The Prediction of the Song (Part 1)

Pastor Bill Farrow

Isaiah 27:10-11

¹⁰Yet the fortified city will be desolate, The habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness; There the calf will feed, and there it will lie down And consume its branches. ¹¹When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off; The women come and set them on fire. For it is a people of no understanding; Therefore He who made them will not have mercy on them, And He who formed them will show them no favor.

Isaiah 27:10

Yet the fortified city - Some commentators suppose that this means Jerusalem. Others understand it of Samaria, others of Babylon and others of cities in general, denoting those in Judea, or in other places. It seems plain that Babylon is referred to. The whole context and description seems to require this; and especially the fact that this song is supposed to be sung after the return from captivity to celebrate their deliverance. It is natural, therefore, that they should record the fact that the strong and mighty city where they had been so long in captivity was now completely destroyed. For the meaning of thee phrase ‘defended city,’ see the note at Isa. 25:2.

Will be desolate - (see Isa. 25:2; compare the notes at Isa. 13)

The habitation forsaken - The habitation here referred to is Babylon. It means the habitation or dwelling-place where “we” have so long dwelt as captives (compare Prov. 3:33; 21:20; 24:15).

And left like a wilderness - See the description of Babylon in the notes at Isa. 13:20-22.

There the calf will feed and there it will lie down - It shall become a vast desert, and be a place for beasts of the forest to range in (compare Isa. 7:23; see the note at Isa. 5:17). This, in fact, is quite literally what has happened to the former greatness of Babylon.  This metaphor is frequently employed by the prophets when they speak of the desolation of any city; for they immediately add, that it will be a place for pasture.

And consume its branches - The branches of the trees and shrubs that shall spring up spontaneously in the vast waste where Babylon was. This may be a reference to the “chewing of the cud” which occurs when the cow takes it leisure in a safe setting.  “Branches” might refer to the “tops” or tender parts of the plants.  What he says about the “tops” tends to show more strongly the desolation; as if he had said that there will be such abundance of grass that the calves will eat none but the tender parts.  The word signifies also branch; but as branches naturally rise high, I take it here for summit or top. It might also be thought that there is an allusion to the beauty of the city, and that as its houses formerly were lofty and magnificent, when these have been thrown down, nothing will be seen in it but herbs and leaves, the “tops” of which the calves which enjoy abundant pasture will eat in disdain.

Isaiah 27:11

When its boughs are withered - This is a further description of the desolation which would come upon Babylon. The idea is, that Babylon would be forsaken until the trees should grow and decay, and the branches should fall to be collected for burning. That is, the desolation should be entire, undisturbed, and continue long.  The idea of the desolation is, therefore, in this verse carried forward, and a new circumstance is introduced to make it more graphic and striking.

They will be broken off - That is, by their own weight as they decay, or by the hands of those who come to collect them for fuel.

The women come - Probably it was the office mainly of the women to collect the fuel which might be necessary for culinary purposes. In eastern climates but little is needed; and that is collected of the twigs of vineyards, of withered stubble, straw, hay, dried roots, etc., wherever they can be found.

And set them on fire - That is, to burn them for fuel.

For it is a people of no understanding; Therefore He who made them will not have mercy on them, And He who formed them will show them no favor - This is a reference to the empire of Babylon and its people, a people of no right views of God and his government - wicked, sinful (Prov. 6:32; 18:2; Jer. 5:21). This is a striking statement of God’s view of the wicked as they compare to His view of His own people.  They are expendable, and to be used to benefit, chasten and facilitate the betterment of His own people as He sees fit.  This idea is very compatible with the Calvinistic idea of the elect versus the non-elect and I suggest it here only as food for thought.  There is, of course, as sense in which God loves all men and calls them to submit to the Gospel.  But we cannot simply wish this very clear and troubling way in which God views the wicked away.