The next chapter, the Ixiiid, is of more difficulty and doubtful interpretation. It is appointed by our church to be read for the epistle on the Monday before Easter, and therefore must be supposed by it to relate to Christ. Yet many commentators of great note and learning believe that Judas Maccabeus is the person described therein; but surely however eminent his character might be, it could not be said of him, I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me; (ver. 3.) And I looked, and there was none to help: and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me. (ver. 5.) For these are the very expressions which the prophet puts into the mouth of God himself in the 16th verse of the lixth chapter; moreover the country called Edom, or Idumea, in the time when the prophet wrote, was not the same as that which Judas Maccabeus conquered, which was in reality the south of Judea, then inhabit ed by the remains of the ancient Edomites, and called after their name * Indeed the sublime style of this prophecy evidently alludes to something of more importance than any merely temporal victories; yet in the literal sense it cannot be applied to Christ. Some therefore have considered it in an allegorical light, and referred it to the final conquest of Christ and his church over their adversaries, in which case it has not yet received its completion. And there is great reason to suppose this to be the true interpretation of the six first verses of this chapter, which are all that relate to this subject. For if these verses be compared with the xxxivth chapter, they will appear evidently to be prophetic of the * Sec this clearly explained both by Lowth and Prideaux. + Christus ecclesiam a tyrannide Antichristi et aliorum persecutorum suo tempore potenter liberaturus, et illos profligaturus est. Piscator in locum. See also the same figure of the wine-press used in Rev. xiv. 19; and xix. 15. same same events. And these are pointed out as of the utmost importance, in the most lofty style and terrible description. Let the earth hear and all that is therein-For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations-The mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scrowl *. And this judgment is here also particularly applied to Idumea, and Bozrah, its chief city: For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold it shall come upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood—for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea, (Isaiah xxxiv. first 6 verses). The Edomites, or Idumeans, were the great enemies of the Jews, always assisting their * And the Heaven departed as a scrowl, when it is rolled together. Rev. vi. 14. The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise-the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved. 2 Pet. iii. 10, 12. oppressors, oppressors, and insulting them in their distresses; hence they are specified by name; and by a very common figure * in prophecy, these particular enemies of the Jews are put for the enemies of the church of Christ in general. It is highly probable therefore that this prophecy, in the beginning of the Ixiiid chapter is not yet fulfilled. That Christ is the person spoken of in it, glorious in his apparel, and travelling in the greatness of his strength, I think there can be no doubt; but whether it relates to his final advent to judge the world, to the Millen * Atque eadem plane est ratio Botsræ et Idumeæ, urbis gentisque Dei populo infestissimæ ;-est appellatio a proprio ad universi generis rationem traducta; sive, imaginis a re certa definitaque ad notionem infinitam et universalem designandam per analogiam facta translatio; qua etiam suam hic proprietatem habet vocum ipsarum vis ac potestas." Lowth, Prælect. xx. in In Wells's paraphrase he calls this," a prophecy of Christ's delivering his church from all her enemies when the Millennium is come." nium nium * as Dr. Wells supposes, or to some great and signal event before that time, is not so easy to determine; nor should a light or hasty opinion be given upon a subject so obscure and yet so awful †. This is the last of the prophecies of Isaiah which relate immediately to the * See Newton on the Prophecies, Vol. iii. concerning the Millennium. +"Ne curiosus quære causas omnium, Quæcunque libris vis prophetarum edidit, Nec operta sacri supparo silentii Docere non vult, erudita inscitia est*" Scaliger, as quoted by " Philopatris Varvicensis." The author has frequently quoted Bp. Lowth, and is tempted to add the important testimony of Primate Newcome to his merit.." This truly learned and ingenious Prelate has contributed more than any writer of the age towards enabling us to understand the sense of the Hebrew Scriptures, to taste their beauties, and to restore their integrity by the rules of sound criticism. His exposition of Isaiah is the best commentary extant on any part of the Old Testament." Newcome's Hist. View of the Eng. Bibl. Trans. Dublin, 1792. * Supposed to be Dr. Parr, in " Characters of the Rt. Hon. C. J. Fox." Messiah; |