Isaiah 3:24

“And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be a stink, &c.] Instead of “spice”, or in the place where they put spices, carried musk, or had their smelling bottles, of precious and aromatic ointment, balsam, and myrrh, and such like thingsf80, namely, in their bosoms, there should be a “stink” or putrefaction, arising from ulcers and diseases of the body, (<381412>Zechariah 14:12) the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it “dust”; or this may refer to the anointing of their hair with ointment of myrrh and other things, which gave an agreeable scent; but instead of this there would be a scab, giving an ill scent, (<230317>Isaiah 3:17) and instead of a…”

“stink--arising from ulcers (Zac 14:12). girdle--to gird up the loose Eastern garments, when the person walked. rent--the Septuagint, better, a "rope," an emblem of poverty; the poor have nothing else to gird up their clothes with. well-set hair-- (Pe1 3:3-4). baldness-- (Isa 3:17). stomacher--a broad plaited girdle. sackcloth-- (Sa2 3:31). burning--a sunburnt countenance, owing to their hoods and veils being stripped off, while they had to work as captives under a scorching sun (Sol 1:6).”

“And it shall come to pass - The prophet proceeds to denounce the “judgment” or “punishment” that would come upon them for their pride and vanity. In the calamities that would befall the nation, all their ornaments of pride and vainglory would be stripped off; and instead of them, they would exhibit the marks, and wear the badges of calamity and grief. Instead of sweet smell - Hebrew בשׂם bôs'em, aromatics, perfumes, spicy fragrance; such as they used on their garments and persons. ‘No one ever enters a company without being well perfumed; and in addition to various scents and oils, they are adorned with numerous garlands, made of the most odoriferous flowers.’ - “Roberts.” ‘The persons of…”

“Girdle - Which were fine and costly, and useful to gird their garments about them. A rent - Torn and tattered garments. Burning - By the heat of the sun, to which they are now commonly exposed, from which they used formerly to guard themselves with the utmost care. Isaiah 3:26”

“instead: Isa 57:9; Pro 7:17 baldness: Isa 22:12; Eze 7:18; Mic 1:16 a girding: Isa 15:3, Isa 32:9-11; Job 16:15; Jer 4:8, Jer 6:26, Jer 48:37, Jer 49:3; Lam 2:10; Eze 27:31; Joe 1:8; Amo 8:10; Rev 11:3 burning: Isa 4:4; Lev 26:16; Deu 28:22, Deu 32:24; Rev 16:9, Rev 18:9 Isaiah 3:25”

“When Jehovah took away all this glory, with which the women of Jerusalem were adorned, they would be turned into wretched-looking prisoners, disfigured by ill-treatment and dirt. - "And instead of balmy scent there will be mouldiness, and instead of the sash a rope, and instead of artistic ringlets a baldness, and instead of the dress-cloak a frock of sackcloth, branding instead of beauty." Mouldiness, or mother (mak, as in Isa 5:24, the dust of things that have moulded away), with which they would be covered, and which they would be obliged to breathe, would take the place of the bosem, i.e., the scent of the balsam shrub (bâsâm), and of sweet-scented pomade in general; and nipâh that of…”