Isaiah 24:1-12
1. the earth—rather, "the land" of Judah (so in Isa 24:3, 5, 6; Joe 1:2). The desolation under Nebuchadnezzar prefigured that under Titus.
2. as with the people, so with the priest—All alike shall share the same calamity: no favored class shall escape (compare Eze 7:12, 13; Ho 4:9; Re 6:15).
4. world—the kingdom of Israel; as in Isa 13:11, Babylon.
haughty—literally, "the height" of the people: abstract for concrete, that is, the high people; even the nobles share the general distress.5. earth—rather, "the land."
defiled under . . . inhabitants—namely, with innocent blood (Ge 4:11; Nu 35:33; Ps 106:38). laws . . . ordinance . . . everlasting covenant—The moral laws, positive statutes, and national covenant designed to be for ever between God and them.6. earth—the land.
burned—namely, with the consuming wrath of heaven: either internally, as in Job 30:30 [ROSENMULLER]; or externally, the prophet has before his eyes the people being consumed with the withering dryness of their doomed land (so Joe 1:10, 12), [MAURER].7. mourneth—because there are none to drink it [BARNES]. Rather, "is become vapid" [HORSLEY].
languisheth—because there are none to cultivate it now.8. (Re 18:22).
9. with a song—the usual accompaniment of feasts.
strong drink—(See on Isa 5:11). "Date wine" [HORSLEY]. bitter—in consequence of the national calamities.10. city of confusion—rather, "desolation." What Jerusalem would be; by anticipation it is called so. HORSLEY translates, "The city is broken down; it is a ruin."
shut up—through fear; or rather, "choked up by ruins."11. crying for wine—to drown their sorrows in drink (Isa 16:9); Joe 1:5, written about the same time, resembles this.
12. with destruction—rather "crash" [GESENIUS]. "With a great tumult the gate is battered down" [HORSLEY].