Behold, &c.— The first section of the first discourse, contained, in this chapter, is twofold: the first member, which properly explains the judgments of God upon a corrupt people, extends to the middle of the 16th verse. The second, wherein also the judgment of God upon the enemies of the church is described, reaches to the end of the chapter. The description of the divine judgment in the former part, is contained in Isaiah 24:1-12 to which is subjoined a temperament or alleviation of that judgment, Isaiah 24:13 to middle of 16. The divine judgment, in the latter part, reaches from Isaiah 24:16-20 to which also is subjoined an alleviation of the punishment inflicted upon the enemies of the church, Isaiah 24:21-23. In describing the judgment of the former part there are six gradations, separated by the interposition of the cause of this judgment, Isaiah 24:5. In the latter part, the cause of the judgment occurs first, Isaiah 24:16 and then three gradations, with the last of which is mixed the cause of this judgment. Vitringa is of opinion, that this prophesy, in the letter, refers principally to the times of the Maccabees; but, as to its mystical sense, to the tremendous judgment of God to be passed upon the enemies of his church, at the latter times of the gospel-state, or at the opening of the sixth seal. See Revelation 6:12. It is doubtful when this prophesy was delivered; but from various circumstances we may conclude that it was not delivered before the death of Ahaz, or the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah. If, with Vitringa, we refer this prophesy to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, or the Maccabees, the earth, or rather the land here spoken of, must mean Judaea, which, by a total confusion of things both civil and ecclesiastical, was to undergo a grievous and sudden change, to be laid waste, spoiled, and deprived of its inhabitants, and that by the immediate judgment of the Lord; and this was remarkably the case with the land of Judaea in the times referred to. See Genesis 1:26, &c. and Genesis 2:49. Vitringa renders the verse,
Behold, the Lord exhausteth the land, and emptieth it, and turneth up its face, and scattereth the inhabitants thereof.