Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 34:2
For the indignation of the LORD [is] upon all nations, and [his] fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
2. For the indignation of the Lord ] Rather, For Jehovah hath indignation and fury. It is remarkable that no reason is assigned for Jehovah’s anger.
their armies ] their host (R.V.). he hath utterly destroyed them ] Lit. he hath made them a devoted thing, rem, a technical word for that which is irrevocably devoted to the deity, usually implying utter destruction. Cf. ch. Isa 11:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the indignation of the Lord – Yahweh is about to express his wrath against all the nations which are opposed to his people.
He hath utterly destroyed them – In his purpose, or intention. The prophet represents this as so certain that it may be exhibited as already done.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Upon all nations; not only upon the Assyrians, and those nations which were confederate with them in this expedition, but upon all other enemies of my people whatsoever.
He hath utterly destroyed them; he will infallibly destroy all of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. utterly destroyedrather,”doomed them to an utter curse” [HORSLEY].
deliveredrather,”appointed.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the indignation of the Lord [is] upon all nations,…. All the nations of the earth, which have committed fornication with the whore of Rome, or have given in to her false worship, superstition, and idolatry; which is the reason of God’s wrath and indignation against them, and of such severe punishment being inflicted on them; see
Re 18:3:
and [his] fury upon all their armies; the armies of the kings of the earth, gathered together at Armageddon, to make war with Christ, and those that follow him; see Re 16:14:
he hath utterly destroyed them; not only devoted them to destruction, but actually destroyed them, with “Cherem”, an utter destruction; one of the words of which Armageddon is compounded, and so points at the place, as well as the nature and manner, of the destruction:
he hath delivered them to slaughter; to be slain with the sword of him that sitteth on the white horse, which proceeds out of his mouth,
Re 19:21.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. For the indignation of Jehovah is on all the nations. He undoubtedly means “the nations” which were hostile to the Jews, and at the same time were contiguous to them; for, being surrounded on all sides by various nations, they had almost as many enemies as neighbors. Though this hatred arose from other causes, such as envy, yet the diversity of religion very greatly inflamed their rage, for they were exceedingly offended at having their superstitions condemned. So much stronger was the reason why God proraised that he would be a judge and avenger.
On all their army. This is added because the Jews were few in number when compared with the rest of the nations. Although, therefore, “the nations” were proud of their vast numbers, and despised the Jews because they were few, yet he declares that God will easily diminish and crush them, in order to preserve, his little flock, of which he is the guardian.
He hath destroyed them. Though he speaks of future events, yet he chose to employ the past tense, in order to place the event immediately before the eyes of those who were lying low and overwhelmed with adversity. These predictions were made, as I briefly noticed a little before, not on account of the Edomites, who paid no regard to this doctrine, but for the sake of the godly, whom he wished to comfort, because they were wretchedly harassed by their enemies.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘For Yahweh has indignation against all the nations,
And fury against all their host.
He has utterly destroyed them (put them under the Ban, devoted them),
He has delivered them to the slaughter.
Their slain also will be cast out,
And the stink of their carcases will come up,
And the mountains will be melted with their blood.’
The fact that the nations have been called on to witness this and are having it explained to them, and that the total judgment of ‘all the nations’ mentioned here is described in a way that seems to single them out (He has called on the other nations to witness it), suggests that ‘all the nations’ here cannot mean all the nations of the whole known world. It is ‘all the nations’ of the particular area under judgment, that is, it is Edom and her allies known under that name, although possibly as a warning to all nations. It would be a particularly useful way of describing Moab and Ammon and the variety of nomadic tribes in the desert, including Amalek, that connected with Edom, and often allied with her, seen in Isa 34:5 as ‘the people of my curse’ (compare Exo 17:14; Exo 17:16; Exo 25:17-19; Deu 23:3-6; Neh 13:1-3). Compare how in Isa 63:6 His judgment on Edom also affects ‘the peoples’. The use of the term ‘the nations’ in this way, as limited to a particular area, is exemplified in Isa 9:1; Jdg 4:2; see also 2Ch 32:23; Eze 5:5; Eze 5:7; Neh 5:17; Neh 6:16, although not there as referring to these same tribes.
‘All their host.’ This suggests that these nations have gathered together their fighting men to take advantage of Judah’s weak condition. Such were the ways of the world that during times of trouble for a nation their neighbours would often look out for ways of benefiting from it.
But others see ‘all the nations’ as meaning exactly that and the restriction to Edom that follows as therefore being because it is about to be used as an example of the judgment God will bring on all. However, the particularisation of the judgment as against Edom in the way that is described does not seem to support this case. It is Edom particularly (with her allies) who are to be subjected to great slaughter, and whose land is to be drunk with blood (Isa 34:6), and who are to be finally extinguished (Isa 34:9-10). It is they who are to be the example to the nations. On the other hand this kind of half-anonymity is typical of Isaiah (compare chapter 13 of Babylon). The hint seems to be that what applies to the particular situation could apply to all, even in fact to the hosts of heaven as well (Isa 34:4-5 a). For all are finally under the judgment of God.
The total destruction of these nations is vividly described. In His anger they are put under The Ban, ‘devoted’ to destruction. They are delivered to slaughter (specifically said of Edom in Isa 34:6). They will not be given proper burial, but will be ‘cast out’ and left in stinking piles in the mountains to rot (compare Isa 14:19-20 of the king of Babylon).
‘And the mountains will be melted with their blood.’ So great will be the number of their dead that the blood spilled will cause soil erosion in the mountains. As so often in prophecy the perfect (definite) tenses indicates not the past but the certainty of what is to happen. It is already seen as completed in the mind if God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Isa 34:2-4. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations For the wrath of JEHOVAH is kindled against all the nations; and his anger against all the orders thereof; he hath devoted them; he hath given them up to slaughter; and their slain shall be cast out; and from their carcases their stink shall ascend; and the mountains shall melt down with their blood. Lowth. This sentence upon the nations is sufficient to strike terror into every hearer. It exhibits a kind of general judgment, to be executed upon the enemies of the kingdom of God by the sword of God; that is to say, by the princes and heroes to be raised up by God for the destruction of the enemies of his church: this is repeated, Isa 34:5. But further the prophet sets before our eyes a horrid tempest, raging furiously; whereby the heavens contract blackness, the sun disappears, the stars seem to fall to the earth, as if the whole body of the heavens was about to be utterly dissolved. We have had occasion frequently to observe, that in the prophetic language the heavenly luminaries represent kings and empires. It is not improbable, that the prophet here refers to that destruction of the Jewish state and polity, which our Saviour foretold under the same figures. See Vitringa.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD [is] upon all nations, and [his] fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Ver. 2. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations. ] Is, or shall be, upon all the Church’s enemies, whether of former or latter time; even his “boiling wrath,” as the Word signifieth.
He hath utterly destroyed them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
utterly destroyed = devoted to destruction, or, placed under a Divine ban.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the indignation: Isa 24:1-23, Jer 25:15-29, Joe 3:9-14, Amo 1:1 – Amo 2:16, Zep 3:8, Zec 14:3, Zec 14:12-16, Rom 1:18, Rev 6:12-17, Rev 14:15-20, Rev 19:15-21, Rev 20:9, Rev 20:15
and his: Isa 30:27-30, Nah 1:2-6
Reciprocal: Exo 8:14 – and the Psa 46:8 – desolations Psa 110:6 – fill Isa 24:21 – the Lord Isa 30:25 – in the day Isa 63:3 – and trample Jer 25:32 – evil Jer 25:33 – the slain Jer 48:15 – gone Eze 30:3 – the time Eze 32:4 – General Eze 35:8 – General Eze 39:4 – I will Joe 3:14 – multitudes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 34:2-3. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations Not only upon the Assyrians, and those nations which are confederate with them in their expedition against Judea, but upon all other enemies of my people. He hath utterly destroyed them He will infallibly destroy all of them. Their slain also shall be cast out Into the fields, where they shall lie unburied, and be left a prey to ravenous beasts and birds. In which words he implies, either that such vast numbers would be slain, that the survivers would not be able to find time or place to bury them, or that they should be held in such contempt and abhorrence that none would be inclined to do them that office: and the mountains About Jerusalem, where they are supposed to be gathered to fight against her, like the Assyrians; shall be melted with their blood Shall be covered with their blood, which shall flow down abundantly from them with great force, and dissolve, and carry down with it a part of the soil of the mountains, as great showers of rain frequently do. This sentence upon the nations, which thus exhibits a kind of general judgment, to be executed upon the enemies of God and his people, by the sword of God, is sufficient to strike terror into every hearer.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
34:2 For the indignation of the LORD [is] upon all nations, and [his] fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly {b} destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
(b) God has determined in his counsel and has given sentence for their destruction.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The first reason (cf. Isa 34:5-6; Isa 34:8) everyone should listen is that the Lord is very angry with the nations. He has determined to devote them to destruction, to put them under the ban (Heb. herem; cf. Isa 11:15; Jos 6:21; 1Sa 15:3).
"In the Hebrew setting at least two implications [of the ban] are significant: spoils are devoted to God to show that God alone has won a battle (Jericho); when a nation has deliberately blocked the flow of God’s love to the world, it forfeits itself into God’s hands (Amalek)." [Note: Oswalt, p. 608.]
What humankind must hear, then, is a sentence of judgment on the whole earth (cf. Psa 2:9).