Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE ASSYRIAN ADVANCE.

467

be dismayed and ashamed, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. And the inhabitant of this coastland shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered. from the king of Assyria; how then shall we escape?

And Isaiah spake also, saying: Thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts: O My people that dwellest in Zion, fear not because of the Assyrian; though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a little moment, and Mine indignation is at an end. And Jehovah of Hosts shall brandish against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. As His rod was over the sea, so shall He lift it up again as at the coming forth from Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be burst by reason of the fat.

He is come to Aiath, he hath passed through Migron; at Michmash he layeth up his baggage. They are gone through the pass; at Geba they lodged the night. Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul is fled. Cry shrilly with thy voice, daughter of Gallim! Hearken, Laishah! Answer, Anathoth! Madmenah is fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim gather for flight. This very day he halteth at Nob; he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, shall lop the boughs with a crash; and the high of stature shall be felled, and the lofty brought low. And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a Mighty One.

And there cometh forth a Shoot from Jesse's stock,

and a Branch from his roots beareth fruit. And the spirit of Jehovah resteth upon him, the spirit of wisdom and discernment, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah ; and he draweth his breath in the fear of Jehovah. And he judgeth not after the sight of his eyes, nor decideth after the hearing of his ears. And with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble in the land; but he shall smite the terrible with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together-and a little child leading them. And the cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat hay like the ox. And the suckling shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child put his hand on the adder's den. None shall hurt nor destroy in all my holy mount; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as it were the waters of the sea covering it.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Root of Jesse, which standeth for a banner of the nations-unto him shall the nations gather; and his resting-place shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah shall again stretch forth His hand to purchase the remnant of His people, that remaineth, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Ethiopia, and from Elam, and from Babylonia, and from Hamath, and from the countries of the sea. And He shall set up a banner for the nations, and assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from

A RULER FROM BETHLEHEM.

469

the four corners of the earth. As Jehovah utterly destroyed the tongue of the Egyptian sea, so shall He shake His hand against the River (Euphrates), and smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, that remaineth, from Assyria; like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

And Micah the Morashtite, the prophet, spake concerning Jerusalem, saying: Now why dost thou cry out mightily? Is there no king in thee, is thy counsellor perished, that pangs as of a travailing woman have taken hold of thee? Twist and writhe, daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail. And now many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye gaze on Zion. But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, nor discern His plan; for He hath gathered them like sheaves for threshing. Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for I will make thine horn iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass; and thou shalt tread fine many peoples, and devote to Jehovah their gain, and their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

Now gather thy troops, daughter of troops; lay siege against us. With the rod they smite the judge of Israel upon the cheek. But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, too small to be counted among the thousands of Judah, out of thee cometh forth he that shall be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from days of yore.

Jehovah giveth them up, until she that travaileth hath brought forth; then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the sons of Israel.

Now Shebna was the chief officer of King Hezekiah, and against him came the word of Jehovah unto Isaiah

son of Amoz, because he counselled Hezekiah to rebel against the king of Assyria, saying: Go, get thee unto this high officer, unto Shebna, who is over the palace, and say : What doest thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre ?-hewing him a lofty sepulchre, carving him a dwelling in the rock! Behold, Jehovah hurleth thee violently, clutching thee tight. He will roll thee with a long roll into a land of broad plains; there shalt thou die, thither shall go the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of thy lord's house. I will thrust thee from thine office, and from thy station shall they pull thee down. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call My servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and clothe him with thy robe, and bind him with thy girdle, and put thy government in his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

CHAPTER V.

II. KINGS, xviii.-xx. II. CHRONICLES, Xxxii. PROVERBS, xxv. ISAIAH, xxii., xxx., xxxi., xxxvi., xxxvii.

THE INVASION OF SENNACHERIB.

Hezekiah Rebels-Egyptian Alliance-Denounced by Isaiah-Egypt Helpeth in Vain-The Name of Jehovah-Jehovah Shieldeth Zion-Sennacherib Enters Judah-Preparations for Defence-Denounced by Isaiah-Look to Jehovah-Hezekiah Pays TributeUnconditional Surrender Demanded-Assyrian Embassy-Sennacherib's Letter-Spread before Jehovah-Asking the Prayers of Isaiah-Isaiah Prophesies-The Assyrian Shall be Turned back— An Angel of God-Assyrian Disaster-Sennacherib MurderedProsperity of Hezekiah.

AND in the days of Sennacherib king of Assyria Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. And Hezekiah sent messengers unto Egypt to make a league against the king of Assyria. And Isaiah spake, saying: Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of Me, weaving a web, but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin; that go running into Egypt, but have not asked at My mouth, to take refuge in the stronghold of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! But Pharaoh's stronghold shall prove your shame, and shelter in Egypt's shadow your confusion.

His princes are at Zoan, and his ambassadors are come to Hanes. All are ashamed of a people that cannot profit them, that is no help nor profit, but shame, and also reproach.

« PreviousContinue »