Isaiah 33:8

“The highways lie waste, &c.] No man walking in them, for fear of the enemy; “the ways of Zion”, which are said to “mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts”, (<250104>Lamentations 1:4) none daring to attend the ministry of the word and ordinances; (see <233508>Isaiah 35:8): the wayfaring man ceaseth; or, “the traveller rests”f655; or stops; he does not proceed on his journey; a stop is put to a religious course and conversation; there is an entire cessation of religious worship; a sabbath is kept, but not a religious one; he that would walk in Zion’s ways is forbid, and is obliged to sit still: he hath broken the covenant; some, as Kimchi’s father, interpret this of the Jews’…”

“broken . . . covenant--When Sennacherib invaded Judea, Hezekiah paid him a large sum to leave the land; Sennacherib received the money and yet sent his army against Jerusalem (Kg2 18:14, Kg2 18:17). despised--make slight of as unable to resist him (Isa 10:9; Isa 36:19); easily captures them.”

“The highways lie waste - This verse contains a description of the desolations that had been caused by the invasion of Sennacherib. Some have understood it as containing the account which the ambassadors sent by Hezekiah gave of the effects of the invasion. Thus Grotius interprets it. But it is probably a description made by the prophet himself, and is designed to state one cause why the messengers that had been sent out wept bitterly. They had not only failed of inducing Sennacherib to abandon his purpose of attacking Jerusalem, but they had witnessed the effects of his invasion already. The public ways were desolate. In the consternation and alarm that was produced by his approach, the…”

“The covenant - Sennacherib broke his faith, given to Hezekiah, of departing for a sum of money, Kg2 18:14, Kg2 18:17. Cities - The defenced cities of Judah, which he contemned, and easily took. Isaiah 33:9”

“highways: Isa 10:29-31; Jdg 5:6; Lam 1:4 he hath broken: Kg2 18:14-17 he hath despised: Isa 10:9-11, Isa 36:1; Kg2 18:13 he regardeth: Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14; Sa1 17:10, Sa1 17:26; Kg2 18:20, Kg2 18:21; Psa 10:5; Luk 18:2-4 Isaiah 33:9”