.
33:11q Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble:
your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you.
(q) This is spoken against the enemies, who thought all
was their own, but he shows that their enterprise will
be in vain, and that the fire which they had kindled
for others would consume them.
33:13 Ye [that are] r far off, hear what I have done; and, ye
[that are] near, acknowledge my might.
(r) His vengeance will be so great that all the world will
talk of it.
33:14 The s sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath
surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with
the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with
everlasting burnings?
(s) Which do not believe the words of the prophet, and the
assurance of their deliverance.
33:16 He shall dwell on t high: his place of defence [shall
be] the strong holds of rocks: bread shall be given him;
his waters [shall be] sure.
(t) Meaning, that God will be a sure defence to all them
that live according to his word.
33:17 Thy eyes shall u see the king in his beauty: they shall
behold the x land that is very far off.
(u) They will see Hezekiah delivered from his enemies and
restored to honour and glory.
(x) They will be no more shut in as they were by
Sennacherib, but go where it pleases them.
33:18 Thy heart y shall meditate terror. Where [is] the
scribe? where [is] the receiver? where [is] he that
counted the towers?
(y) Before this liberty comes you will think that you are
in great danger: for the enemy will so sharply assail
you that one will cry "Where is the clerk that writes
the names of them who are taxed?" another, "Where is
the receiver?" another will cry for him that values
the rich houses, but God will deliver you from this
fear.
33:21 But there the glorious LORD [will be] to us a place z of
broad rivers [and] streams; in which shall go no galley
with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass through it.
(z) Let us be content with this small river of Shiloah and
not desire the great streams and rivers, by which the
enemies may bring in ships and destroy us.
33:23 Thy a tacklings are loosed; they could not well
strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail:
then is the b prey of a great spoil divided; the lame
take the prey.
(a) He derides the Assyrians and enemies of the Church,
declaring their destruction as they who perish by
shipwreck.
(b) He comforts the Church, and shows that they will be
enriched with all benefits both of body and soul.
