Isaiah 42:22

“But this is a people robbed and spoiled, &c.] The Jewish people, who shut their eyes against the clear light of the Gospel, and turned a deaf ear to Christ, and to his ministers, rejected him, and persecuted them; these were robbed and plundered by the Roman soldiers of all their riches and treasures, when the city of Jerusalem was taken: they are all of them snared in holes; such of them as escaped and hid themselves in holes, and caverns, and dens of the earth, were laid in wait for and taken, and dragged out, as beasts are taken in a pit, and with a snare. Josephusf827 says, some the Romans killed, some they carried captive, some they searched out lurking in holes underground, and,…”

“holes--caught by their foes in the caverns where they had sought refuge [BARNES]. Or bound in subterranean dungeons [BARNES]. prison-houses--either literal prisons, or their own houses, whence they dare not go forth for fear of the enemy. The connection is: Notwithstanding God's favor to His people for His righteousness' sake (Isa 42:21), they have fallen into misery (the Babylonish and Romish captivities and their present dispersion), owing to their disregard of the divine law: spiritual imprisonment is included (Isa 42:7). none saith, Restore--There is no deliverer (Isa 63:5).”

“But this is a people robbed and spoiled - The Jewish people, though highly favored, have been so unmindful of the goodness of God to them, that he has given them into the hand of their enemies to plunder them. This is to be conceived as spoken after the captivity, and while the Jews were in exile. Their being robbed and spoiled, therefore, refers to the invasion of the Chaldeans, and is to be regarded as spoken propheticly of the exiled and oppressed Jews while in Babylon. They are all of them snared in holes - This passage has been variously rendered. Lowth renders it, ‘All their chosen youth are taken in the toils;’ following in this the translation of Jerome, and rendering it as Le Clerc…”

“But - But not withstanding this respect which God hath to his people, he hath severely scourged you for your sins. Hid - They have been taken in snares made by their own hands, and by God's just judgment cast into dungeons and prisons. None - None afforded them help. Isaiah 42:25”

“42:22-25 Throughout its history, Israel’s sin (42:24) made Israel fair game for foreign oppressors. Many nations, Assyria and Babylon in particular, became instruments God used to pour out his fury (42:25) on his rebellious people.”

“a people: Isa 1:7, Isa 18:2, Isa 36:1, Isa 52:4, Isa 52:5, Isa 56:9; Jer 50:17, Jer 51:34, Jer 51:35, Jer 52:4-11; Luk 19:41-44, Luk 21:20-24 they are all of them snared: or, in snaring all the young men of them are hid: Isa 42:7, Isa 14:17, Isa 45:13; Psa 102:20; Jer 52:31 a spoil: Heb. a treading, Isa 51:23; Deu 28:29-33; Psa 50:22 Isaiah 42:23”