Isaiah 5:25

“Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, &c.] His professing people; which character, as it aggravated their sin in rejecting and despising the word of the Lord, so it increased his anger and indignation against them: and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; which some understand of past judgments and afflictions upon them, under Joash, Amaziah, and Ahaz; and others of future ones, under Shalmaneser and Nebuchadnezzar: and the hills did tremble; which Jarchi interprets of their kings and princes; or it may be only a figurative expression, setting forth the awfulness of the dispensation: and their carcasses [were] torn in the midst of the…”

“anger . . . kindled-- (Kg2 22:13, Kg2 22:17). hills . . . tremble--This probably fixes the date of this chapter, as it refers to the earthquake in the days of Uzziah (Amo 1:1; Zac 14:5). The earth trembled as if conscious of the presence of God (Jer 4:24; Hab 3:6). torn--rather, were as dung (Psa 83:10). For all this, &c.--This burden of the prophet's strains, with dirge-like monotony, is repeated at Isa 9:12, Isa 9:17, Isa 9:21; Isa 10:4. With all the past calamities, still heavier judgments are impending; which he specifies in the rest of the chapter (Lev 26:14, &c.).”

“Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled - The Lord is “enraged,” or is angry. Similar expressions often occur; Num 11:33; 2 Kings 23:26; Deuteronomy 11:17; Psa 56:1-13 :40; Job 19:11; Psalms 2:12. The “cause” of his anger was the crimes which are specified in this chapter. And he hath stretched forth his hand - To stretch forth the hand may be an action expressive of protection, invitation, or punishment. Here it is the latter; compare Isaiah 14:27. And hath smitten them - Punished them. To what this refers particularly is not clear. Gesenius supposes that the expressions which follow are descriptive of pestilence. Lowth and Rosenmuller suppose that they refer to the earthquakes which…”

“5:25 mountains tremble: God’s wrath against sinners is often expressed as the shaking of the earth’s foundations (13:13; 23:11; 24:18-19; 29:6; 54:10). God’s appearance in judgment or salvation in natural phenomena such as smoke, darkness, lightning, and earthquake is called a theophany (see 6:1-4, 6; 13:13; Exod 19:18-19; Ps 18:7-15; Mic 1:3-4; Rev 8:5; 16:17-18; 18:21-22).”

“the anger: Deu 31:17, Deu 32:19-22; Kg2 13:3, Kg2 22:13-17; Ch2 36:16; Psa 106:40; Lam 2:1-3, Lam 5:22; Th1 2:16 stretched: Isa 14:26, Isa 14:27 the hills: Psa 18:7, Psa 68:8, Psa 77:18, Psa 114:7; Jer 4:24; Mic 1:4; Nah 1:5; Hab 3:10; Rev 20:11 torn: or, as dung, Kg1 14:11, Kg1 16:4, Kg1 21:24; Kg2 9:37; Psa 83:10; Jer 8:2, Jer 9:22, Jer 15:3, Jer 16:4; Zep 1:17 For all: Isa 9:12, Isa 9:13, Isa 9:17, Isa 9:21, Isa 10:4; Lev. 26:14-46; Psa 78:38; Dan 9:16; Hos 14:4 Isaiah 5:26”

“"Therefore is the wrath of Jehovah kindled against His people, and He stretches His hand over them, and smites them; then the hills tremble, and their carcases become like sweepings in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not appeased, and His hand is stretched out still." We may see from these last words, which are repeated as a refrain in the cycle of prophecies relating to the time of Ahaz ( Isa 9:11, Isa 9:16; Isa 10:4), that the prophet had before his mind a distinct and complete judgment upon Judah, belonging to the immediate future. It was certainly a coming judgment, not one already past; for the verbs after "therefore" (‛al-cên), like those after the three previous…”