Isaiah 34:16,17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord Here the prophet confirms the preceding prediction; and, “to convict hypocrites, and confirm the pious, assures them of the certain completion of his prophecy.” He terms it, and his other prophecies, The book of the Lord. as being a part of divine revelation; and he supposes they would be extant at the time of the completion of their contents, and therefore invites all men to seek into and consider them in all their parts, in order that, comparing the events with the predictions, they might be fully satisfied of the truth of them, and thereby might find their faith in them, and all the other parts of God's book, confirmed. Not one of these shall fail No, not so much as the minutest circumstance, even respecting the impure beasts now mentioned. None shall want her mate As I have said that the vultures should all have their mates, so it shall be: for my mouth The mouth of the Lord; it hath commanded The direful muster of the beasts and fowls; these marks and evidences of desolation; and his Spirit That is, his power; it hath gathered Shall gather all his creatures together, as he formerly brought the creatures to Adam and to Noah, by an instinct which he put into them. And he hath cast the lot for them, &c. He hath divided the land to them, as it were, by lot and line, as Canaan was divided among the Israelites.

Isaiah 34:16-17

16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.