Isaiah 29:20,21 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For, &c. Here we have the second event connected with the calling of the Gentiles, the punishment of the enemies of God and his truth. For the terrible one is brought to naught The proud and potent enemies of those meek and poor believers, mentioned in the last verse, such as the unbelieving Jews and their rulers, and the heathen potentates, were in the first age of Christianity. And the scorner is consumed The scornful opposers of God's word and servants. And all that watch for iniquity That early and diligently apply themselves to the practice of wickedness. That make a man an offender for a word That condemn a man, as if he were a great criminal, for a verbal reproof; and lay a snare for him that reproveth For God's faithful prophets and ministers, whose office it is to reprove ungodly men; in the gate Where the people used to assemble, both upon civil and sacred accounts, and where prophets used to deliver their prophecies. And turn aside From his right; the just Hebrew, the just, or righteous one, meaning chiefly the prophets and ministers of God, and especially Christ, often called the Just One, both in the Old and New Testaments; for a thing of naught Not for any great advantage, but for a trifle, which was a great aggravation of their injustice, or, with vanity, as כתהו signifies, that is, with vain and frivolous pretences, or without any colour of reason or justice. Vitringa applies all this to those who opposed Christ and his apostles.