Isaiah 28:4

“And the glorious beauty which is on the head of the fat valley, &c.] Meaning the riches and fruitfulness of the ten tribes, and especially of Samaria the head of them: shall be a fading flower; as before declared, (<232801>Isaiah 28:1) and here repeated to show the certainty of it, and to awaken their attention to it: [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; the first ripe fruit, that which is ripe before the summer fruits in common are. The Septuagint render it the first ripe fig; and so the Targum and Aben Ezra: which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth it; that it is goodly and desirable, and so gathers it, (<330701>Micah 7:1): while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up; and as soon…”

“Rather, "the fading flower, their glorious beauty (Isa 28:1), which is on the head of the fat (fertile) valley, shall be as the early fig" [G. V. SMITH]. Figs usually ripened in August; but earlier ones (Hebrew bikkurah, Spanish bokkore) in June, and were regarded as a delicacy (Jer 24:2; Hos 9:10; Mic 7:1). while it is yet--that is, immediately, without delay; describing the eagerness of the Assyrian Shalmaneser, not merely to conquer, but to destroy utterly Samaria; whereas other conquered cities were often spared.”

“He eateth - Which, as soon as a man sees he plucks it off, and devours it, as soon as he can get it into his hand. And so shall it be with Ephraim's glory, which his enemies shall devour greedily. Isaiah 28:5”

“shall be: Isa 28:1; Psa 73:19, Psa 73:20; Hos 6:4, Hos 9:10, Hos 9:11, Hos 9:16, Hos 13:1, Hos 13:15; Jam 1:10, Jam 1:11 the hasty: "No sooner," says Dr. Shaw, "doth the boccore (or early fig) draw near to perfection in the middle or latter end of June, than the kermez or summer fig, begins to be formed, though it rarely ripens before August; about which time the same tree frequently throws out a third crop, or winter fig, as we may call it. This is usually of a much longer shape and darker complexion than the kermez hanging and ripening upon the tree, even after the leaves are shed; and, provided the winter proves mild and temperate, is gathered as a delicious morsel in the spring." Mic…”