And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
The strong - powerful rulers (Amos 2:9).
Shall be as tow, and the maker of it - rather, his work. Piscator supports the English version, taking it as a participle, poel for a noun. So the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, Syriac Chaldaic, and Hebrew, po`alow (H6467).
As a spark. He shall be at once the fuel, "tow," and the cause of the fire, by kindling the first "spark."
They shall both burn together - the wicked ruler and 'his work,' which "is as a spark."
Remarks: The prophet's name, Isaiah, which means "the Lord shall save," is strikingly significant of the substance of his prophecies. Salvation for the chosen remnant, amidst judgments on the apostate, is the grand theme which he sets forth. The everlasting Law is the basis on which this, the Evangelist among the prophets, rests his Gospel- announcements. He appeals to "heaven and earth" to stand aghast at the unnatural and monstrous perversity of Israel in that, though called to the exalted privilege of being "children" of God, they rebelled against the Father who "nourished" and elevated them. The instinct of the irrational "ox and donkey" reproves the spiritual dulness of man, the lower lord of creation. The brute knows "its owner;" but man often turns against the Almighty hand that feeds him, Above all, such ingratitude is especially monstrous in the case of the professing people of God.