Isaiah 10:1

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, &c.] Or, “O ye that decree”, &c. ywh being a sign of the vocative case, and an interjection of calling, as Aben Ezra observes; though the Targum and other versions understand it of a threatening denounced; and is to be understood as lying against lawgivers and judges, political rulers and governors of the people, that made unrighteous laws; laws which were not agreeable to the law of God, nor right reason; and were injurious to the persons and properties of men; and which were calculated for the oppression of good men, especially the poor, and for the protection of wicked men, who made no conscience of spoiling them: and that write grievousness…”

“Fourth strophe. (Isa 10:1-4) them that decree--namely, unrighteous judges. write grievousness, &c.--not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them (Isa 65:6) [MAURER], (Isa 1:10, Isa 1:23).”

“Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees - To those who frame statutes that are oppressive and iniquitous. The prophet here refers, doubtless, to the rulers and judges of the land of Judea. A similar description he had before given; Isaiah 1:10, Isaiah 1:23, ... And that write ... - Hebrew, ‘And to the writers who write violence.’ The word translated “grievousness,” עמל ‛âmâl, denotes properly “wearisome labor, trouble, oppression, injustice.” Here, it evidently refers to the judges who declared oppressive and unjust sentences, and caused them to be recorded. It does not refer to the mere scribes, or recorders of the judicial opinions, but to the judges themselves, who pronounced the…”

“Woe - Unto those magistrates who make unjust laws, and give unjust sentences. Grievousness - Grievous things, such unjust decrees as cause grief and vexation to their subjects. Isaiah 10:2”

“10:1-4 This prophecy was directed against Judah’s leaders, who used their positions to enrich themselves at the people’s expense. 10:1 What sorrow introduces a threat of divine judgment.”

“am 3291, bc 713 Woe: Isa 3:11, Isa 5:8, Isa 5:11, Isa 5:18, Isa 5:20-22; Jer 22:13; Hab 2:6, Hab 2:9, Hab 2:12, Hab 2:15, Hab 2:19; Mat 11:21; Mat 23:13-16, Mat 23:23, Mat 23:27, Mat 23:29, Mat 26:24; Luk 11:42-44, Luk 11:46, Luk 11:47, Luk 11:52; Jde 1:11 them: Kg1 21:13; Est 3:10-13; Psa 58:2, Psa 94:20, Psa 94:21; Dan 6:8, Dan 6:9; Mic 3:1-4, Mic 3:9-11; Mic 6:16; Joh 9:22, Joh 19:6 that write grievousness: or, to the writers that write grievousness Isaiah 10:2”

“Strophe 4. "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who prepare trouble to force away the needy from demanding justice, and to rob the suffering of my people of their rightful claims, that widows may become their prey, and they plunder orphans! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the storm that cometh from afar? To whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye deposit your glory? There is nothing left but to bow down under prisoners, and they fall under the slain. With all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still." This last strophe is directed against the unjust authorities and judges. The woe pronounced upon them is,…”