"The jackal," (chical of the Turks,) says Hasselquist, (Travels, p. 227,) "is a species of mustela which is very common in Palestine, especially during the vintage; and often destroys whole vineyards, and gardens of cucumbers."There is also plenty of the canis vulpes, the fox, near the convent of St. John in the desert, about vintage time; for they destroy all the vines unless they are strictly watched." Ibid. p. 184. See Cant. ii. 15.

Fruits of the gourd kind, melons, watermelons, cucumbers, &c., are much used and in great request in the Levant, on account of their cooling quality.

The Israelites in the wilderness regretted the loss of the cucumbers and melons among the other good things of Egypt, Num. xi. 5. In Egypt the season of watermelons, which are most in request, and which the common people then chiefly live upon, lasts but three weeks. See Hasselquist, p. 256. Tavernier makes it of longer continuance: L'on y void de grands carreaux de melons et de concombres, mais beaucoup plus de derniers, dont les Levantins font leur delices. Le plus souvent, ils les mangent sans les peter, apres quoi ils vont boire une verre d'eau. Dans toute l'Asie c'est la nourriture ordinaire du petit peuple pendant trois ou quatre mois; toute la famine en vit, et quand un enfant demand a manger, au lieu qu'en France ou aillieurs nous luy donnerions du pain, dans le Levant on luy presente un concombre, qu'il mange cru comme on le vient de cueillir. Les concombres dans le Levant ont une bonte particuliere; et quoiqu' on les mange crus, ils ne font jamais de mal; "There are to he seen great beds of melons and cucumbers, but a greater number of the latter, of which the Levantines are particularly fond. In general they eat them without taking off the rind, after which they drink a glass of water. In every part of Asia this is the aliment of the common people for three or four months; the whole family live on them; and when a child asks something to eat, instead of giving it a piece of bread, as is done in France and other countries, they present it with a cucumber, which it eats raw, as gathered. Cucumbers in the Levant are peculiarly excellent; and although eaten raw, they are seldom injurious." Tavernier, Relat. du Serrail, cap. xix.

As a lodge, &c.] That is, after the fruit was gathered; the lodge being then permitted to fall into decay. Such was the desolate, ruined state of the city.

So the wv poliv poliorkoumenh; Septuagint: see also the Vulgate.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Is. 1:1-9 Isaiah signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know of consider that they owed their lives and comforts to God's fatherly car and kindness. How many are very careless in the affairs of their souls Not considering what we do know in religion, does us as much harm, a ignorance of what we should know. The wickedness was universal. Here in a comparison taken from a sick and diseased body. The distempe threatens to be mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head from the meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness no good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's fall. Thi passage declares the total depravity of human nature. While sin remain unrepented, nothing is done toward healing these wounds, and preventin fatal effects. Jerusalem was exposed and unprotected, like the huts of sheds built up to guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the East, where fruits form a large part of the summer food of the people. But the Lord had a small remnant of pious servants a Jerusalem. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil nature is in every one of us; only Jesus and his sanctifyin Spirit can restore us to spiritual health.

Is. 1:10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This awakene them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to go on in their sin. Man who will readily part with their sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They relied on the mere form as a servic deserving a reward. The most costly devotions of wicked people, withou thorough reformation of heart and life, cannot be acceptable to God. He not only did not accept them, but he abhorred them. All this shows tha sin is very hateful to God. If we allow ourselves in secret sin, or forbidden indulgences; if we reject the salvation of Christ, our very prayers will become abomination.

Is. 1:16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break of the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in which sinners of every age and ran may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, deep dye, a double dye, first in the wool of original corruption, an afterwards in the many threads of actual transgression; though we have often dipped into sin, by many backslidings; yet pardoning mercy wil take out the stain, Ps. 51:7. They should have all the happiness an comfort they could desire. Life and death, good and evil, are se before us. O Lord, incline all of us to live to thy glory.

Is. 1:21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spiri of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity, the worst slavery. The redemption of the spiritual Zion, by the righteousness and death of Christ, and by his powerful grace, most fully accord with what is her meant. Utter ruin is threatened. The Jews should become as a tree when blasted by heat; as a garden without water, which in those ho countries would soon be burned up. Thus shall they be that trust in idols, or in an arm of flesh. Even the strong man shall be as tow; no only soon broken, and pulled to pieces, but easily catching fire. When the sinner has made himself as tow and stubble, and God makes himsel as a consuming fire, what can prevent the utter ruin of the sinner __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew