To a nation expecting, and expecting, and still trampled under foot, Whose land the rivers have spoiled.' This can hardly describe any other people than the descendants of Israel. The symbolical inundations had ruined their country, themselves were dispersed and scattered; but, when gathered from this dispersion, they are to be the object of fear and reverence for ever. It follows: --- 3. All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers upon the earth, As it were, a signal lifted up upon the mountains, shall ye behold, As it were, the sounding of a trumpet shall ye hear. The attention of the whole world is called to some sign, or summons, that the God of heaven will then give. A similar language has been held before; but, probably, the fulfilment alone will discover what is particularly meant. 4. For thus hath Jehovah said to me, 1 That I should rest, and observe from my station, 3 , Arab. l," subjecit sibi."-SIMON. Also, "fraxit," "rapuit;" "spoiled."-HORSLEY. 2 "Rivers," i. e. the armies of conquerors, which long since have spoiled the land of the Jews: and so the passage was understood by Jonathan, who, for the metaphor "rivers," puts, what he understood 5 Isaiah, v. 26; xi. 10. The metaphor, as I conjecture, is, the observer is to watch for certain well known meteorological signs of the time of the vintage. This will be necessary, because in the vineyard itself every hope and every mark of the ripening harvest will have been destroyed. But, nevertheless, the observer shall not wait the season in vain. 5. For before the vintage, when the bud is perfect, And the sour grape is set in the blossom; When he shall have cut off the swinging bines' with pruning hooks, And the knife hath removed the superfluous shoots; 6. They shall be given up together to the birds of the mountains, And to the beasts of the earth: And the birds of the mountains shall harvest thereon, And every beast of the earth shall pluck there the autumnal fruits. 7. At that time Shall a present be presented to Jehovah Sabaoth: A people scattered and cast away, A people feared from that day and henceforward. A nation expecting, expecting, and still trampled under foot, Is the place of Jehovah Sabaoth in Mount Zion. This language is certainly, to us, at present very ob scure. It seems to denote the time when this glorious event is to take place, counted, as it were, by the progress of vegetation in the symbolical vineyard before described. After marking the progress of its vegetation, and seeing every preparation made for the ensuing harvest, at that very time," in the day of the torrent, or inundation," should all be swept away, and the vineyard become a desolation. Yet, notwithstanding this disappointment of the hopes of the wasting people of God, at that very season, would God, by other means, be establishing his word, and accomplishing the deliverance of his people. But there are obscurities in the language, which only the event can explain. It was, however, necessary for us to notice this prophecy, as one of those that trace the approach of the second advent in the future history of Israel. SECTION VIII. Remarks on the latter Part of the Nineteenth Chapter. THE burden of Egypt follows next in the prophecy; and it is evident from the conclusion, that the Spirit pursues the history of this country, till with Assyria it is absorbed into the kingdom of Messiah. I should suppose the transition takes place in the sixteenth verse-from that low and helpless condition in which Egypt now lies, to the revolutions of the last times, which end in her eternal emancipation. * Compare xi. 11. 16. In that day Shall Egypt be as a woman, and shall fear and tremble At the shaking of the hand of Jehovah, Which he shaketh against it: 17. And the land of Judah shall be an object of terror to Egypt, Every one that maketh mention thereof shall tremble because of it.* From prophecies already considered, we can easily account for the panic of Egypt at "the shaking of the hand of Jehovah;" and why the mention of the land of Judah should be a terror to Egypt. We have learned that Egypt and Ethiopia will be in the hand of the last adversary, and he will of course recruit in these countries his armies, when he advances on his fatal expedition, and falls on the mountains of Israel. Egypt will, therefore, deeply share in the calamities of the last times; but happy is the issue. 18. In that day There shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, Speaking the language of Canaan, And swearing by Jehovah Sabaoth; The city of destruction' shall one be called. The reader may see, in Bishop Lowth's note, an inti mation of the manner in which the schismatical Jews, who in a later age were settled in Egypt, applied this prophecy to themselves; but with very little appearance of truth. Neither will the profession of the Christian religion in Egypt, at a still later period, afford events corresponding with the language of the prediction - we are compelled to look to a future season. 19. In that day, There shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, And a pillar on its border to Jehovah : 20. And it shall be for a sign, and a witness To Jehovah Sabaoth in the land of Egypt. This verse seems to describe such a sort of intercourse between Israel and Egypt, as was intended to exist between the main body of the former nation, and the two tribes and a half that were situated beyond Jordan, when they built their "altar of testimony" on the banks of that river. When they shall cry to Jehovah, because of oppressors, And Jehovah shall be known to the Egyptians, And Jehovah shall smite Egypt, smiting and healing; 1 Or, a Saviour, and one to contend for them; an advocate. See Bp. Stock. |