Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 47:2
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Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Take the millstones, and grind meal - The design of this is plain. Babylon, that had been regarded as a delicately-trained female, was to be reduced to the lowest condition of poverty and wretchedness - represented here by being compelled to perform the most menial and laborious offices, and submitting to the deepest disgrace and ignominy. There is an allusion here to the custom of grinding in the East. The mills which were there commonly used, and which are also extensively used to this day, consisted of two stones, of which the lower one was convex on the upper side, and the upper one was concave on thee lower side, so that they fitted into each other. The hole for receiving the grain was in the center of the upper stone, and in the process of grinding the lower one was fixed, and the upper one was turned round, usually by two women (see Matthew 24:41), with considerable velocity by means of a handle. Watermills were not invented until a little before the time of Augustus Caesar; and windmills long after. The custom of using handmills is the primitive custom everywhere, and they are still in use in some parts of Scotland, and generally in the East. (See Mr. Pennant’s “Tour to the Hebrides,” and the Oriental travelers generally. Grinding was usually performed by the women, though it was often regarded as the work of slaves. It was often inflicted on slaves as a punishment. Molendum in pistrino; vapulandum; habendae compedes. Terent. Phormio ii. 1. 19. In the East it was the usual work of female slaves see (Exodus 11:5, in the Septuagint) ‘Women alone are employed to grind their corn.’ (Shaw, “Algiers and Tunis,” p. 297) ‘They are the female slaves that are generally employed in the East at those handmills. It is extremely laborious, and esteemed the lowest employment in the house.’ (Sir John Chardin, Harmer’s Obs. i. 153) Compare Lowth, and Gesen. “Commentary uber Isaiah.” This idea of its being a low employment is expressed by Job 31:10 : ‘Let my wife grind unto another.’ The idea of its being a most humble and laborious employment was long since exhibited by Homer: A woman next, then laboring at the mill, Hard by, where all his numerous mills he kept. Gave him the sign propitious from within. twelve damsels toiled to turn them, day by day Meal grinding, some of barley, some of wheat, Marrow of man The rest (their portion ground) All slept, one only from her task as yet Ceased not, for she was feeblest of them all; She rested on her mill, and thus pronounced: ‘Jove, Father, Governor, of heaven and earth! ‘O grant the prayer Of a poor bond-woman. Appoint their feast, This day the last, that in Ulysses’ house, The suitors shall enjoy, for whom I drudge, Grinding, to weariness of heart and limb, Meal for their use.’ Cowper The sense here is, that Babylon should be reduced to the lowest state, like that of reducing a female delicately and tenderly reared, to the hard and laborious condition of working the handmill - the usual work of slaves. Uncover thy locks - Gesenius renders this, ‘Raise thy veil.’ The word used here (צמה tsamâh) is rendered ‘locks,’ in Song of Solomon 4:1, Song of Solomon 4:3; Song of Solomon 6:7, as well as here. It occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Gesenius derives it from צמם tsāmam, “to braid, to plaid,” and then “to bind fast,” as a veil; to veil. Jerome renders it, Denuda turpetudinem tuam. The Septuagint renders it, Τὸ κατακάλυμμα σου To katakalumma sou - ‘Thy veil.’ The Syriac also renders it, ‘Thy veil…
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