Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 21:15
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
15. The caravans have deserted the frequented paths, because of armed bands scouring the country.
16 f. The interpretation of the vision is regarded by many commentators as a later appendix similar to ch. Isa 16:13 f. There is certainly a surprising resemblance between the two passages, which may suggest that they are both from the same hand.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For they fled – The inhabitants of one part of the land.
The grievousness of war – Hebrew, kobed – the weight, the heaviness, the oppression of war; probably from the calamities that would result from the march of the Assyrian through their land, either on his way to Judea or to Egypt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
15. theythe fugitiveDedanites and other Arabs.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For they fled from the swords,…. Of their enemy, whom they could not withstand; perhaps the Assyrian army:
from the drawn sword; just ready to be sheathed in them:
and from the bent bow; just going to let the arrow fly at them:
and from the grievousness of war: too heavy for them to bear.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. For they flee from the face of the swords. (74) He means that the calamity will be dreadful, and that the Arabians will have good reason for betaking themselves to flight, because the enemies will pursue them with arms and with swords, so that they will have no other way of providing for their safety than by flight. The reason why he foretells this defeat is plain enough; for it was necessary that the Jews should obtain early information of that which should happen long after, that they might learn that the world is governed by the providence of God and not by chance, and likewise that they should be taught by the example of others to behold God as the judge of all nations, wherever they turned their eyes. We do not know, and history does not inform us, whether or not the Arabians were enemies of the Jews. However that may be, it is certain that these things are spoken for the consolation of the godly, that they may behold the justice of God towards all nations, and may acknowledge that his judgment-seat is at Jerusalem, from which he will pronounce judgment on the whole world.
(74) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
THE GRIEVOUSNESS OF WAR
Isa. 21:15. The grievousness of war.
In our quiet sanctuary, so full of holy and peaceful memories, let us think about war; the more deeply we do so, the more will the aptness of the phrase which forms our text become apparent to us.
I. The grievousness of war is seen in its causes. War is grievous in its origin and in all the things that foster it. It has its origin in the unholy lusts and pitiful mistakes of mankind (Jas. 4:1). These lusts and mistakes, what are they?
1. The lust for increased possessions and for power (P. D., 143, 150).
2. The false glory with which war has been invested. To steal and kill on a small scale is infamous, but to do so on a huge scale is heroic! The wholesale butcher surrounds himself with pomp and pageantry that dazzle the eye and enslave the mind (P. D., 3470, 3476).
3. Blindness to the real fields on which true courage and heroism are manifested. The Christian courage which can meet and overcome the assaults of wickedness, which can turn aside the edge of scorn, and hurl back the weapons of temptation; that can urge men through living martyrdoms which do not keep time to music or song, which carries Moffat into South Africa, &c.,this is too ethereal for most men to discern or admire. They have no suspicion of the moral victories that might be theirs on the fields of humble service and self-sacrifice.
4. Insensibility to the worth of human souls. A suspicion of the value of life would unnerve the warrior for his task; he could not then, as he does now, regard men as mere food for powder.
II. The grievousness of war is seen in its effects. These are twofold:
1. Physical. The grievousness of war cannot be exaggerated, if we look at it from this point of view alone. Think
(1) of the physical and mental suffering that is caused by it (P. D., 3468, 3469, 3472, 3476);
(2) of the far-reaching and crushing desolation caused by it (P. D., 3466);
(3) of the frightful cost of preparation for war; of the armed truce in which the nations of Europe live.
2. Moral. These are still more terrible.
(1.) War brutalises those actually engaged in it (P. D., 3464).
(2.) War makes criminals by producing a state of want.
(3.) War aggravates national animosities, and leaves to unborn generations a legacy of hatred. Every war sows the seeds of future conflict.
(4.) War and preparation for war check the progress of those agencies by which the misery of our race would be abated, and its happiness indefinitely increased. The cause of education, of missions, of the Gospel, languishes under the blight of the war-spirit. The cost of a very few wars would evangelise the world (P. D., 3476).
Let this meditation move us to action.
1. Let us exert our utmost influence to bring it to pass that national power shall be wielded by men who love peace.
2. Let us encourage everything that tends to facilitate international intercourse (P. D., 3461).
3. Let us on every possible occasion exalt moral qualities above mere physical daring (P. D., 1798, 18011803).
4. Let us put forth every effort to diffuse the principles of Christianity. The Gospel is the only true and effectual peacemaker; only in Christ will men ever be lastingly reconciled to each other.William Manning.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(15) For they fled from the swords.The fourfold repetition of the somewhat full form of the Hebrew preposition (literally, from the face of) seems as if intended to emphasise the several stages of retreat.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 21:15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
Ver. 15. For they fled from the swords, &c. ] Swords, bows, battle to all the rest. Crosses seldom come single. See on Jas 1:2 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
they fled. From the Assyrian invaders.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
from the swords: or, for fear of the swords, Heb. from the face of, Job 6:19, Job 6:20
Reciprocal: Isa 23:6 – Pass