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Text -- Isaiah 10:18 (NET)

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Context
10:18 The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, as when a sick man’s life ebbs away.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: WAR; WARFARE | SOUL | Oppression | Nineveh | Isaiah | ISAIAH, 1-7 | God | GLORY | FAINT | BANNER | Assyria | ASSYRIA, ASSHUR | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Isa 10:18 - -- Of his great army, which may not unfitly be compared to a forest, for the numbers of men, who stood as thick as trees do in a forest.

Of his great army, which may not unfitly be compared to a forest, for the numbers of men, who stood as thick as trees do in a forest.

Wesley: Isa 10:18 - -- Of his soldiers, who stood as thick as ears of corn in a fruitful field.

Of his soldiers, who stood as thick as ears of corn in a fruitful field.

Wesley: Isa 10:18 - -- Totally, both inwardly and outwardly.

Totally, both inwardly and outwardly.

Wesley: Isa 10:18 - -- Like that of an army when their standard - bearer is slain or flees away, which strikes a panic into the whole army.

Like that of an army when their standard - bearer is slain or flees away, which strikes a panic into the whole army.

JFB: Isa 10:17-18 - -- Carrying out the image in the end of Isa 10:16. Jehovah, who is a light to Israel, shall be the "fire" (Deu 4:24; Heb 12:29) that shall ignite the "th...

Carrying out the image in the end of Isa 10:16. Jehovah, who is a light to Israel, shall be the "fire" (Deu 4:24; Heb 12:29) that shall ignite the "thorns," (the Assyrians, like dry fuel, a ready prey to flame).

JFB: Isa 10:18 - -- The common soldiers, the princes, officers, &c., all alike together, shall be consumed (see on Isa 9:18).

The common soldiers, the princes, officers, &c., all alike together, shall be consumed (see on Isa 9:18).

JFB: Isa 10:18 - -- (Isa 37:36).

JFB: Isa 10:18 - -- Literally, "Carmel," a rich mountain in the tribe of Asher. Figurative for Sennacherib's mighty army. Perhaps alluding to his own boasting words about...

Literally, "Carmel," a rich mountain in the tribe of Asher. Figurative for Sennacherib's mighty army. Perhaps alluding to his own boasting words about to be uttered (Isa 37:24), "I will enter the forest of his Carmel."

JFB: Isa 10:18 - -- Proverbial for utterly; the entire man is made up of soul and body.

Proverbial for utterly; the entire man is made up of soul and body.

JFB: Isa 10:18 - -- Rather, "they shall be as when a sick man" (from a Syriac root) wastes away." Compare "leanness," that is, wasting destruction (Isa 10:16) [MAURER]. O...

Rather, "they shall be as when a sick man" (from a Syriac root) wastes away." Compare "leanness," that is, wasting destruction (Isa 10:16) [MAURER]. Or, "there shall be an entire dissipation, like a perfect melting" (namely, of the Assyrian army) [HORSLEY].

Calvin: Isa 10:18 - -- 18.And shall consume the glory of his forest He goes on with the same comparison of a burning, and declares that the fire will consume both the high...

18.And shall consume the glory of his forest He goes on with the same comparison of a burning, and declares that the fire will consume both the highest and the lowest, and will leave nothing uninjured. It is possible that a fire might destroy the higher parts of a building, and might leave the lower parts unaffected.

And of his fruitful field I do not think that כרמל ( Carmel) is here a proper name, but rather an appellative, denoting a rich and fertile soil; for to say that Carmel was held as belonging to the dominion of the king of Assyria, would have been inadmissible. The meaning therefore is, that not only will destruction overtake his forests, but the corn will be consumed by the same fire; for it will not only range over the heights, but will penetrate into the lowest places.

From the soul even to the flesh This comparison is taken from man. As man consists of a body and a soul, so each part of him is liable to separate diseases. It frequently happens that, when the soul is healthy, the body is diseased; and often the reverse takes place; but when both are unhealthy at the same time, the case is most dangerous. By this comparison, therefore, he threatens that the Assyrians will have nothing safe or sound, but that they will be devoted to utter destruction, because they will perish from the flesh even to the soul; not that souls are mortal, but because the vengeance of God will fall upon them also. This is truly dreadful; for the design of chastisements is,

that the spirit may be saved, though the flesh be destroyed,
(1Co 5:5;)

but when the spirit also is involved in the destruction, what can be said or imagined that is more miserable? The flame only scorches the godly, but does not consume them as it consumes the ungodly, in whom it finds nothing but fuel fit for burning.

And it shall be as the fainting of a standard-bearer There is an allusion in the words of the Prophet, which cannot be conveyed in another language. The meaning is the same as in the other comparisons, that there will be utter destruction, like the complete rout of an army when the standard has been taken. When the ensigns have been taken, it is commonly followed by a great slaughter; and when historians describe a fearful carnage, they tell us that the ensigns were taken. He does not threaten these things against the Assyrians on their own account, that they may receive advantage from the warning or may be led to repentance, but to yield consolation to the godly, that they may not think that the Assyrians will pass unpunished when they raged so fiercely against the people of God, or entertain fears either that the Lord has forgotten his promise, or that he cannot frustrate their designs. If the Prophet had not put them on their guard, many scruples of this kind might have arisen in their minds.

TSK: Isa 10:18 - -- consume : Isa 10:33, Isa 10:34, Isa 9:18; 2Ki 19:23, 2Ki 19:28; Jer 21:14; Eze 20:47, Eze 20:48 both soul and body : Heb. from the soul and even to th...

consume : Isa 10:33, Isa 10:34, Isa 9:18; 2Ki 19:23, 2Ki 19:28; Jer 21:14; Eze 20:47, Eze 20:48

both soul and body : Heb. from the soul and even to the flesh

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Isa 10:18 - -- The glory of his forest - In these expressions, the army of Sennacherib is compared with a beautiful grove thick set with trees; and as all the...

The glory of his forest - In these expressions, the army of Sennacherib is compared with a beautiful grove thick set with trees; and as all the beauty of a grove which the fire overruns is destroyed, so, says the prophet, it will be with the army of the Assyrian under the judgments of God. If the ‘ briers and thorns’ Isa 10:17 refer to the common soldiers of his army, then the glory of the forest - the tall, majestic trees - refer to the princes and nobles. But this mode of interpretation should not be pressed too far.

And of his fruitful field - וכרמלו ve kare milô . The word used here - "carmel"- is applied commonly to a rich mountain or promontory on the Mediterranean, on the southern boundary of the tribe of Asher. The word, however, properly means a fruitful field, a finely cultivated country, and Was given to Mount Carmel on this account, In this place it has no reference to that mountain, but is given to the army of Sennacherib to "keep up the figure"which the prophet commenced in Isa 10:17. That army, numerous, mighty, and well disciplined, was compared to an extensive region of hill and vale; of forests and fruitful fields; but it should all be destroyed as when the fire runs over fields and forests, and consumes all their beauty. Perhaps in all this, there may be allusion to the proud boast of Sennacherib 2Ki 19:23, that he would ‘ go up the sides of Lebanon, and cut down the cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof’ , and enter into the forest of Carmel.’ In allusion, possibly, to this, the prophet says that God would cut down the tall trees and desolate the fruitful field - the ‘ carmel’ of his army, and would lay all waste.

Both soul and body - Hebrew, ‘ From the soul to the flesh;’ that is, entirely. As the soul and the flesh, or body, compose the entire man, so the phrase denotes the entireness or totality of anything. The army would be totally ruined.

And they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth - There is here a great variety of interpretation. The Septuagint reads it: ‘ And he shall flee as one that flees from a burning flame.’ This reading Lowth has followed; but for this there is not the slightest authority in the Hebrew. The Vulgate reads it, ‘ And he shall fly for terror, "et crit terrore profugus."The Chaldee, ‘ And he shall be broken, and shall fly.’ The Syriac, ‘ And he shall be as if he had never been.’ Probably the correct idea is, "and they shall be as when a sick man wastes away."The words which are used ( נסס כמסס kı̂me sos nosēs ) are brought together for the sake of a paranomasia - a figure of speech common in the Hebrew. The word rendered in our version "fainteth"( מסס me sos ) is probably the infinitive construct of the verb מסס mâsas , "to melt, dissolve, faint."It is applied to the manna that was dissolved by the heat of the sun, Exo 16:21; to wax melted by the fire, Psa 68:2; to a snail that consumes away, Psa 58:8; or to water that evaporates, Psa 58:7.

Hence, it is applied to the heart, exhausted of its vigor and spirit, Job 7:5; to things decayed that have lost their strength, 1Sa 15:9; to a loan or tax laid upon a people that wastes and exhausts their wealth. It has the general notion, therefore, of melting, fainting, sinking away with the loss of strength; Psa 22:14; Psa 112:10; Psa 97:5; Isa 19:1; Isa 13:7; Jos 2:11; Jos 5:1; Jos 7:5. The word rendered "standard-bearer"( נסס nosēs ) is from the verb נסס nāsas . This word signifies sometimes "to lift up,"to elevate, or to erect a flag or standard to public view, to call men to arms; Isa 5:26; Isa 11:10, Isa 11:12; Isa 13:2; Isa 18:3; Isa 49:22; and also to lift up, or to exhibit anything as a judgment or public warning, and may thus be applied to divine judgments. Gesenius renders the verb, "to waste away, to be sick."In Syriac it has this signification. Taylor ("Heb. Con.") says, that it does not appear that this word ever has the signification of a military standard under which armies fight, but refers to a standard or ensign to "call"men together, or to indicate alarm and danger. The probable signification here, is that which refers it to a man wasting away with sickness, whose strength and vigor are gone, and who becomes weak and helpless. Thus applied to the Assyrian army, it is very striking. Though mighty, confident, and vigorous-like a man in full health - yet it would be like a vigorous man when disease comes upon him, and he pines away and sinks to the grave.

Poole: Isa 10:18 - -- Of his forrest of his great army, which may not unfitly be compared to a forest, either for the multitude of their spears, which, when lifted up toge...

Of his forrest of his great army, which may not unfitly be compared to a forest, either for the multitude of their spears, which, when lifted up together, resemble the trees of a wood or forest; or for the numbers of men, which stood as thick as trees do in a forest. Of his fruitful field ; of his soldiers, which stood as thick as ears of corn do in a fruitful field. Heb. of his Carmel ; wherein it is not improbably conjectured by our late most learned Mr. Gataker, that there is an allusion to that brag of the Assyrian, who threatens that he would go up to the sides of (Israel’ s) Lebanon , and to the forest of his Carmel , and there cut down the tall cedars thereof : which though it was not uttered by the Assyrian till some years after this time, yet was exactly foreknown to God, who understandeth men’ s thoughts , and much more their words, afar off , Psa 139:2-4 , and therefore might direct the prophet to use the same words, and to turn them against himself; Whereas thou threatenest to destroy Israel’ s Carmel, I will destroy thy Carmel

Both soul and body i.e. totally, both inwardly and outwardly, both strength and life. Heb. from the soul to the flesh ; which may possibly signify the manner of their death, which should be by a sudden stroke of the destroying angel upon their inward and vital parts, which was speedily followed by the consumption of their flesh. See Isa 37:35,36 .

They shall be the state of that king, and of his great and valiant army, shall be,

as when a standard-bearer fainteth like that of an army when their standard-bearer either is slain, or rather flees away, which strikes a panic terror into the whole army, and puts them to flight.

Haydock: Isa 10:18 - -- Glory. Officers. --- Flesh. Or body. All shall perish. (Haydock) --- Fear. Sennacherib escaped alone, and fell by the sword of his own sons.

Glory. Officers. ---

Flesh. Or body. All shall perish. (Haydock) ---

Fear. Sennacherib escaped alone, and fell by the sword of his own sons.

Gill: Isa 10:18 - -- And shall consume the glory of his forest,.... The Assyrian army is compared to a "forest", for the number of men in it; and for the mighty men in it,...

And shall consume the glory of his forest,.... The Assyrian army is compared to a "forest", for the number of men in it; and for the mighty men in it, comparable to large and tall trees, such as oaks and cedars; and like a wood or forest a numerous army looks, when in rank and file, in proper order, and with banners, and having on their armour, their shields, spears, bows and arrows; and the "glory" of it intends either the princes and nobles that were in it, the principal officers, generals, and captains; or the riches of it, the plunder of the Egyptians and Ethiopians, as Kimchi observes, which were all destroyed at once:

both soul and body, or "from the soul even to the flesh" o; which denotes the total consumption of them, nothing of them remaining; the Targum is,

"the glory of the multitude of his army, and their souls with their bodies, it shall consume;''

and so some understand this of the eternal destruction of soul and body in hell: the Rabbins are divided about the manner of the consumption of the Assyrian army; some say their bodies and souls were both burnt, which these words seem to favour; and others, that their souls were burnt, and not their bodies, their lives were taken away, and their bodies unhurt; which they think is favoured by Isa 10:16 where it is said, "under his glory", and not "his glory" p:

and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth; who when he fails, the whole company or army is thrown into confusion, and flees; and so the Targum,

"and he shall be broken, and flee.''

Some render it, "as the dust of the worm that eats wood" q; so Jarchi; signifying that they should be utterly destroyed, and become as small as the dust that falls from a worm eaten tree; which simile is used, a forest being made mention of before.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 10:18 The precise meaning of this line is uncertain. מָסַס (masas), which is used elsewhere of substances dissolving or meltin...

Geneva Bible: Isa 10:18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul ( n ) and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer ( o ) faint...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Isa 10:1-34 - --1 The woe of tyrants.5 Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, for his pride shall be broken.20 A remnant of Israel shall be saved.24 Judah is comforted with ...

MHCC: Isa 10:5-19 - --See what a change sin made. The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought to act by his own will. The tyrants of the world are tools of Providence. God d...

Matthew Henry: Isa 10:5-19 - -- The destruction of the kingdom of Israel by Shalmaneser king of Assyria was foretold in the foregoing chapter, and it had its accomplishment in the ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 10:18-19 - -- "And the glory of his forest and his garden-ground will He destroy, even to soul and flesh, so that it is as when a sick man dieth. And the remnant...

Constable: Isa 7:1--39:8 - --III. Israel's crisis of faith chs. 7--39 This long section of the book deals with Israel's major decision in Isa...

Constable: Isa 7:1--12:6 - --A. The choice between trusting God or Assyria chs. 7-12 This section of Isaiah provides a historical int...

Constable: Isa 10:5--12:1 - --3. Hope of God's deliverance 10:5-11:16 Earlier (7:1-8:22) God revealed that He would use Assyri...

Constable: Isa 10:5-34 - --The destruction of the destroyer 10:5-34 This segment presents Yahweh as the transcenden...

Constable: Isa 10:12-19 - --The object of destruction 10:12-19 10:12 When God finished using Assyria as His rod to punish Mt. Zion and Jerusalem, He would punish Assyria too for ...

Guzik: Isa 10:1-34 - --Isaiah 10 - Assyria Judged Since Isaiah 10:1-4 connects with Isaiah 9, it is examined in the previous chapter. A. God's judgment on arrogant Assyria. ...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Isaiah (Book Introduction) ISAIAH, son of Amoz (not Amos); contemporary of Jonah, Amos, Hosea, in Israel, but younger than they; and of Micah, in Judah. His call to a higher deg...

JFB: Isaiah (Outline) PARABLE OF JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD. (Isa. 5:1-30) SIX DISTINCT WOES AGAINST CRIMES. (Isa. 5:8-23) (Lev 25:13; Mic 2:2). The jubilee restoration of posses...

TSK: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah has, with singular propriety, been denominated the Evangelical Prophet, on account of the number and variety of his prophecies concerning the a...

TSK: Isaiah 10 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Isa 10:1, The woe of tyrants; Isa 10:5, Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, for his pride shall be broken; Isa 10:20, A remnant of Israel sha...

Poole: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT THE teachers of the ancient church were of two sorts: 1. Ordinary, the priests and Levites. 2. Extraordinary, the prophets. These we...

Poole: Isaiah 10 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 10 The woe of unjust oppressors, Isa 10:1-4 : of Assyria for their pride and ambition: his folly in it, Isa 10:5-19 . A remnant of Israel s...

MHCC: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and...

MHCC: Isaiah 10 (Chapter Introduction) (Isa 10:1-4) Woes against proud oppressors. (Isa 10:5-19) The Assyrian but an instrument in the hand of God for the punishment of his people. (Isa 1...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Isaiah Prophet is a title that sounds very great to those that understand it, t...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah 10 (Chapter Introduction) The prophet, in this chapter, is dealing, I. With the proud oppressors of his people at home, that abused their power, to pervert justice, whom he...

Constable: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and writer The title of this book of the Bible, as is true of the o...

Constable: Isaiah (Outline) Outline I. Introduction chs. 1-5 A. Israel's condition and God's solution ch. 1 ...

Constable: Isaiah Isaiah Bibliography Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah. 1846, 1847. Revised ed. ...

Haydock: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS. INTRODUCTION. This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, (Ecclesiasticus xlviii. 25.) the great prophet; from t...

Gill: Isaiah (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH This book is called, in the New Testament, sometimes "the Book of the Words of the Prophet Esaias", Luk 3:4 sometimes only t...

Gill: Isaiah 10 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 10 This chapter contains denunciations of punishment, first on the governors of the Jewish nation, and then upon the Assyria...

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