Isa 31:9, Eze 43:15-16 | JFB | STEP | 9. Rather, " shall pass beyond his strongholds"; he Shall not stop to take refuge in it through fear ( ) [GESENIUS ]. ensign —the banner of Jehovah protecting the Jews [MAURER ]. fire . . . furnace —"light" and "fire," namely, of Jehovah's altar at Jerusalem ( ). Perhaps "furnace," as distinguished from "fire," may mean that His dwelling-place (His hearth) was at Jerusalem (compare ); or else the fiery furnace awaiting all the enemies who should attack Jerusalem.

Isaiah 31:9

9. Rather, "shall pass beyond his strongholds"; he Shall not stop to take refuge in it through fear (Jud 20:47; Jer 48:28) [GESENIUS].

ensign—the banner of Jehovah protecting the Jews [MAURER].

fire . . . furnace—"light" and "fire," namely, of Jehovah's altar at Jerusalem (Isa 29:1). Perhaps "furnace," as distinguished from "fire," may mean that His dwelling-place (His hearth) was at Jerusalem (compare Isa 4:5); or else the fiery furnace awaiting all the enemies who should attack Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 43:15-16

15. altar—Hebrew, Harel, that is, "mount of God"; denoting the high security to be imparted by it to the restored Israel. It was a high place, but a high place of God, not of idols.

from the altar—literally, "the lion of God," Ariel (in Isa 29:1, "Ariel" is applied to Jerusalem). MENOCHIUS supposes that on it four animals were carved; the lion perhaps was the uppermost, whence the horns were made to issue. GESENIUS regards the two words as expressing the "hearth" or fireplace of the altar.

16. square in the four squares—square on the four sides of its squares [FAIRBAIRN].