An Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem

An Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Isa. 28:1

Seven woes of Isaiah

1. Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim (Isa. 28:1).

2. Woe to the drunkards of Judah (Isa. 28:7).

3. Woe to Jerusalem (Isa. 29:1).

4. Woe to deceivers and hypocrites (Isa. 29:15).

5. Woe to the rebellious children (Isa. 30:1).

6. Woe to them that trust in Egypt (Isa. 31:1).

7. Woe to treacherous dealers (Isa. 33:1).

Woe to the... The 30th prophecy in Isaiah (Isa. 28:1-29, fulfilled). Next, Isa. 29:1.

Twenty Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. Judgment will come to Ephraim and Samaria (Isa. 28:1).

2. The glory of Ephraim will fade like a flower that is cut down (Isa. 28:1).

3. God will send a strong conqueror against Ephraim and Samaria who, like a hail storm and a mighty flood of waters, will cast them down to earth (Isa. 28:2).

4. Ephraim and Samaria will be trodden under foot (Isa. 28:3).

5. Ephraim and Samaria will be completely destroyed like a fading flower and as a man eats up the first fruit of summer (Isa. 28:4).

6. God will protect a remnant of Israel in the kingdom of Judah when Ephraim is completely destroyed (Isa. 28:5).

7. God will be for a spirit of judgment to the judges of Judah, and a strength to them to repel the enemy in the gate (Isa. 28:6).

8. The judges, prophets, and leaders of Judah are corrupted by strong drink so that they cannot give judgment or prophesy (Isa. 28:7-8); therefore God will teach knowledge and doctrine to babes (Isa. 28:9).

9. God will give His Word precept upon precept, line upon line; here a little and there a little; and yet men will stumble, be broken, snared, and taken (Isa. 28:10-13).

10. With men of stammering lips and another tongue (tongues other than the native language) God will speak to Judah, and regardless of this—the rest and the refreshing to the weary—they will not hear (Isa. 28:11-12).

11. Ephraim’s destruction will be a warning of similar judgment to Judah and Jerusalem (Isa. 28:14-22).

12. God will lay in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, and a sure foundation; and Judah will not be totally destroyed (Isa. 28:16).

13. The false security and refuge of Judah shall be swept away, and their covenant with death and hell will be annulled and fail; then the invader shall sweep through the land and tread them under foot (Isa. 28:17-18).

14. When the judgment begins on Judah it will be continuous, day by day without intermission, until it has accomplished its purpose (Isa. 28:19).

15. The judgment will be so terrible that even a report of it will fill the mind with horror (Isa. 28:19).

16. The defense of Judah will be insufficient to protect them. Their trust in the promises of false prophets, false gods, or in Egypt will be inadequate, like trying to keep warm in a bed that is too narrow (Isa. 28:20).

17. God will accomplish His purpose and His work, and punish Judah; nothing will stop this (Isa. 28:21-22).

18. God will make a destruction of all Judah and Jerusalem (Isa. 28:22).

19. Judgment on Judah will be just as sure as a crop when conditions are met and natural laws are in force (Isa. 28:23-28).

20. Judgment will come from the Lord like crops come from Him when His laws are followed (Isa. 28:29).

the crown of... The proud and haughty crown or the capital of Ephraim—Samaria.

to the drunkards... Two things cursed:

1. Woe to the crown of pride—Samaria.

2. Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim—the northern kingdom of Israel.

whose glorious... Samaria was built on a hill surrounded by a rich valley about 8 miles wide. Beyond the valley it was surrounded by higher hills which were cultivated in terraces, sown with grain, and planted with fig and olive trees. The valley was planted the same way, making Samaria beautiful, as though it had a crown or wreath of flowers. Its beauty was to be destroyed, as a cut flower soon withers and fades away. This was fulfilled in the defeat and captivity of Ephraim to Assyria (2Ki. 17:1-41).

which are on... Samaria rose out of the valley like a head, and on its mountain the drunkards of Ephraim lived in revelry and seeming security.

overcome with wine... A man’s reason, conscience, moral feelings, and physical strength are all subdued by alcohol.

Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: Isa. 28:2, 3

the Lord hath... This refers to the king of Assyria who was to destroy Samaria and take the ten tribes into captivity (2Ki. 17:1-41). He was to come upon Ephraim and Samaria like a hail storm, a destroying storm (a tornado), and like a mighty flood, leaving the country barren as a fading flower when it is cut down and like a piece of summer fruit when it is eaten up (Isa. 28:2-4).

And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. Isa. 28:4

shall be a... Samaria, like an ornamental wreath (cf. Isa. 28:1), would be trampled underfoot by Assyria with no regard for its worth. Samaria, the beauty of Israel overlooking a fertile valley (cf. Isa. 28:1), would become like a ripened fig, which is eaten by a stranger before it can be harvested.

In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, Isa 28:5

In that day... The day Ephraim and Samaria are destroyed by Assyria, which was within a few months after the prophecy was spoken. Ephraim was to be totally destroyed and go into captivity, but Judah was to become the remnant of Israel and be spared. God was to be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the rest of Israel who were not defeated and taken captive to Assyria (Isa. 28:5-6). Thus, Isa. 28:5 is the beginning of a prophecy to Judah and Jerusalem in particular, while Isa. 28:1-4 are a prophecy about Ephraim. God was to preserve Judah and be their protector when the Assyrians would come into the land. This was fulfilled as in Isaiah 36:1-37:38.

be for a... Four things God was to be to Judah:

1. A crown of glory (Isa. 28:5)

2. A diadem of beauty

3. A spirit of judgment (Isa. 28:6)

4. Strength to the army

And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. Isa. 28:6

when the Lord... Establishes the Millennium, the remnant will be honored by the Lord and will be under the One who sits in judgment. Even in the Assyrian siege of Samaria the Lord gave strength to the Israelite soldiers, enabling them to hold off the siege for three years.

But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Isa. 28:7

they also have... Judah also (like Ephraim, Isa. 28:1, 28:3) had given themselves over to alcohol.

erred through wine... Seven Sins of Judah through Drink

1. They have erred (Isa. 28:7).

2. Have gone out of the way.

3. Are intoxicated and overcome by wine.

4. Stumble in judgment.

5. Live in uncleanness (Isa. 28:8).

6. Stumble at the way God has instructed them by the prophets (Isa. 28:9-13).

7. Scoff at God’s way of revelation, and reject His message to them by the prophets.

Isaiah admitted here that Judah was also sinful like Ephraim, and was likewise destined to judgment if they continued in these sins. The difference between the two kingdoms was that Ephraim had gone further into sin and apostasy than Judah, for they did not have one righteous king in all their history of separation from Judah. God delayed judgment in Judah because they had periods of national revival. Several of their kings were godly and led Judah back to God. Godly people from the ten tribes continually came back to Judah which became representative of all thirteen tribes. Furthermore, Judah was chosen by God to rule, and He had made a special covenant with David and his house to be rulers of Israel eternally. All these factors delayed Judah’s judgment, but by their continued sin and apostasy it did come about 133 years after the ten tribes were destroyed (2Ki. 25:1-30).

the priest and... The priests and prophets mentioned here were representative of the higher religious and ruling classes in Judah who had gone into sin. Having erred in truth, in judgment, and in the way of right, they were destined to be punished like Ephraim.

For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Isa. 28:8

For all tables... This verse pictures the whole nation as being sinful and unclean, living in the filthiness of their own vomit of corruption. They were intoxicated even when supposedly seeing visions (the false prophets) or when rendering decisions (the false priests). No wonder the nation was ripe for judgment!

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isa. 28:9

Whom shall he... Questions 43-44. Next, Isa_. 28:24.

drawn from the... Scoffing

The sense of this passage (Isa. 28:9-13) is that of contempt, scoffing, and rejection of the way God had been speaking to them by Isaiah. The scoffers mentioned in Isa. 28:14 said of Isaiah, Whom will he instruct? To whom will he impart his doctrines? Will he treat us as mere babes and infants just weaned? He does nothing but stammer about law upon law and line upon line as though we cannot understand anything but the most elementary lessons. Is he going to regard us as children and treat us as senseless babes by giving us endless repetitions (Isa. 28:9-10)? Isaiah answered their mockery by acknowledging their complaint was true and that they (drunkards as they were) should be dealt with by such methods seeing they weren’t capable of receiving sound doctrine, in their drunken stupor. Even though God would speak to them with stammering lips and in foreign and strange languages which would be rest and refreshing for the weary, yet this people would not hear (Isa. 28:11-12). In other words, since they considered the prophet’s messages unintelligible (like words of stammerers and foreigners whose tongues they could not understand) God would use these very methods to reveal Himself to them and thereby give rest and refreshing; but this would be rejected also as foolish and unintelligible.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isa. 28:10

precept Hebrew: tsav, injunction; commandment; precept. From tsavah, enjoin; appoint; charge; set in order. Literally, mandate must be upon mandate, mandate upon mandate; line (Hebrew: qav), a rule; measuring cord) upon line (rule upon rule); here a little and there a little (Isa. 28:10, 28:13).

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isa. 28:11

for with stammering... Tongues

Hebrew: la‛eg, jester; mocker; stammerer. From la‛ag, to deride; speak unintelligibly; mock; stammer; laugh. The idea here is that since the drunkards of Judah regarded the messages of the Lord through Isaiah as suitable only for children, He would teach them in a manner they did not like and instruct them through the language of foreigners as a sign of their unbelief. Paul used this passage speaking of the gift of tongues in the church as a sign to unbelievers (1Co. 14:21-22). The word stammering does not mean that the language would not be real, but that the people hearing it would not understand it (Isa. 28:11; 33:19). These Hebrew words are translated mockers (Psm. 35:16); mock (2Ch. 30:10; Neh. 4:1; Job. 11:3; 21:3; Pro. 1:26; 17:5; 30:17; Jer. 20:7); laugh to scorn (2Ki. 19:21; Neh. 2:19; Job. 22:19; Psm. 22:7; Isa. 37:2); laugh (Job. 9:23; Psm. 80:6); and have in derision (Psm. 2:4; 59:8). All this points to the experiences of the book of Acts, especially to the 120 who were baptized in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost and spoke in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance (Act. 2:1-21). This was in fulfillment of Isa. 28:11. They became an object of mockery, laughter, scorn, and ridicule, and were accused of being drunk on new wine.

To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isa. 28:12

This is the... Two personal benefits of tongues here:

1. This is the rest to the weary.

2. This is the refreshing to the weary

yet they would... Tongues Predicted

God not only predicted the spiritual exercise of speaking in various languages by the Holy Spirit, as fulfilled in Act. 2:1-47; 10:1-48; 19:1-41; 1 Cor. 12-14, but He also predicted that men in general would not hear or be open to such exercise during the time it was to happen (Isa. 28:12). That this refers to N.T. spiritual experiences is not only clear from Paul’s application of it to the church in 1Co. 14:21-22, but also from the fulfillment of Isa. 28:16 (quoted by Peter and others in the N.T.) in connection with Christ in N. T. times, as the Stone and foundation of the church (Mat. 21:42-44; 1Co. 3:11; Act. 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1Pe. 2:4-8). Thus the speaking with stammering lips and another tongue does not refer to judgment upon Judah by a foreign nation, such as the Assyrians and Babylonians who were to teach them certain lessons, but to spiritual experiences which would be rest and refreshing to all who would hear in the church age.

But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isa. 28:13

and fall backward... The message was to the drunkards of Judah and Ephraim. Through their rejection of the gospel, as foretold here, they themselves were to fall backward and stumble at the Messiah, the stumbling Stone, and live in darkness and be destroyed (Rom. 9:32-33; Luke 21:20-24).

and be broken... Hebrew: shabar, to break off; break in pieces; be crushed. Judah and Ephraim were broken off because of unbelief in Christ and the gospel (Rom. 11:7-29). They were not broken by falling upon the Stone; they were crushed by the Stone falling upon them (Mat. 21:42-44; Luke 20:18).

and snared... Judah was snared and taken into captivity among all the other nations for rejecting Christ (Mat. 23:37-39; Luke 21:20-24; Rom. 11:25-29).

A Cornerstone in Zion

Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Isa. 28:14

Wherefore hear the... God further rebuked the scornful men of Judah who ruled Jerusalem, warning them that their covenant with death and hell would not make them secure when the overflowing scourge passed through the land (Isa. 28:14-15).

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Isa. 28:15

we have made... The idea is that Judah felt so secure about judgment, it was as if they had made a covenant with death not to destroy them and with hell not to swallow them.

when the overflowing... The overflowing scourge could refer to the Babylonians (2Ki. 25:1-30; 2Ch. 36:1-23; Jer. 25:1-38), or to the Romans in A.D. 70 after the rejection of the Stone of Isa. 28:16 (Luke 21:20-24); or, it could refer to both these destruction's, for both did completely destroy Jerusalem and make the land empty, as predicted here (Isa. 28:14-22).

we have made... They trusted in deception and believed the opposite of what the prophets had told them; therefore they thought they were secure.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isa. 28:16

Behold I lay... This prophecy is of the Messiah whom God was to send to them (Mat. 21:42-44).

Ten Symbols of the Messiah

1. A foundation stone (Isa. 28:16; Eph. 2:20)

2. A tried stone (Mat. 21:42-44; Act 4:11)

3. A precious corner stone (1Pe. 2:4-8)

4. A sure foundation (1Co. 3:11)

5. A smitten rock (Psm. 78:16; Num. 20:8-11; 1Co. 10:4)

6. Head stone of the corner (Psm. 118:22)

7. Rejected stone (Psm. 118:22; Act 4:11)

8. Stumbling stone (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32-33)

9. A living stone (1Pe. 2:4)

10. A Rock (stone) of offense (Isa. 8:14; 1Pe. 2:8)

in Zion... Is Jerusalem, never the church or a spiritual kingdom of God on earth ( 2Sa. 5:7).

he that believeth... He that confides and trusts in the sure foundation is secure and will not make haste or be ashamed (Rom. 9:33; 1Pe. 2:6).

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. Isa. 28:17

Judgment also will... I will judge Judah according to the strict rule of law, and require righteousness as straight as a plumb line—a string with a weight that makes a straight line as it hangs down.

and the hail... Judgment was to come upon Judah like a hail storm and a mighty flood overflowing whatever things were being trusted in.

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. Isa. 28:18

your covenant with... The Lord responded to each of these boasts. Their covenant with death would be annulled (Isa. 28:18), their lie would be swept away (Isa. 28:17), and they would be defeated by the scourge (Isa. 28:18) that would continue day after day.

From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. Isa. 28:19

From the time... Whenever judgment began it would continue until its purpose was accomplished.

It shall take you... Must refer to being taken captive, as in Isa. 28:13.

only to understand... The judgment will be so terrible that it will be vexing even to hear the report of it. This was particularly true in A.D. 70 when so many people were crucified there wasn’t room for another cross; bodies were piled up outside the walls of Jerusalem in heaps.

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. Isa. 28:20

For the bed... The defense of Jerusalem would be so inadequate it would be like a man trying to sleep in a bed that was too short, with a cover too narrow to wrap himself in.

For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Isa. 28:21

shall rise up... This indicates that the Lord will rise up in judgment as one rises to accomplish a particular work.

in mount Perazim... 2Sa. 5:20-21; 1Ch. 14:11.

as in the... This refers to David’s victory over the Philistines (1Ch. 14:16).

His strange work... The judgment upon Judah is called a "strange work" because of being God’s complete destruction of His own people, instead of their enemies as had often been the case before.

Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. Isa. 28:22

be ye not... Isaiah warned Judah not to remain as mockers and scornful men (Isa. 28:14, Isa. 28:22), or lest make their bands strong, for God had determined a consumption of the whole land.

Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. Isa. 28:23

Give ye ear... Fourfold command to mockers:

1. Give your ear.

2. Hear My voice.

3. Hearken.

4. Hear My speech.

Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? Isa. 28:24

Doth the... Questions 45-47. Next, Isa. 29:15.

plowman plow... God used the illustration of a farmer who does many things to secure a harvest, to point out that He had dealt with Judah in many ways hoping to bring them to righteousness—and without success. He was now going to do this "strange work" which would be just as certain as a harvest when the farmer obeys the law of nature (Isa. 28:23-29).

When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? Isa. 28:25

hath made plain... Meaning he has tilled the ground and broken up the clods, as in Isa. 28:24.

cast abroad the... Fitch was a vegetable like the common pea. The Hebrew word (used only in Isa. 28:25, 28:27) denotes fennel or dill seed that was mixed with bread for flavor. Not the same word found in Eze. 4:9.

scatter the cummin... Cummin, a condiment used for seasoning in sauces and soups (Isa. 28:25, 28:27; Mat. 23:23).

the principal wheat... Wheat, barley and rye were common grains in Israel.

For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. Isa. 28:26

his God doth... God has instructed man in most activities of life. To what extent He taught man agriculture is not known, but it is here stated as a fact (cp. Gen. 6:14-16; Exo. 31:2-6).

For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Isa. 28:27

Threshing methods:

1. Fitch was beaten with a staff.

2. Cummin seeds were beaten out with a rod. Even wheat was threshed this way when there was a small amount (Ruth 1:17) and when it was necessary to hide it from the enemy (Jdg. 6:11).

3. Wheat, barley, and rye were trampled by oxen (Deut. 25:4); by riding a sled over the sheaves, then using a fork to throw the straw up so the grain would fall to the ground; or by rolling over the sheaves with a cart that had three or four heavy rollers of wood, stone, or iron (Isa. 28:28; 21:15; 2Sa. 24:22; 1Ch. 21:23; Pro. 20:26).

Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. Isa. 28:28

Various crops must be treated differently so no one step (plowing, harrowing, planting, or threshing) is done continuously. Similarly God would bring about judgment but not forever. He is the Master “Farmer,” who knows how to handle each “crop.”

This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. Isa. 28:29

Therefore the Southern Kingdom (Judah) should submit to Him because He is wonderful in counsel (cf. Isa. 9:6) and magnificent in wisdom (cf. Isa. 11:2).