Matthew Henry on Isaiah 10:24–end
The prophet, in his preaching, distinguishes between the precious and the vile; for God in his providence, even in the same providence, does so. He speaks terror, in Sennacherib's invasion, to the hypocrites, who were the people of God's wrath, Isa 10:6. But here he speaks comfort to the sincere, who were the people of God's love. The judgment was sent for the sake of the former; the deliverance was wrought for the sake of the latter. Here we have,
I. An exhortation to God's people not to be frightened at this threatening calamity, nor to be put into any confusion or consternation by it. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid (Isa 33:14): but O my people, that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of t…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 10:29
passage--the jaws of the wady or defile at Michmash (Sa1 13:23; Sa1 14:4-5).
lodging--their quarters for the night, after having passed the defile which might have been easily guarded against them.
Ramah--near Geba; seven miles from Jerusalem.
Gibeah of Saul--his birthplace and residence, in Benjamin (Sa1 11:4), distinct from Gibeah of Judah (Jos 15:57).
John Gill on Isaiah 10:29
They are gone over the passage,.... Or "from the passage" (b); not of Jordan, as the Targum; but rather of Michmash, 1 Samuel 13:23 this to be understood of the king of Assyria with his army:
they have taken up their lodging at Geba; or "Geba was their lodging"; that is, for a night only; not that they continued here for any time, as our version seems to suggest. This was a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 21:17 called Geba of Benjamin, 1 Kings 15:22.
Ramah is afraid; the inhabitants of it, as the Targum, at the report of the march of the king of Assyria and his army, and their being near to them. Ramah was in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25 it is mentioned with Gibeah in Hosea 5:…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Calvin on Isaiah 10:29
They have crossed the ford. [175] Some understand by this the passage of the Jordan, but I do not know if it could be crossed by a ford in that quarter. [176] He describes how great will be the terror when they hear of the approach of the Assyrian, that the whole country will be struck with terror and alarm, so that the Assyrian will subdue it without any difficulty. When such dread has seized their hearts, they will freely surrender at the first attack of the enemy, so that the conquerors will be allowed to ravage at their pleasure. He passes from the singular to the plural number, because he speaks sometimes of the king and sometimes of the whole army.
Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is f…
