Isaiah 29:9

“Stay yourselves, and wonder, &c.] Stop a while, pause a little, consider within yourselves the case and circumstances of these people, and wonder at their stupidity. Kimchi thinks these words were spoken in the times of Ahaz, with respect to the men of Judah; and so Aben Ezra says, they are directed to the men of Zion; and it is generally thought that they are spoken to the more religious and sober part of them; though, by the following verse (<232910>Isaiah 29:10), it appears that the case was general, and that the people to whom this address is made were as stupid as others: cry ye out, and cry; or, “delight yourselves”f577, as in the margin; take your pleasure, indulge yourselves in…”

“Stay--rather, "Be astounded"; expressing the stupid and amazed incredulity with which the Jews received Isaiah's announcement. wonder--The second imperative, as often (Isa 8:9), is a threat; the first is a simple declaration of a fact, "Be astounded, since you choose to be so, at the prophecy, soon you will be amazed at the sight of the actual event" [MAURER]. cry . . . out . . . cry--rather, "Be ye blinded (since you choose to be so, though the light shines all round you), and soon ye shall be blinded" in good earnest to your sorrow [MAURER], (Isa 6:9-10). not with wine--but with spiritual paralysis (Isa 51:17, Isa 51:21). ye . . . they--The change from speaking to, to speaking of them,…”

“Wonder - At the stupidity of this people. Cry - Cry out again and again through astonishment. They stagger - With giddiness or stupidity, which makes them like drunken men, insensible of their danger. Isaiah 29:10”

“and wonder: Isa 1:2, Isa 33:13, Isa 33:14; Jer 2:12; Hab 1:5; Act 13:40, Act 13:41; Rev 17:6 cry ye out, and cry: or, take your pleasure and riot, Isa 22:12, Isa 22:13; Mat 26:45; Mar 14:41 they are: Isa 29:10, Isa 19:14, Isa 28:7, Isa 28:8, Isa 49:26, Isa 51:21, Isa 51:22; Jer 23:9, Jer 25:27, Jer 51:7; Lam 4:21 Isaiah 29:10”

“This enigma of the future the prophet holds out before the eyes of his contemporaries. The prophet received it by revelation of Jehovah; and without the illumination of Jehovah it could not possibly be understood. The deep degradation of Ariel, the wonderful deliverance, the sudden elevation from the abyss to this lofty height - all this was a matter of faith. But this faith was just what the nation wanted, and therefore the understanding depending upon it was wanting also. The shemu‛âh was there, but the bı̄nâh was absent; and all שׁמועה הבין was wrecked on the obtuseness of the mass. The prophet, therefore, who had received the unhappy calling to harden his people, could not help…”