Isaiah 34:16

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read, &c.] Joseph Kimchi interprets this of the book of the law of Moses; which being consulted, it will appear that punishment was threatened to be inflicted on the enemies of God’s people, particularly the Edomites. Jarchi thinks the book of Genesis is intended; in which we may read how every creature, with its mate, at the time of the flood, was gathered to Noah in the ark. Aben Ezra supposes the book of God’s decrees is meant; in which, could it be seen, might be read all the particulars of this prophecy. But it seems best to understand it of this book of the prophecy of Isaiah; which being sought to, and read at the time when these predictions…”

“book of the Lord--the volume in which the various prophecies and other parts of Scripture began henceforward to be collected together (Isa 30:8; Dan 9:2). Seek--(so Isa 8:16, Isa 8:20; Joh 5:39; Joh 7:52). no one . . . fail--of these prophecies (Mat 5:18). none shall want . . . mate--image from pairing of animals mentioned, Isa 34:15 ("mate"); no prediction shall want a fulfilment as its companion. Or rather, "none of these wild animals (just spoken of) shall be wanting: none shall be without its mate" to pair and breed with, in desolate Idumea. my . . . his--Such changes of person are frequent in Hebrew poetry. them--the wild beasts.”

“Seek ye out - Lock carefully at the prediction, and its fulfillment. This seems to be addressed to the inhabitants of that land, or to any who might doubt, or be disposed to examine. They were invited to compare the prediction with the fulfillment, and see how literally all would be fulfilled - an examination which may be made now, and the prediction will be seen to have been accomplished with most surprising particularity and accuracy. The book of the Lord - The book of Yahweh, which he has caused to be written, referring, perhaps, especially to what Isaiah has here recorded; including also what had been uttered by the other prophets in regard to Edom. The main reference is, however,…”

“Seek - When this judgment is executed, if you pursue this prophecy, you will find, that all things exactly come to pass, as I have told you. His - My spirit, (such sudden changes of persons being frequent here) hath brought all these creatures together, as he formerly brought the creatures to Adam, and to Noah, by an instinct which he put into them. Isaiah 34:17”

“34:16 Search the book of the Lord: Isaiah’s prophecy was God’s witness to the truthfulness of his word. • The power of the Spirit enacts the Lord’s decrees, assuring that all prophecy comes together to be fulfilled as God promised.”

“Seek: Isa 30:8; Deu 31:21; Jos 1:8; Pro 23:12; Dan 10:21; Amo 3:7; Mal 3:16; Joh 5:39, Joh 10:35; Pe2 1:19; Mat 5:18; Luk 21:33 my mouth: Gen 6:17; Psa 33:6, Psa 33:9 Isaiah 34:17”

“Whenever any one compared the prophecy with the fulfilment, they would be found to coincide. "Search in the book of Jehovah, and read! Not one of the creatures fails, not one misses the other: for my mouth - it has commanded it; and His breath - it has brought them together. And He has cast the lot for them, and His hand has assigned it (this land) to them by measure: they will possess it for ever; to generation and generation they will dwell therein." The phrase על כּתב is used for entering in a book, inasmuch as what is written there is placed upon the page; and מעל דּרשׁ for searching in a book, inasmuch as a person leans over the book when searching in it, and gets the object of his…”