THE HARBINGER - ISAIAH 9:10
THE ALBERT BARNES' BIBLE COMMENTARY
THE WRITER OF THE BOOK "THE HARBINGER" LIKES TO QUOTE BIBLE COMMENTARIES, SO I WILL ALSO. HERE IS WHAT BARNES' BIBLE COMMENTARY HAS TO SAY ON ISAIAH 9 :10 AND THE CONTEXT. I WILL ADD IT VERY SHORTLY.
Ephraim. This is another name for Israel, as Ephraim was the principle tribe. And the inhabitants of Samaria. The capital of Ephraim or Israel. That say in their pride. This is the description of general and prevalent pride - the heart. It was the desire of splendor, power, and magnificence, originating in the heart, and manifesting itself by the language of self-confidence and defiance at the judgment of God. Stoutness. Heb. 'Greatness.' It means self-confident purpose......10. THE BRICKS ARE FALLEN DOWN. The language of this verse is FIGURATIVE; BUT THE SENTIMENT IS PLAIN. IT CONTAINS THE CONFESSION OF THE INHABITANTS OF SAMARIA, THAT THEIR AFFAIRS WERE IN A RUINOUS AND DILAPIDATED STATE; BUT ALSO THEIR SELF-CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE EVILS, AND RESTORE THEIR NATION TO MORE THAN THEIR FORMER MAGNIFICENCE.
Bricks in the oriental countries were made of clay and straw, and were rarely turned. Hence, exposed to sun and rains, they soon dissolved. Walls and houses constructed of such materials would not be very permanent, and to build with them is strongly contrasted with building in a permanent and elegant manner with hewn stone.
The meaning is, that their former state was one of less splendor than they designed that their subsequent state should be. Desolation had come upon their country, and this they could not deny. But they confidently boasted that they would more than repair the evil. We will build. Our ruined houses and walls. With hewn stone. At once more permanent and elegant than the structures of bricks had been.
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DID YOU NOTICE AS BARNES SAYS THE LANGUAGE IS FIGURATIVE!!
IT IS A METAPHOR OF SPEECH - TO DENOTE A MORE DEEPER MEANING.
DID THE ISRAELITES REALLY BUILD EVERYTHING WITH WEAK BRICKS THAT WOULD BY THE SUN AND RAINS CRUMBLE DOWN - AND DID THEY NOT HAVE THE SENSE AND WISDOM TO BUILD THEIR HOUSES AND ETC. WITH HEWN STONE? I SERIOUSLY DO NOT THINK SO. NOT WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTING TO LIVE IN THE LAND FOR CENTURIES. AND WHEN STONE WAS PLENTIFUL IN THE HOLY LAND.
SO THE BRICKS WAS A METAPHOR, A FIGURE OF SPEECH, TO DENOTE THEIR EASY LOSS IN BATTLE AND DEPORTATION BY THE ASSYRIANS ABOUT 732 B.C. WHEN THE FIRST WAVES OF CONQUEST AND DEPORTATION CAME UPON PART OF SOME OF THE ISRAELITE TRIBES. THERE FULL CONQUEST WOULD NOT BE UNTIL 721 TO 718 B.C.
AND LETS SUPPOSE SOME PHYSICAL BUILDINGS IN ISRAEL CAME DOWN....THE FACT IS THE VERSE DOES NOT SAY OR PUT OUT FOR US THAT IT WAS A SPECIAL TWO BUILDINGS THAT CAME DOWN, TWO BUILDING OF IMPORTANCE FOR WHAT THAT PART OF ISRAEL STOOD FOR.
THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT MISTAKE MADE BY "THE HARBINGER" BOOK.
THE SECOND LARGE MISTAKE IS THAT MANY MANY ASSYRIANS ATTACKED A PART OF SAMARIA, NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF TERRORISTS AS IN 9/11. THE ASSYRIANS CAME AS A FULL ARMY TO ATTACK, AND MUCH DESTRUCTION AND KILLING AND EXPORTING ISRAELITES BACK TO ASSYRIA TOOK PLACE.
TO TWO INVASIONS - ONE OF ISAIAH 9:10 AND ONE IN 9/11 2001, CANNOT BE THOUGHT OF AS ANY WHERE CLOSE TO BEING THE SAME.
I'VE SAID THE TWO TOWERS WERE NOT MADE OF BRICK, BUT STEEL BEAMS, AND REINFORCED POURED CONCRETE, WITH ELEVATOR SHAFTS OF CONCRETE AND STAIRS GOING ALL THE WAY UP OF POURED CONCRETE. IF AND BRICKS WERE USED IT WOULD HAVE SIMPLY BEEN IN AREAS FOR DECORATION.
THE AUTHOR USED THE DATE OF 732 FOR THE WARNING HARBINGER TO BEGIN AND THEN WITH NO REAL REPENTANCE, JUDGMENT WOULD COME.
AND IT DID IN 721 TO 718 B.C. THERE WAS SOME TIME GIVEN TO TRULY SEEK GOD, RETURN TO HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH - 11 YEARS WAS GIVEN, THEN CAME 721 AND THE START OF A 3 YEAR DESTRUCTION AND DEPORTATION OF ISRAEL INTO CAPTIVITY AND DEPORTATION TO ASSYRIA.
DO THE ARITHMETIC! 732 TO 721 IS 11 YEARS. IF THIS IS A PROPHECY FORETELLING THE JUDGMENT OF AMERICA IN DETAIL AS THE AUTHOR WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE. THEN FROM 2001 ADD 11 YEARS = 2012. HENCE BY 2012 AMERICA WILL START IN A 3 YEAR FIGHT WITH THE ENEMY, AND BY 2014, WILL BE DESTROYED AND TAKEN CAPTIVE AS IT WAS WITH ANCIENT SAMARIA ISRAEL.
TO DATE IN 2013 THOUGH STILL IN A RECESSION AMERICA HAS NOT BE INVADED BY ARAB MAD MEN TERRORISTS. IF ISAIAH 9:10 IS A LONG TIME AGO PROPHECY OF A 2001 9/11 PROPHECY CONCERNING TWO FALLING TOWERS AND SO COMING JUDGMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 11 TO 15 YEARS, WHERE AMERICA WILL BE NO MORE......THEN THE PROPHECY HAS MISSED THE MARK. AMERICA HAS NOT COME CLOSE TO BEING DESTROYED BY ANYONE. THOUGH RECESSION IS STILL THERE IN CERTAIN AREAS AMERICA IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, AND IS NOT BEING THREATENED BY ANY ARAB NATION OR ANY ARAB MAN-MEN GROUP. THE USA HAS KILLED BIN LADEN AND OTHERS LIKE HIM.
AND HAVING THE ATTITUDE OF TAKING THE HEAT DISHED OUT ON US IN 9/11, THERE IS NO SIGN OUR ENEMY IS NOCKING US TO THE CANVAS FOR THE COUNT OF 10.
NO THIS PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 9:10 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY. ANY ONE TRYING TO TIE THE OLD PROPHECY WITH THE 9/11 INCIDENT OF 2001, IS REALLY LETING HIS MIND DO SOME PRETTY FANCY TRICKS. HE SHOULD BE WRITING FOR THE NEW "STAR TRECK" MOVIES COMING OUT.
AS FOR AN ATTITUDE OF PRIDE AND REBUILDING BY AMERICA, IS IT NOT ONLY NATURAL THAT THE USA WOULD NOT JUST WANT TO LEAVE A HOLE IN THE GROUND WHERE ONCE STOOD TWO MIGHTY BUILDINGS. THOUGH THE DESTRUCTION DID NOT TURN THE USA BACK TO GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH REPENTANCE, EITHER DID STORM KATRINA, OR SUPER STORM SANDY, OR THE HUGE SNOW STORM THAT THE USA EAST COAST JUST WENT THROUGH; NEITHER DID THE VIETNAM WAR, OR THE DESTRUCTION AT PEARL HASBOR, OR THE CIVIL WAR THEY HAD IN 1861-5. NOR DID THE LARGE PROTESTS FOR YEARS BY PEOPLE AND GROUPS WALKING THE STREETS TO TELL THE USA THAT ABORTION ON DEMAND LAW, WAS SIN AND EVIL, AND THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT. ALL THE EVIL OF RACISM AND EVEN KILLING OF BLACKS BY SOME IN AMERICA FOR DECADES AFTER PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY; THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JFK AND MARTIN LUTHER KING; NONE OF THIS BROUGHT AMERICA OUT OF SIN AND BACK TO SERVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY HARBINGERS, WAKE-UP-CALLS FOR AMERICA OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS OR SO IN THEIR HISTORY. BUT NONE HAVE TURNED THEM IN REAL REPENTANCE TO STOP SINNING AND FALLING INTO DEEPER SINS (NOW WE HAVE SAME SEX MARRIAGE COMING INTO LAW) AND DEPARTING MORE AND MORE FROM THE TRUTHS OF GOD AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. 9/11 WAS JUST ONE MORE DISASTER THAT BROUGHT NO DEEP REPENTANCE BACK TO SERVING THE WORD OF GOD. AND LIKE OTHER DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY 9/11 WAS NOT FORETOLD BY ANY SPECIFIC BIBLE VERSE, AS THE AUTHOR OF THIS RECENT BOOK WOULD LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE.
WILL AMERICA (AND OTHER SINFUL NATIONS OF THE WEST - BRITAIN, CANADA ETC.) BE PUNISHED ONE DAY FOR ALL THEIR SINS, AND DEPARTURES FROM THE WAYS OF GOD? YES, INDEED THEY WILL BE, AS ALL THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE FORETELL. BUT TO TAKE ONE VERSE FROM ISAIAH TO TRY AND SAY IT FORETOLD A SPECIFIC EVENT IN MODERN ISRAEL AMERICA, IS JUST NOT CORRECT AT ALL.
ISAIAH 9:10 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 2001 AND 9/11. BUT IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH A LARGE INVASION BY A LARGE ARMY OF ASSYRIANS AND OTHERS (AS WE SHALL SEE) ABOUT THE YEAR 732 B.C. ON PART OF THE TRIBES OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
CONTINUING WITH BARNES' COMMENTARY:
The sycamores. These trees grew abundantly on the low lands of Judea, and were very little esteemed......
They are contrasted with cedars here -- (1.) Because the cedar was much more rare and precious wood. (2.) Because it was a much more smooth and elegant article for building. (3.) Because it was more permanant.......The whole passage denotes self-confidence and pride; an unwillingness to submit to the judgments of God, and a self-assurance that they would more than repair all the evils that would be inflicted upon them.
AGAIN IT IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH, AND NOT TO BE TAKEN IN ANY LITERAL WAY PER SE. DID THE ANCIENT ASSYRIANS CUT DOWN SYCAMORE TREES AS THEY INVADED SAMARIA? IT COULD BE ARGUED THEY DID. BUT REALLY NOW, WHY WOULD AN ARMY TAKE THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO CUT DOWN SYCAMORE TREES, THAT WERE NOT USED IN ANY SERIOUS WAY BY ISRAELITES TO BUILD WITH, BECAUSE OF THEIR INFERIOR WOOD. AND IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THE SYCAMORE TREES WERE CUT DOWN BY THE ASSYRIAN ARMY, THEN REMEMBER IT WAS NOT JUST ONE TREE (AS THE AUTHOR WILL USE LATER IN HIS BOOK) BUT IT IS SYCAMORS - PLURAL, THAT WERE DESTROYED, AND CEDARS - PLURAL THAT WERE PLANTED TO REPLACE THEM; IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE WORDS LITERALLY.
YES REMEMBER THIS - PLURAL IN EACH CASE, AS THE AUTHOR WILL IN ANOTHER CHAPTER USE A SINGLE SYCAMORE TREE AND A SINGLE CEDAR TREE TO TRY AND GIVE WEIGHT TO HIS IDEA, THAT THIS WAS A SPECIFIC PROPHECY IN ISAIAH THAT WAS FORETELLING AN EVENT IN 2001 ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF TWO TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND HENCE JUDGMENT WAS COMING ON AMERICA. OH YES, JUDGMENT IS COMING ON AMERICA, AND BRITAIN, AND CANADA, AND OTHER MODERN ISRAEL NATIONS OF THE WEST, BUT NOT WHEN AND IN THE WAY THAT THE AUTHOR OF "THE HARBINGER" BOOK THINKS OR WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE.
BACK TO BARNES' COMMENTARY:
Therefore. This verse indicates the punishment that would come upon them for their pride. The Lord shall set up. Heb. 'Shall exalt.' That is they shall overcome and subdue him. The adversaries of Rezin. King of Syria. It should be nated here that 21 MSS., instead of adversaries, read princes of Rezin. The sense seems to require this; as in the following verse, it is said that the Syrians will be excited against them. Against him. Against Ephraim. And join his enemies together. Heb. 'Mingle them together.' They shall be exited into wild and agitated commotion, and shall pour down together on the land and devor it. In what way this would be done is specified in verse 12.
12. The Syrians., chap. vii. 1. The Syrians had been the allies of the Israelites. But after the death of Rezin, it is probable that they joined the Assyrians, and united with them in the invasion of Samaria -- Aben Exra; Grotius. Before. Heb. 'From the east.' Syria was situated to the east of Samaria, and the meaning is here, that they would pour in upon Samaria from that side. And the Philistines. The Philistines occupied the country south-west of Samaria, lying along on the shores of the Mediterranean. It is not particularly mentioned in the Scriptures that they invaded Samaria after this prediction of Isaiah, but such a thing is by no means improbable. They were long unsubdued; were full of hostility to the Jewish people; and were many times engaged with them in wars, and several times subdued them; Jug. xiii., xiv.; 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. The name Palestine is derived from Philistine, although this people occupied a small part of the country; see Reland's Palestine, c. vii. Behind. That is from the west -- the region where they dwelt. The sacred writers speak as if looking toward the east, the rising of the sun, and they speak of the west as the region behind them; see notes on Job xxiii. 8, 9.
And they shall devour. Heb. 'They shall eat.' This figure is taken from a ravenous beast; and means that they should come up with raging desire, and fierce impetuosity, to destroy the nation. With open mouth. Heb. 'With the whole mouth.' The metaphor is derived from raging and furious animals. Chaldee, 'In every place.' For all this. Notwithstanding all this. His anger, and etc. see notes, chap. v. 25.
DID YOU NOTICE? IT WAS NOT JUST THE ASSYRIANS THAT WOULD COME UP AGAINST SAMARIA......IT WAS ALSO THE SYRIAN AND PHILISTINE PEOPLE.
SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE IN 9/11. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE TERRORISTS OF 9/11 COMING FROM THE MODERN PHILISTINES OF PALESTINE, OR FROM SYRIA. ONCE MORE TO TRY AND TIE THIS PROPHECY INTO A 2001 EVENT BREAKS DOWN RIGHT HERE. THE EVENT OF ISAIAH 9:10 WAS FOR THAT TIME ONLY, FOR AN INVASION OF SAMARIA BY AN ARMY FROM ASSYRIA, PHILISTINES, AND SYRIA. A LARGE EVENT OVER A LARGE PORTION OF SAMARIA ISRAEL, AND NOT SOME PROPHECY OF A FEW ARABS (ABOUT 20) COMING INTO AMERICA TO DESTROY A FEW BUILDINGS WHICH ALSO KILLED A RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE, WHEN COMPARED TO THIS INVASION OF A MIXED ARMY OF MANY, AGAINST A WIDE STRETCH OF SAMARIA. THE TWO INVASIONS CANNOT BE ALIKE IN ACTUAL FACT UNLESS YOU LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.
BACK TO BARNES:
13. For the people. This is a reason why his anger would not ease, and it is at the same time, the suggestion of a new crime for which the Divine judgment would rest upon them. It commences the second part of the oracle. Turneth not. It is implied here that it was the sign of the chastisement to turn them to God. In this case, AS IN MANY OTHERS, such a design had not been accomplished.
YES AS IN MANY OTHER CASES; THERE HAD BEEN PREVIOUS TIMES WHEN GOD SENT A DISASTER OF SOME KIND TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WITH DESIGN TO BRING THEM TO TRUE REPENTANCE, AND BACK TO SERVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. SO EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE 9/11 WAS ALLOWED BY GOD TO BRING AMERICA BACK TO TRUE REPENTANCE, THERE WERE OTHER TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHEN DISASTER HAD STRUCK, AND SO IT IS PROPER TO BELIEVE THOSE DISASTERS WERE ALSO DESIGNED TO TURN THEM TO HUMBLE REPENTANCE. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS HAD LARGE SINS IN ITS LIFE AS A NATION, WHERE TRUE REPENTANCE WAS NEEDED.
BARNES:
Unto him that smiteth them. To God, who had punished them. Neither do they seek. They do not seek his protection and favor; they do not worship and honor him. The Lord of hosts.
14. Will cut off head and tail. This is a PROVERBIAL expression, which is explained in the following verse; see also Deut. xxviii. 13, 14.
AND HOW MANY OTHER PROVERBIAL PHRASES ARE USED IN THIS SECTION, AND NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY.....THERE COULD BE OTHERS; YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT!
BARNES:
The head is often used to denote those in honor and authority. The tail is an expression applicable to the lower ranks, and would commonly indicate more than simply the common people. It would imply contempt; a state of great adjectness and meanness. Branch and rush. This is ALSO a PROVERBIAL expression, meaning the highest and lowest; see note Isa. xix. 15. The word here translated branch, means properly the bough or top of the palm tree. The palm grew to a great height before it gave out any branches, and hence the image is a beautiful one to denote those high in office and authority. The word rush means the coarse, long-jointed reed, that grows in the marshes -- an apt emblem of the base and worthless classes of society.
15. The ancient. The elder; the old man. And honorable. Heb. The man of elevated countenance.' The man of rank and office. The prophet that teaches lies. The false prophet. Of those there were many; and probably at this time in Samaria.
16. For the leaders of this people. Note chap. iii. 12. Heb. 'They that are called blessed by them.' -- referring more particularly to the false prophets. They that are led of them. Heb. 'They that are called blessed by them.' Are destroyed. Heb. 'Are swallowed up;' see note, chap. 111. 12. They are ruined; or swallowed up in a vast whirlpool or vortex.
17. Shall have no joy. He shall not delight in them so as to preserve them. The parallel part of the verse shows that the phrase is used in the sense of having mercy. In their young men. The hope and strength of the nation. The word here used commonly denotes those who are chosen, particularly for purposes of war. The sense is, that the hope and strength of the nation, that that on which the chief reliance would be placed, would be cut off. Neither shall have mercy. Judgment would sweep through the nation, even over those who were the usual objects of the Divine protection -- widows, and orphans; comp. Ps. x.14, 18; xlviii. 5; Deut. x. 18; Jer. xlix. 11; Hos. xiv. 3. These passages show that the fatherless and the widow are the special objects of Divine favor; and when, therefore, it is said that the Lord would not have mercy even on these, it shows the extent and severity of the Divine judgments that were coming on the nation. For everyone is an hypocrite. A deceiver; a 'dissembler.' The word used here ... hhaneph, means rather a profane or profligate man, a man who is defiled or polluted, than a dissembler. It is applied often to idolaters and licentious persons, but not to hypocrites; see Job viii. 13; xiii. 16; xv. 34; xvii. 8; Dan. xi. 32. Every mouth speaketh folly. The word rendered folly may denote foolishness, but it is also used to denote wickedness or crime; 1 Sam. xxv. 23. Probably this is the meaning here..... For all this. Not withstanding all the judgments that should come thus upon the young men, and widows, and orphans, still his anger was not turned away. This is the close of the second strophe or part of this prophecy.
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THE WHOLE CONTEXT OF THIS PROPHECY WAS FOR ANCIENT ISRAEL, THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL OR SAMARIA. THE PROPHECY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 2001 AND 9/11. THOUGH IT IS A PROPHECY FOR THE END TIME MODERN HOUSE OF ISRAEL (THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH, USA, AND NATIONS OF NORTH-WEST EUROPE), WHO ARE ALSO SO GREAT IN SIN, AND MORE SO EACH MONTH, THAT WHEN OUR PUNISHMENT COMES (AS IT WILL) THERE WILL ALSO BE NO SPARING OR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, NOR THE FALSE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS, OR THE HIGH AND HONORABLE OF SOCIETY, JUST AS THE LOWEST OF ROUGH SOCIETY, WILL ALSO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.
THIS IS AN OVERALL PROPHECY (LIKE MANY MANY MORE IN THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE) FOR MODERN ISRAEL. A TIME OF PUNISHING JUDGMENT WILL COME UPON US FOR OUR GREAT AND VAST NUMBER OF SINS. WE AS WESTERN NATIONS HAVE TURNED "GOOD" INTO "EVIL" AND "EVIL" INTO "GOOD." WE HAVE THROWN GOD AND THE BIBLE OUT THE WINDOW, WE ARE ENACTING MORE AND MORE EVIL LAWS EACH MONTH, IN THE NAME OF TOLERANCE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. OUR CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS TEACHERS, TEACH FALSE DOCTRINES AND HAVE MADE THE GRACE OF GOD INTO A LICENSE TO SIN. WE HAVE THEOLOGY THAT NOW ENDORSES HOMOSEXUALITY AND LESBIANISM AS GOOD AND OKAY IN GOD'S SIGHT. WE EVEN ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL AND LESBIAN MINISTERS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION. WE AS NATIONS HAVE SANCTIONED SAME SEX MARRIAGE, EVEN ALLOWING SUCH TO RAISE CHILDREN. WE STILL KILL THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN THROUGH ABORTION LAWS, EACH MONTH, AND CALL IT "FREEDOM OF CHOICE."
OH YES INDEED, WE ARE SINFUL NATIONS, THAT ONE DAY WILL BE PUNISHED IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, BUT ISAIAH 9:10 IS NOT A PROPHECY ABOUT THE TWO TOWERS CRASHING TO THE GROUND IN 2001 ON THE DATE OF 9/11.
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Ephraim. This is another name for Israel, as Ephraim was the principle tribe. And the inhabitants of Samaria. The capital of Ephraim or Israel. That say in their pride. This is the description of general and prevalent pride - the heart. It was the desire of splendor, power, and magnificence, originating in the heart, and manifesting itself by the language of self-confidence and defiance at the judgment of God. Stoutness. Heb. 'Greatness.' It means self-confident purpose......10. THE BRICKS ARE FALLEN DOWN. The language of this verse is FIGURATIVE; BUT THE SENTIMENT IS PLAIN. IT CONTAINS THE CONFESSION OF THE INHABITANTS OF SAMARIA, THAT THEIR AFFAIRS WERE IN A RUINOUS AND DILAPIDATED STATE; BUT ALSO THEIR SELF-CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE EVILS, AND RESTORE THEIR NATION TO MORE THAN THEIR FORMER MAGNIFICENCE.
Bricks in the oriental countries were made of clay and straw, and were rarely turned. Hence, exposed to sun and rains, they soon dissolved. Walls and houses constructed of such materials would not be very permanent, and to build with them is strongly contrasted with building in a permanent and elegant manner with hewn stone.
The meaning is, that their former state was one of less splendor than they designed that their subsequent state should be. Desolation had come upon their country, and this they could not deny. But they confidently boasted that they would more than repair the evil. We will build. Our ruined houses and walls. With hewn stone. At once more permanent and elegant than the structures of bricks had been.
..........
DID YOU NOTICE AS BARNES SAYS THE LANGUAGE IS FIGURATIVE!!
IT IS A METAPHOR OF SPEECH - TO DENOTE A MORE DEEPER MEANING.
DID THE ISRAELITES REALLY BUILD EVERYTHING WITH WEAK BRICKS THAT WOULD BY THE SUN AND RAINS CRUMBLE DOWN - AND DID THEY NOT HAVE THE SENSE AND WISDOM TO BUILD THEIR HOUSES AND ETC. WITH HEWN STONE? I SERIOUSLY DO NOT THINK SO. NOT WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTING TO LIVE IN THE LAND FOR CENTURIES. AND WHEN STONE WAS PLENTIFUL IN THE HOLY LAND.
SO THE BRICKS WAS A METAPHOR, A FIGURE OF SPEECH, TO DENOTE THEIR EASY LOSS IN BATTLE AND DEPORTATION BY THE ASSYRIANS ABOUT 732 B.C. WHEN THE FIRST WAVES OF CONQUEST AND DEPORTATION CAME UPON PART OF SOME OF THE ISRAELITE TRIBES. THERE FULL CONQUEST WOULD NOT BE UNTIL 721 TO 718 B.C.
AND LETS SUPPOSE SOME PHYSICAL BUILDINGS IN ISRAEL CAME DOWN....THE FACT IS THE VERSE DOES NOT SAY OR PUT OUT FOR US THAT IT WAS A SPECIAL TWO BUILDINGS THAT CAME DOWN, TWO BUILDING OF IMPORTANCE FOR WHAT THAT PART OF ISRAEL STOOD FOR.
THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT MISTAKE MADE BY "THE HARBINGER" BOOK.
THE SECOND LARGE MISTAKE IS THAT MANY MANY ASSYRIANS ATTACKED A PART OF SAMARIA, NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF TERRORISTS AS IN 9/11. THE ASSYRIANS CAME AS A FULL ARMY TO ATTACK, AND MUCH DESTRUCTION AND KILLING AND EXPORTING ISRAELITES BACK TO ASSYRIA TOOK PLACE.
TO TWO INVASIONS - ONE OF ISAIAH 9:10 AND ONE IN 9/11 2001, CANNOT BE THOUGHT OF AS ANY WHERE CLOSE TO BEING THE SAME.
I'VE SAID THE TWO TOWERS WERE NOT MADE OF BRICK, BUT STEEL BEAMS, AND REINFORCED POURED CONCRETE, WITH ELEVATOR SHAFTS OF CONCRETE AND STAIRS GOING ALL THE WAY UP OF POURED CONCRETE. IF AND BRICKS WERE USED IT WOULD HAVE SIMPLY BEEN IN AREAS FOR DECORATION.
THE AUTHOR USED THE DATE OF 732 FOR THE WARNING HARBINGER TO BEGIN AND THEN WITH NO REAL REPENTANCE, JUDGMENT WOULD COME.
AND IT DID IN 721 TO 718 B.C. THERE WAS SOME TIME GIVEN TO TRULY SEEK GOD, RETURN TO HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH - 11 YEARS WAS GIVEN, THEN CAME 721 AND THE START OF A 3 YEAR DESTRUCTION AND DEPORTATION OF ISRAEL INTO CAPTIVITY AND DEPORTATION TO ASSYRIA.
DO THE ARITHMETIC! 732 TO 721 IS 11 YEARS. IF THIS IS A PROPHECY FORETELLING THE JUDGMENT OF AMERICA IN DETAIL AS THE AUTHOR WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE. THEN FROM 2001 ADD 11 YEARS = 2012. HENCE BY 2012 AMERICA WILL START IN A 3 YEAR FIGHT WITH THE ENEMY, AND BY 2014, WILL BE DESTROYED AND TAKEN CAPTIVE AS IT WAS WITH ANCIENT SAMARIA ISRAEL.
TO DATE IN 2013 THOUGH STILL IN A RECESSION AMERICA HAS NOT BE INVADED BY ARAB MAD MEN TERRORISTS. IF ISAIAH 9:10 IS A LONG TIME AGO PROPHECY OF A 2001 9/11 PROPHECY CONCERNING TWO FALLING TOWERS AND SO COMING JUDGMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 11 TO 15 YEARS, WHERE AMERICA WILL BE NO MORE......THEN THE PROPHECY HAS MISSED THE MARK. AMERICA HAS NOT COME CLOSE TO BEING DESTROYED BY ANYONE. THOUGH RECESSION IS STILL THERE IN CERTAIN AREAS AMERICA IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, AND IS NOT BEING THREATENED BY ANY ARAB NATION OR ANY ARAB MAN-MEN GROUP. THE USA HAS KILLED BIN LADEN AND OTHERS LIKE HIM.
AND HAVING THE ATTITUDE OF TAKING THE HEAT DISHED OUT ON US IN 9/11, THERE IS NO SIGN OUR ENEMY IS NOCKING US TO THE CANVAS FOR THE COUNT OF 10.
NO THIS PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 9:10 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY. ANY ONE TRYING TO TIE THE OLD PROPHECY WITH THE 9/11 INCIDENT OF 2001, IS REALLY LETING HIS MIND DO SOME PRETTY FANCY TRICKS. HE SHOULD BE WRITING FOR THE NEW "STAR TRECK" MOVIES COMING OUT.
AS FOR AN ATTITUDE OF PRIDE AND REBUILDING BY AMERICA, IS IT NOT ONLY NATURAL THAT THE USA WOULD NOT JUST WANT TO LEAVE A HOLE IN THE GROUND WHERE ONCE STOOD TWO MIGHTY BUILDINGS. THOUGH THE DESTRUCTION DID NOT TURN THE USA BACK TO GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH REPENTANCE, EITHER DID STORM KATRINA, OR SUPER STORM SANDY, OR THE HUGE SNOW STORM THAT THE USA EAST COAST JUST WENT THROUGH; NEITHER DID THE VIETNAM WAR, OR THE DESTRUCTION AT PEARL HASBOR, OR THE CIVIL WAR THEY HAD IN 1861-5. NOR DID THE LARGE PROTESTS FOR YEARS BY PEOPLE AND GROUPS WALKING THE STREETS TO TELL THE USA THAT ABORTION ON DEMAND LAW, WAS SIN AND EVIL, AND THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT. ALL THE EVIL OF RACISM AND EVEN KILLING OF BLACKS BY SOME IN AMERICA FOR DECADES AFTER PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY; THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JFK AND MARTIN LUTHER KING; NONE OF THIS BROUGHT AMERICA OUT OF SIN AND BACK TO SERVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY HARBINGERS, WAKE-UP-CALLS FOR AMERICA OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS OR SO IN THEIR HISTORY. BUT NONE HAVE TURNED THEM IN REAL REPENTANCE TO STOP SINNING AND FALLING INTO DEEPER SINS (NOW WE HAVE SAME SEX MARRIAGE COMING INTO LAW) AND DEPARTING MORE AND MORE FROM THE TRUTHS OF GOD AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. 9/11 WAS JUST ONE MORE DISASTER THAT BROUGHT NO DEEP REPENTANCE BACK TO SERVING THE WORD OF GOD. AND LIKE OTHER DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY 9/11 WAS NOT FORETOLD BY ANY SPECIFIC BIBLE VERSE, AS THE AUTHOR OF THIS RECENT BOOK WOULD LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE.
WILL AMERICA (AND OTHER SINFUL NATIONS OF THE WEST - BRITAIN, CANADA ETC.) BE PUNISHED ONE DAY FOR ALL THEIR SINS, AND DEPARTURES FROM THE WAYS OF GOD? YES, INDEED THEY WILL BE, AS ALL THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE FORETELL. BUT TO TAKE ONE VERSE FROM ISAIAH TO TRY AND SAY IT FORETOLD A SPECIFIC EVENT IN MODERN ISRAEL AMERICA, IS JUST NOT CORRECT AT ALL.
ISAIAH 9:10 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 2001 AND 9/11. BUT IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH A LARGE INVASION BY A LARGE ARMY OF ASSYRIANS AND OTHERS (AS WE SHALL SEE) ABOUT THE YEAR 732 B.C. ON PART OF THE TRIBES OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
CONTINUING WITH BARNES' COMMENTARY:
The sycamores. These trees grew abundantly on the low lands of Judea, and were very little esteemed......
They are contrasted with cedars here -- (1.) Because the cedar was much more rare and precious wood. (2.) Because it was a much more smooth and elegant article for building. (3.) Because it was more permanant.......The whole passage denotes self-confidence and pride; an unwillingness to submit to the judgments of God, and a self-assurance that they would more than repair all the evils that would be inflicted upon them.
AGAIN IT IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH, AND NOT TO BE TAKEN IN ANY LITERAL WAY PER SE. DID THE ANCIENT ASSYRIANS CUT DOWN SYCAMORE TREES AS THEY INVADED SAMARIA? IT COULD BE ARGUED THEY DID. BUT REALLY NOW, WHY WOULD AN ARMY TAKE THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO CUT DOWN SYCAMORE TREES, THAT WERE NOT USED IN ANY SERIOUS WAY BY ISRAELITES TO BUILD WITH, BECAUSE OF THEIR INFERIOR WOOD. AND IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THE SYCAMORE TREES WERE CUT DOWN BY THE ASSYRIAN ARMY, THEN REMEMBER IT WAS NOT JUST ONE TREE (AS THE AUTHOR WILL USE LATER IN HIS BOOK) BUT IT IS SYCAMORS - PLURAL, THAT WERE DESTROYED, AND CEDARS - PLURAL THAT WERE PLANTED TO REPLACE THEM; IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE WORDS LITERALLY.
YES REMEMBER THIS - PLURAL IN EACH CASE, AS THE AUTHOR WILL IN ANOTHER CHAPTER USE A SINGLE SYCAMORE TREE AND A SINGLE CEDAR TREE TO TRY AND GIVE WEIGHT TO HIS IDEA, THAT THIS WAS A SPECIFIC PROPHECY IN ISAIAH THAT WAS FORETELLING AN EVENT IN 2001 ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF TWO TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND HENCE JUDGMENT WAS COMING ON AMERICA. OH YES, JUDGMENT IS COMING ON AMERICA, AND BRITAIN, AND CANADA, AND OTHER MODERN ISRAEL NATIONS OF THE WEST, BUT NOT WHEN AND IN THE WAY THAT THE AUTHOR OF "THE HARBINGER" BOOK THINKS OR WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE.
BACK TO BARNES' COMMENTARY:
Therefore. This verse indicates the punishment that would come upon them for their pride. The Lord shall set up. Heb. 'Shall exalt.' That is they shall overcome and subdue him. The adversaries of Rezin. King of Syria. It should be nated here that 21 MSS., instead of adversaries, read princes of Rezin. The sense seems to require this; as in the following verse, it is said that the Syrians will be excited against them. Against him. Against Ephraim. And join his enemies together. Heb. 'Mingle them together.' They shall be exited into wild and agitated commotion, and shall pour down together on the land and devor it. In what way this would be done is specified in verse 12.
12. The Syrians., chap. vii. 1. The Syrians had been the allies of the Israelites. But after the death of Rezin, it is probable that they joined the Assyrians, and united with them in the invasion of Samaria -- Aben Exra; Grotius. Before. Heb. 'From the east.' Syria was situated to the east of Samaria, and the meaning is here, that they would pour in upon Samaria from that side. And the Philistines. The Philistines occupied the country south-west of Samaria, lying along on the shores of the Mediterranean. It is not particularly mentioned in the Scriptures that they invaded Samaria after this prediction of Isaiah, but such a thing is by no means improbable. They were long unsubdued; were full of hostility to the Jewish people; and were many times engaged with them in wars, and several times subdued them; Jug. xiii., xiv.; 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. The name Palestine is derived from Philistine, although this people occupied a small part of the country; see Reland's Palestine, c. vii. Behind. That is from the west -- the region where they dwelt. The sacred writers speak as if looking toward the east, the rising of the sun, and they speak of the west as the region behind them; see notes on Job xxiii. 8, 9.
And they shall devour. Heb. 'They shall eat.' This figure is taken from a ravenous beast; and means that they should come up with raging desire, and fierce impetuosity, to destroy the nation. With open mouth. Heb. 'With the whole mouth.' The metaphor is derived from raging and furious animals. Chaldee, 'In every place.' For all this. Notwithstanding all this. His anger, and etc. see notes, chap. v. 25.
DID YOU NOTICE? IT WAS NOT JUST THE ASSYRIANS THAT WOULD COME UP AGAINST SAMARIA......IT WAS ALSO THE SYRIAN AND PHILISTINE PEOPLE.
SUCH WAS NOT THE CASE IN 9/11. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE TERRORISTS OF 9/11 COMING FROM THE MODERN PHILISTINES OF PALESTINE, OR FROM SYRIA. ONCE MORE TO TRY AND TIE THIS PROPHECY INTO A 2001 EVENT BREAKS DOWN RIGHT HERE. THE EVENT OF ISAIAH 9:10 WAS FOR THAT TIME ONLY, FOR AN INVASION OF SAMARIA BY AN ARMY FROM ASSYRIA, PHILISTINES, AND SYRIA. A LARGE EVENT OVER A LARGE PORTION OF SAMARIA ISRAEL, AND NOT SOME PROPHECY OF A FEW ARABS (ABOUT 20) COMING INTO AMERICA TO DESTROY A FEW BUILDINGS WHICH ALSO KILLED A RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE, WHEN COMPARED TO THIS INVASION OF A MIXED ARMY OF MANY, AGAINST A WIDE STRETCH OF SAMARIA. THE TWO INVASIONS CANNOT BE ALIKE IN ACTUAL FACT UNLESS YOU LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.
BACK TO BARNES:
13. For the people. This is a reason why his anger would not ease, and it is at the same time, the suggestion of a new crime for which the Divine judgment would rest upon them. It commences the second part of the oracle. Turneth not. It is implied here that it was the sign of the chastisement to turn them to God. In this case, AS IN MANY OTHERS, such a design had not been accomplished.
YES AS IN MANY OTHER CASES; THERE HAD BEEN PREVIOUS TIMES WHEN GOD SENT A DISASTER OF SOME KIND TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WITH DESIGN TO BRING THEM TO TRUE REPENTANCE, AND BACK TO SERVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. SO EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE 9/11 WAS ALLOWED BY GOD TO BRING AMERICA BACK TO TRUE REPENTANCE, THERE WERE OTHER TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHEN DISASTER HAD STRUCK, AND SO IT IS PROPER TO BELIEVE THOSE DISASTERS WERE ALSO DESIGNED TO TURN THEM TO HUMBLE REPENTANCE. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS HAD LARGE SINS IN ITS LIFE AS A NATION, WHERE TRUE REPENTANCE WAS NEEDED.
BARNES:
Unto him that smiteth them. To God, who had punished them. Neither do they seek. They do not seek his protection and favor; they do not worship and honor him. The Lord of hosts.
14. Will cut off head and tail. This is a PROVERBIAL expression, which is explained in the following verse; see also Deut. xxviii. 13, 14.
AND HOW MANY OTHER PROVERBIAL PHRASES ARE USED IN THIS SECTION, AND NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY.....THERE COULD BE OTHERS; YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT!
BARNES:
The head is often used to denote those in honor and authority. The tail is an expression applicable to the lower ranks, and would commonly indicate more than simply the common people. It would imply contempt; a state of great adjectness and meanness. Branch and rush. This is ALSO a PROVERBIAL expression, meaning the highest and lowest; see note Isa. xix. 15. The word here translated branch, means properly the bough or top of the palm tree. The palm grew to a great height before it gave out any branches, and hence the image is a beautiful one to denote those high in office and authority. The word rush means the coarse, long-jointed reed, that grows in the marshes -- an apt emblem of the base and worthless classes of society.
15. The ancient. The elder; the old man. And honorable. Heb. The man of elevated countenance.' The man of rank and office. The prophet that teaches lies. The false prophet. Of those there were many; and probably at this time in Samaria.
16. For the leaders of this people. Note chap. iii. 12. Heb. 'They that are called blessed by them.' -- referring more particularly to the false prophets. They that are led of them. Heb. 'They that are called blessed by them.' Are destroyed. Heb. 'Are swallowed up;' see note, chap. 111. 12. They are ruined; or swallowed up in a vast whirlpool or vortex.
17. Shall have no joy. He shall not delight in them so as to preserve them. The parallel part of the verse shows that the phrase is used in the sense of having mercy. In their young men. The hope and strength of the nation. The word here used commonly denotes those who are chosen, particularly for purposes of war. The sense is, that the hope and strength of the nation, that that on which the chief reliance would be placed, would be cut off. Neither shall have mercy. Judgment would sweep through the nation, even over those who were the usual objects of the Divine protection -- widows, and orphans; comp. Ps. x.14, 18; xlviii. 5; Deut. x. 18; Jer. xlix. 11; Hos. xiv. 3. These passages show that the fatherless and the widow are the special objects of Divine favor; and when, therefore, it is said that the Lord would not have mercy even on these, it shows the extent and severity of the Divine judgments that were coming on the nation. For everyone is an hypocrite. A deceiver; a 'dissembler.' The word used here ... hhaneph, means rather a profane or profligate man, a man who is defiled or polluted, than a dissembler. It is applied often to idolaters and licentious persons, but not to hypocrites; see Job viii. 13; xiii. 16; xv. 34; xvii. 8; Dan. xi. 32. Every mouth speaketh folly. The word rendered folly may denote foolishness, but it is also used to denote wickedness or crime; 1 Sam. xxv. 23. Probably this is the meaning here..... For all this. Not withstanding all the judgments that should come thus upon the young men, and widows, and orphans, still his anger was not turned away. This is the close of the second strophe or part of this prophecy.
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THE WHOLE CONTEXT OF THIS PROPHECY WAS FOR ANCIENT ISRAEL, THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL OR SAMARIA. THE PROPHECY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 2001 AND 9/11. THOUGH IT IS A PROPHECY FOR THE END TIME MODERN HOUSE OF ISRAEL (THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH, USA, AND NATIONS OF NORTH-WEST EUROPE), WHO ARE ALSO SO GREAT IN SIN, AND MORE SO EACH MONTH, THAT WHEN OUR PUNISHMENT COMES (AS IT WILL) THERE WILL ALSO BE NO SPARING OR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, NOR THE FALSE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS, OR THE HIGH AND HONORABLE OF SOCIETY, JUST AS THE LOWEST OF ROUGH SOCIETY, WILL ALSO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.
THIS IS AN OVERALL PROPHECY (LIKE MANY MANY MORE IN THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE) FOR MODERN ISRAEL. A TIME OF PUNISHING JUDGMENT WILL COME UPON US FOR OUR GREAT AND VAST NUMBER OF SINS. WE AS WESTERN NATIONS HAVE TURNED "GOOD" INTO "EVIL" AND "EVIL" INTO "GOOD." WE HAVE THROWN GOD AND THE BIBLE OUT THE WINDOW, WE ARE ENACTING MORE AND MORE EVIL LAWS EACH MONTH, IN THE NAME OF TOLERANCE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. OUR CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS TEACHERS, TEACH FALSE DOCTRINES AND HAVE MADE THE GRACE OF GOD INTO A LICENSE TO SIN. WE HAVE THEOLOGY THAT NOW ENDORSES HOMOSEXUALITY AND LESBIANISM AS GOOD AND OKAY IN GOD'S SIGHT. WE EVEN ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL AND LESBIAN MINISTERS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION. WE AS NATIONS HAVE SANCTIONED SAME SEX MARRIAGE, EVEN ALLOWING SUCH TO RAISE CHILDREN. WE STILL KILL THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN THROUGH ABORTION LAWS, EACH MONTH, AND CALL IT "FREEDOM OF CHOICE."
OH YES INDEED, WE ARE SINFUL NATIONS, THAT ONE DAY WILL BE PUNISHED IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, BUT ISAIAH 9:10 IS NOT A PROPHECY ABOUT THE TWO TOWERS CRASHING TO THE GROUND IN 2001 ON THE DATE OF 9/11.
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