Глава 24

“Behold, the Lord will scatter the world and make it desolate” (Is. 24:1). This is what happened in the land of Israel during the invasion of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib. “And the people will be like the priest,” that is, during the captivity, because both the noble and the common people, both the strong and the weak, will be taken into captivity, “and the servant like the master” (Is. 24:2), for during the resettlement of the Israelites, people of all ranks will be resettled without distinction. “You have transgressed the law... and... destroyed the everlasting covenant” (Is. 24:5), that is, the covenant that their fathers entered into at Horeb. “For this reason the inhabitants of the earth will be punished” (Is. 24:6). The prophet lists the disasters that will follow: desolation and uncleanness will block all entrances; it will be impossible to bring in the necessary food. “The wine (wine) will mourn, the grapes will mourn” (Is. 24:7). By this the prophet indicates what Sennacherib did with the fields and vineyards in the land of Judah, for he ordered everything to be destroyed and set on fire when he came to battle with Hezekiah. The prophet imagines the crops and vines speaking and crying about those who sowed, planted and labored in cultivation, but did not receive consolation for their labors, because Sennacherib destroyed everything, and what was left after him was destroyed by Shalmaneser. “All who rejoice in soul will groan” (Is. 24:7), those who rejoiced in the former peaceful times that the Israelites enjoyed sigh. The soul was full of joy before, but now it will sigh, because everyone is filled with sorrow. “Bitterness is strong drink for those who drink.” And the strong drink will become bitter. “Every city is deserted, all the storehouses are shut up” (Is. 24:9-10). The inhabitants will leave the city devastated, and the doors of the houses will seem locked, because there is no one to enter them. “And let the hail remain... as if someone shakes off an olive tree... and (as) if there remains from grasping grapes” (Is. 24:12-13), that is, there will be as few inhabitants left in the land of Israel as there are few olives left on an olive tree and bunches on a vine after harvesting the fruits. If there are fruits left on them, it is either because they were not noticed by the gatherers, or because they are rotten, or because they are not yet ripe. “And they will praise the greatness of the Lord” (Is. 24:14) for the destruction of the armies of Sennacherib, destroyed by the sword of the Lord. “For this reason in every place I will glorify the Lord... from the wings of the earth... I will hear praise” (Is. 24:15-16), that is, from Jerusalem we heard the prophecy of the righteous God, Who says: “My secret, My secret,” that is, the secret announced by God to the prophet about the deliverance that the Lord will bring to His people. "Woe is me! the wicked are wicked” (Isaiah 24:16). They honor the Lord of all as an equal to powerless idols, and hope to live fearlessly; they do not want fear to keep them from committing iniquities. “Fear and abyss and a snare are upon you, who dwell on the earth” (Is. 24:17). The prophet calls Sennacherib living on the earth. “Like windows from heaven opened” (Is. 24:18), that is, windows of death opened in heaven by an Angel to destroy the troops of the king of Assyria. “The earth will be shaken... like a wine store... and shaken... like a vegetable storehouse” (Is. 24:19-20). The prophet speaks of the death of the Assyrian army; it will fall, and there will be no one to restore it. “And... the Lord will bring his hand on the vessels of heaven on high, and on the kings of the earth on the earth. And they will gather an assembly to shut him up in prison” (Is. 24:21–22). The Lord will bring his hand against the proud armies and the proud leaders of the Assyrians. But other kings will not be saved either, because the prophet adds: “and against the kings of the earth and upon the earth.” And they will gather an assembly against him who is imprisoned, and they will think against him who is bound.” This indicates that the Assyrians and their allies gathered and planned evil and destruction for Jerusalem, Hezekiah and the Jewish people, who were imprisoned within the walls of Jerusalem. “And the moon will be ashamed and the sun will be put to shame.” The prophet calls the moon and the sun either the Assyrian gods on whom the Assyrians hoped, or the glory and power of the Assyrians themselves. “For the mighty Lord will reign in Mount Zion.” Not another Lord, but He who will be glorified by the defeat of the Assyrians, “and will be glorified before his saints” (Is. 24:23) because of the miracles that he will perform before Hezekiah and his entourage. You might be interested in: