Isaiah 3:7

“In that day shall he swear, &c.] Or “lift up”, that is, his handf53, which was a gesture used in swearing, and therefore is so rendered; the meaning is, that he shall at once immediately give an answer, and for the solemn confirmation of it shall say an oath with it, saying, I will not be a healer, or “a binder”; that is, of wounds, of political wounds, made in the nation, and which were incurable. (see <230106>Isaiah 1:6) for the meaning is, that he neither was fit to be, nor could he be, a healer of the distempered state of the nation, it was so desperately bad. The Targum is, “I am not fit to be a head or governor;” and so Kimchi explains it of a governor, who, he says, is so called,…”

“swear--literally, "lift up," namely, his hand; the gesture used in solemn attestation. Or, his voice, that is, answer; so Vulgate. healer--of the body politic, incurably diseased (Isa 1:6). neither . . . clothing--so as to relieve the people and maintain a ruler's dignity. A nation's state must be bad indeed, when none among men, naturally ambitious, is willing to accept office.”

“In that day shall he swear - Hebrew, ישׁא yı̂shā' ‘Shall he lift up’ - that is, the voice, or the hand. To lift up the hand was one of the modes of taking an oath. Perhaps it means only that he should lift up “the voice” - that is, “should answer;” compare Numbers 14:1. The Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee, read it simply ‘he shall answer.’ I will not be an healer - Hebrew, ‘a binder up,’ Isaiah 1:6. The Vulgate renders it, ‘I am not a physician.’ The Septuagint and the Chaldee, ‘I am not sufficient to be a leader.’ The meaning is, that the state of affairs was so ruinous and calamitous that he would not attempt to restore them; as if, in the body, disease should have so far…”

“An healer - A repairer of the ruins of the state. Isaiah 3:9”

“swear: Heb. lift up the hand, Gen 14:22; Deu 32:40; Rev 10:5, Rev 10:6 healer: Heb. binder up, Isa 58:12; Jer 14:19; Lam 2:13; Hos 5:13, Hos 6:1 neither bread: Princes and great men in the East, as Sir J. Chardin testifies, are obliged to have a great stock of clothes in readiness for presents on all occasions; and a great quantity of provisions for the table is equally necessary (see Kg1 4:22, Kg1 4:23. Neh 5:17, Neh 5:18). Hence the person desired to undertake the government, alleges as an excuse that he is not able to support the dignity of his station. Isaiah 3:8”