Глава 30

“Woe, child who has fallen away... make counsel not by Me” (Is. 30:1). This is said about those Jews who fled to Egypt without asking the Lord about it. “The strength of the Pharaohs will be a shame for you” (Is. 30:3), because the king of Assyria will also defeat Pharaoh. “For... he is in Tan, - that is, the avenger in Tanish (Zoan), - his elders and his messengers are evil... they will go to the people who do not use them" (Isa. 30: 4-5). The princes of the people of Judah turned to the Egyptians, but the Egyptians will not help them, because the Lord will betray them to shame and dishonor. “Vision of four-legged animals in the south, in a land of sadness and... cramped conditions. The lion and the lioness: from there come the asps and the flying serpents, who ride on the backs of donkeys... their wealth” (Is. 30:6). The prophet denounces the Jews, who, being oppressed by the Assyrians, sought refuge in Egypt. And some of them are likened to a lion and a lion cub, and others to an asp and flying snakes. They take their wealth to the Egyptians, hoping in vain for their help. “Now now write this on a tablet and in a book” (Is. 30:8); depict the disasters that will befall the Jews and Egyptians, with whom they sought refuge. And draw all this and write it on tablets, open to everyone, so that it remains for the future. “Sons... who did not desire to hear the law of God, speaking... visions to those who see: do not... have a vision... and the prophet about me... do not speak reproaches to us, but... speak what is pleasing to us" (Is. 30: 9-10), that is, keep your tongue from accusations that are intolerable to us, and do not pronounce sorrowful prophecies on us. “And turn us away from this path, about which you say that will lead us to a hidden refuge, and take away from us the Holy One of Israel” (Is. 30:11), so as not to burden our ears any longer with the painful predictions of God’s prophets, who constantly repeat to us: “Thus says the Holy One of Israel.” “For this reason, this sin will be to you like a chasm threatening to fall, and like a wall... high, it will inevitably fall” (Is. 30:13), that is, it will fall at a predetermined time, when the enemies advance, attack and crush. “Thus says the Lord, the Lord the Holy One of Israel: When you have returned, you will have sighed, then you will be saved... but this is not so: on horses... we will be horsemen, and... on lungs... we will run. For this reason you will flee... and the fools will persecute you... until you are abandoned, you will be like a goldfinch on the top of the mountains and like a banner carried on a hill” (Is. 30:15-17). The prophets proclaimed to the Jews: “When you sigh and repent, then you will be saved.” “Your strength... will be in... trust.” But you said: “No, we’ll be on horseback... we’ll be horsemen, and... on our lungs... we’ll run.” “And his fall will be like the breaking of an earthen vessel, broken without mercy” (Is. 30:14), that is, like the destruction of an earthen vessel that has not yet been fired. “Do not weep,” because of despair (Is. 30:19). “And your ears will hear the words behind... I say now” (Is. 30:21). They will not hear the words of the prophets speaking to your face, but the voice of foreign nations, who will glorify God and encourage you to trust in Him who delivered you from the Assyrians. “Your young men and your oxen... will eat the chaff mixed with barley, winnowed with a shovel and a winnow” (Is. 30:24). The prophet promises a wonderful abundance, among which the oxen cultivating the land will not be muted, due to the abundance of the fruits of the earth; on the threshing floor itself, where the grain is threshed, they will be satisfied with chaff and barley. “And on every high mountain and on every exalted hill streams of water will flow in that day, when many perish, and when the pillars fall. And the light of the heavenly bodies will increase” (Is. 30:25–26). The joyful news will spread everywhere on the day of the great extermination of the Assyrians and the plunder of their camp, represented in the form of a pillar. “On that day, by the destruction of the Assyrians, the Lord intends the destruction of His people, the sons of Judah” (Is. 30:26). The same can be applied to our Lord. The words: “on that day, when many will perish” (Is. 30:25) were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, Satan and death, represented in the form of pillars. From the apostles and through them, streams of joyful gospel flowed to all corners of the universe. “The light has increased..” (Is. 30:26), that is, not the sensory light of the visible sun, which during the suffering of Jesus Christ was transformed into darkness, but the spiritual light of knowledge, represented in the image of the heavenly bodies. And this light dispelled the spiritual darkness that lay on the hearts of the pagans. “Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, His burning wrath: and the sight of Him is glorious” (Is. 30:27). This speaks of the judgment pronounced against the king of Assyria. “And His spirit like... a flood... will come even to you... to confuse the tongues for the deceitfulness of vain things, and to bridle the deceitfulness” (Is. 30:28). The Prophet speaks about the blasphemies of the Assyrians and about the pride of their lips with which they dared to fight with the One who conquers all. “Your song will be a crown of victory,” which will be sanctified on the holiday of the Jews due to the destruction of the Assyrian hordes. “And the joy of the heart” (Is. 30:29), that is, the Lord will reward you with joy for the joy with which the Assyrians ascended the mountain of God with impunity, approaching Jerusalem. “And the Lord will hear the glory of His voice, having brought about the salvation of His people, and the fury of His arm will be shown against the king of Assyria, with fury and anger, and with fire... with rain and hail” (Is. 30:30). Beneath these images is the battle with the Assyrians. “And in all his deeds there will be a rod of slavery, which the Lord will rest upon him.” All nations will extol themselves before the Assyrians when they hear that their power has fallen and freedom has risen. “And he will... fight... start a strong war, because before the time he prepared food for himself - that is, he intended to devour the city of God - and his malice was prepared, spreading the dwelling in the depth and breadth" (Is. 30: 32-33). The malice of the king of Assyria plotted to conquer the holy city and hoped that his rule would last forever. “His trees are many, that is, his armies are numerous, but from the shadow of the Lord they will burn like fire” (Is. 30:33). You might be interested in: