Isaiah 2:14

Isa 2:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills [that are] lifted up,

Ver. 14. And upon all the high mountains.] Optimates et dynastas designat. Hereby he meaneth the grandees and magnificoes, and all that are puffed up with an opinion of their own power or policy.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Isaiah speaks to the people of Judah in the form of a poem. He continues to describe what will happen on the day of Yahweh of Hosts (Isaiah 2:12). (See: Parallelism)

against

In Isa 2:14-16 Isaiah lists things that God will destroy. Possible meanings are 1) these refer to prideful people that God will humble or 2) God will actually destroy all these things in the list.

mountains ... hills

These words are metaphors for the pride of the Israelites. They also appear in Isaiah 2:2. (See: Metaphor)

that are lifted up

This is an idiom. AT: "that are very high" (See: Idiom)

high tower ... impregnable wall

These refer to things people would build around their cities so they could defend themselves against their enemies. They are a metaphor for the Israelites' pride and belief that they had no need for Yahweh and could stand against any punishment Yahweh would mete out to them for their sins. (See: Metaphor)

impregnable wall

"wall that nothing can break down or go through"

ships of Tarshish ... beautiful sailing vessels

These refer to large boats that people used to travel far on the sea and bring back goods to the cities.

ships of Tarshish

"ships on which they go to Tarshish"

translationWords

Tarshish

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

By high trees and mountains are meant them that are proud and lofty, and think themselves most strong in this world.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

high . . . hills--referring to the "high places" on which sacrifices were unlawfully offered, even in Uzziah's (equivalent to Azariah) reign (Kg2 15:4). Also, places of strength, fastnesses in which they trusted, rather than in God; so

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 14. See Clarke on Isa 2:13.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(14)And upon all the high mountains.—Possibly the prophet may have had in his mind the thunderstorm of Psa_29:5—“the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.” The oaks of Bashan were, like the cedars of Lebanon, proverbially types of forest greatness (Isa_33:9). Literally, the words must have found a fulfilment in the ravages of Sargon’s and Sennacherib’s armies.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. By which may be meant either kingdoms and cities belonging to the Roman jurisdiction, or churches and monasteries, and such like religious houses, and the dissolution of them. See Rev 16:20.

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Isaiah 2:15

isa 2:15

isa 2:15

isa 2:15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall. Which may signify everything that serves to support and defend the antichristian hierarchy, particularly the secular powers. The Targum paraphrases it,

"and upon all that dwell in a high tower, and upon all that reside by a fortified wall.''

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And upon all the high mountains - Judea abounded in lofty mountains, which added much to the grandeur of its natural scenery. Lowth supposes that by mountains and hills are meant here, ‘kingdoms, republics, states, cities;’ but there are probably no parallel places where they have this meaning. The meaning is probably this: high mountains and hills would not only be objects of beauty or grandeur, but also places of defense, and protection. In the caverns and fastnesses of such hills, it would be easy for the people to find refuge when the land was invaded. The meaning of the prophet then is, that the day of God’s vengeance should be upon the places of refuge and strength; the strongly fortified places, or places of sure retreat in cases of invasion; compare the notes at Isa 2:19.

Hills that are lifted up - That is, high, elevated hills.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

To which men used to betake themselves in times of war and danger. It is usual with the prophets to describe God’s judgments upon men by the shaking and smoking of the mountains, the trembling of the earth, and the like.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. High mountains… hills — Even these do not afford defence when Jehovah arises to avenge. The loftiest crags and fastnesses cannot then protect.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mountains... hills. It is Sennacherib"s boast that he "came up to the height of the mountains". (Isa_37:24)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hills - To which men used to betake themselves in times of danger.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

The mention of Lebanon and Bashan in v. 13 now leads to that of mountains in general, as lofty objects in themselves, and therefore helping to complete the general conception of high things, which the Prophet threatens with humiliation. “And upon all the high mountains and upon all the elevated hills.” This must be explained as an additional specification of the general statement in v. 12, that every high thing should be humbled.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And over all the high mountains over their inhabitants.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

ההרים The mountains. I derive הרים from הרה to conceive, as I shall explain in the Book of Psalms (148:9).

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.