This chapter contains an answer from the Lord to the expostulations, pleadings, and reasonings of the prophet, in the name of the people. The preparation of the prophet to receive this answer is described, Hab.

I will stand upon my watch These are the words of the prophet: so the Targum introduces them, “the prophet said;” and this he said in character as a watchman, as all the prophets were: as a watchman takes the proper place he watches in and looks out, especially in time of danger and distress, if he…

And the Lord answered me As he does his ministers and people sooner or later, in one way or another, when they call upon him with humility and reverence, with faith and fervency: and said, Write the vision; which the prophet now had from him, concerning the coming of the Messiah, and the…

For the vision is yet for an appointed time Not the present vision only, but vision or prophecy in general: it was a doubt that arose in the minds of the prophet and other good men, upon the notice given that the Chaldeans would be raised up to the destruction of the Jews; that then the law of God…

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, &c.] This and the following clause describe two sorts of persons differently affected to the Messiah, and the promise of his coming.

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine Or rather, “how much less” or “more [[13]], wine dealing treacherously”: or “a man of wine”, as Aben Ezra supplies it; that is, a winebibber, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it: and the sense in connection with the preceding verse is, if a Jew, elated…

Shall not all these take up a parable against him A proverbial expression, a short sentence, a laconic speech, delivered in a few words, which contains much in them concerning the vices of these emperors, and imprecating judgments upon them for them; took up and expressed by the nations brought…

Shall not they rise up suddenly that shall bite thee Or, “thy usurers”, or “creditors” [[3]], as some render it; the Christians, whose money, goods, and substance, they had spoiled them of, but now should be repaid with great usury and gain; these, that is, their princes and emperors, as…

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee Those that survived the persecutions of the Roman emperors; those that were left of the great numbers put to death by them; those under Constantine rose up, and by just retaliation spoiled them of all their power…

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, &c.] The bishops of Rome, being enriched by the donations of Constantine, were not satisfied, but coveted more; these are the greedy dogs Isaiah speaks of, that could never have enough, but were still seeking and gaping after more for…

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house Instead of bringing real honour and glory to their church, and that into the esteem of men, by such covetousness, ambition, and arrogance, they brought it into shame and disgrace, especially with all good men; and which they as effectually did as if they had…

For the stone shall cry out of the wall Of their own house; some from among themselves, that truly feared God, seeing the evil practices done among them, and abhorring them, such as their covetousness, ambition, murders, excommunications, and anathemas, should cry out against them in their sermons…

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity! ] This is what the stone and beam should say, if others were silent. The town and city are the church of Rome, mystical Babylon, the great city, called spiritually Egypt and Sodom; the builder of this is the pope of…

Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts? &c.] That which follows; the judgments of God upon the bloody city, which they that labour to prevent labour in vain.

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord Of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; of the glory of his person, as the Son of God, and truly God; which is essential to him, and underived; the same with his Father’s, and what transcends the glory of all created beings;…

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink Before the full accomplishment of the above prophecy concerning the abundance of the knowledge of the Lord in the earth, and before the utter destruction of antichrist; between that and the Reformation, when it had its fulfilment in part; the following…

Thou art filled with shame for glory This is said by the Lord to the man that gives his neighbour drink to intoxicate him, that he may draw him into uncleanness, and please himself with it; who, instead of being filled with the glory of the Lord, and the knowledge of it, as the earth is before said…

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee Lebanon was a mountain on the borders of the land of Israel, from whence cedar wood was brought, of which the temple was built, and for that reason is sometimes so called, as in and so the Targum and Jarchi interpret it, “the violence of the house of the…

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it The graven images the church of Rome enjoins the worship of; the images of the Trinity, of Christ, of the Virgin Mary, of angels and saints departed, and which are still continued since the Reformation; but of what profit and…

Woe to him that saith to the wood, Awake That saith to a wooden image, let him go by what name he will; saint such an one, or such an one; awake, arise, exert thyself on our behalf; deliver us from present danger; save us from our enemies; or pray and intercede for us, that we may be delivered and…

But the Lord is in his holy temple Not in graven and molten images; not in idols of wood and stone, covered with gold and silver; but in heaven, the habitation of his holiness, the place of his residence, where he is seen and worshipped by the holy angels and glorified saints; and from whence he…