Isaiah 9:19

“Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, &c.] Brought into great distress and affliction; sore judgments and calamities being upon it; for not darkness in a natural, but in a figurative sense, is intended, (see <230822>Isaiah 8:22 9:1) the allusion is to the ascending of the smoke before mentioned, through fire being kindled in the thickets of the forest, which filled the air with darkness; as smoke arising in great quantity does. This sense of the word, which is only to be met with in this place, is given by Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, from the use of it in the Arabic language, in which it signifiesf176 darkness; but the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it,…”

“darkened--namely, with smoke (Isa 9:18). The Septuagint and Chaldee render it, "is burnt up," so MAURER, from an Arabic root meaning "suffocating heat." no man . . . spare . . . brother--intestine discord snapping asunder the dearest ties of nature.”

“Through the wrath - By the anger, or indignation. This spreading desolation is the proof of his anger. Is the land darkened - The word used here - עתם ‛âtham - occurs nowhere else. According to Gesenius, it is the same as תמם tâmam to be or make complete; and hence means, “in this place, to be consumed, or laid waste.” Kimchi and Aben Ezra render it, ‘The land is darkened.’ Septuagint, Συγκέκαυται Sungkekautai. Chaldee, צרוכת chărôkat - ‘Is scorched.’ Jerome renders it, Conturbata est terra - ‘The land is disturbed.’ The effect is doubtless such as ascending and spreading columns of fire and smoke would produce, and perhaps the general word desolate had better be used in translating the…”

“is the land: Isa 5:30, Isa 8:22, Isa 24:11, Isa 24:12, Isa 60:2; Jer 13:16; Joe 2:2; Amo 5:18; Mat 27:45; Act 2:20 fuel: Heb. meat, Isa 9:5 no man: Isa 13:18; Eze 9:5; Mic 7:2, Mic 7:6; Pe2 2:4 Isaiah 9:20”