Isaiahchapter 2

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 325 cross-references outward and receives 447 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

The word Isaiah sees concerning Judah and Jerusalem begins with the latter days: the mountain of Jehovah's house established above all hills, all nations flowing to it, the law going forth from Zion, and swords beaten into plowshares as war ceases. From that vision the chapter pivots to indictment: the house of Jacob is filled with diviners from the east, with silver, horses, chariots, and idols the people worship. A day of Jehovah comes against everything proud and lofty — cedars of Lebanon, oaks of Bashan, high towers, ships of Tarshish. Men flee into caves and clefts of the rocks before the terror of Jehovah, casting their idols to the moles and bats, and the chapter closes with the charge to cease trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.

6 For thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are filled with customs from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

7 And their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.

8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

9 And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.