Isa 10:1-4 | JFB | STEP | 1. them that decree —namely, unrighteous judges. write grievousness, &c.—not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them ( ) [MAURER ], ( ).

Isaiah 10:1-4

1. them that decree—namely, unrighteous judges.

write grievousness, &c.—not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them (Isa 65:6) [MAURER], (Isa 1:10, 23).

2. To turn aside, &c.—The effect of their conduct is to pervert the cause of the needy [HORSLEY]. In English Version "from judgment" means "from obtaining justice."

take away the right—"make plunder of the right" (rightful claim) [HORSLEY].

3. what will ye do—what way of escape will there be for you?

visitation—of God's wrath (Isa 26:14; Job 35:15; Ho 9:7).

from far—from Assyria.

leave . . . glory—rather, "deposit (for safekeeping) your wealth" [LOWTH]. So Ps 49:17.

4. Without me—not having Me to "flee to" (Isa 10:3).

bow down—Bereft of strength they shall fall; or else, they shall lie down fettered.

under . . . under—rather, "among" (literally, "in the place of") [HORSLEY]. The "under" may be, however, explained, "trodden under the (feet of the) prisoners going into captivity," and "overwhelmed under the heaps of slain on the battlefield" [MAURER].

Isa 10:5-34 and Isa 11:12. DESTRUCTION OF THE ASSYRIANS; COMING OF MESSIAH; HYMN OF PRAISE.

Isa 10:9, 11 show that Samaria was destroyed before this prophecy. It was written when Assyria proposed (a design which it soon after tried to carry out under Sennacherib) to destroy Judah and Jerusalem, as it had destroyed Samaria. This is the first part of Isaiah's prophecies under Hezekiah. Probably between 722 and 715 B.C. (see Isa 10:27).