Глава 29

“Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city, in which David is a warrior! Collect... from year to year... I will make Ariel angry.” Ariel is Jerusalem, which was trampled, and itself trampled those who trampled it. “Let the holidays complete their circle,” that is, those celebrations that the Assyrians planned to stop. “And there will be mourning and sorrow... And I will sit... around you.” All this precedes the deliverance of the city. “I will set up... a prison,” that is, the besieging enemies will oppress you. “And I will put a guard around you... And you will humble yourself, you will speak... from... the dust, and Your voice will be like those shouting from the earth,” that is, like a prisoner from prison (Is. 29:1-4). “Suddenly from the Lord of hosts... there will be a coming with thunder and with cowardice and a great voice, in storms and whirlwinds and flames and fire... devouring food” (Is. 29: 5-6). This visitation will be life-giving for Jerusalem and deadly for the Assyrians. And the prophet also speaks about the salvation of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Assyrians: “And there will be... many tongues that will fight against Ariel... like the hungry one eating in a dream” (Is. 29: 7-8), that is, the Assyrians will not satisfy their hunger when they dream of devouring Jerusalem. “Be amazed and astonished: be dismayed, be horrified that you have gotten drunk, and not with wine. For the Lord has poured out on them the spirit of sleep, and has closed the eyes of their prophets and their princes, who see the unseen. And the vision of every one of them will be like the words of a book sealed” (Is. 29:9-11). For some will not read it out of ignorance, and those who know will not dare to open it, because it is sealed. “And the Lord said: These people draw near to Me with their lips... but their heart is far from Me” (Is. 29:13). The prophet says this about those who served God and honored Him out of fear of man. For the Jews worshiped God according to the commandments of men, or according to the commandment of Hezekiah. “Behold, I will cause this people to be divided wonderfully” (Is. 29:14), that is, I will separate the righteous from those who honor Me out of man-pleasing. And about such worshipers, the prophet adds: “Woe to those who turn away from the Lord, their deeds... are in darkness... Are they not like clay in the hands of a cheater” (Is. 29:15-16). This exposes those who were far from the fear of God and plotted all kinds of evil, but did not do anything bad only because they feared Hezekiah. “And Lebanon will be like Carmel” (Is. 29:17). This is what is said about the deliverance of the Jews, which will be announced in all countries. “And on that day they will hear the foolish words of the book” (Is. 29:18). Although this is said about the pagans who were deaf to the broadcasts of the prophets, it also applies to the stubborn Jews who saw with their own eyes the salvation foretold in the books of the prophets. “And the poor shall rejoice for the Lord’s sake with joy” (Is. 29:19), that is, the Jews. “The one who tramples on is gone, and the one who mocks is destroyed,” that is, the king of Assyria, “and all those who teach unrighteousness are consumed” (Is. 29:20). Those who teach untruth are those wicked Jews who, together with the Assyrians, suffered punishment. “Therefore the Lord says this about the house of Jacob, having preserved Abraham” (Is. 29:22). Just as He saved Abraham from five kings, so He will save the sons of Jacob from the Assyrians. You might be interested in: