Isaiah 5:26 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And he will lift up an ensign— That decree of the divine severity, which had been spoken of in general in Isaiah 5:24 is here explained: particularly God is shewn to be the supreme general or leader of the people which were to come from far to execute his vengeance; they were to assemble at his setting up his ensign as a signal, and at his hissing,—a metaphor taken from bees, (see on chap. Isaiah 7:18.) which by hissing, whistling, or some sound of that kind, used to be drawn out of their hives, as Bochart has fully shewn. Hieroz. pars 2: lib. 4 cap. 10. And the meaning is, that God would collect the people like bees, by the slightest indication of his will, and bring them into Judaea to execute his vengeance. We have next the place from which they should be brought: from far, and the ends of the earth; and the manner of their expedition, or execution of the divine wrath; that they should come with speed swiftly: in all which, though the Chaldeans may be understood, yet it is most undoubted that the prophesy is with peculiar force applied to the Romans. See Nahum, chap. Isaiah 3:1, &c.