µyya iyim is a word chiefly applied to any distant countries, especially those lying on the Mediterranean Sea. Others conjecture µyrayb biorim, µyrhb beharim, µymab beummim, µym[b beammim, µyrwjb bechorim, µyrwab beurim, a rab bar, illustrate-Le Clerc. Twenty-three MSS. of Kennicott's, many of De Rossi's, and some of my own, read µyrwab beorim, in the valleys. The Septuagint do not acknowledge the reading of the text, expressing here only the word µyya iyim, en taiv nhsoiv, in the islands, and that not repeated. But MSS. Pachom. and i. D.

ii. supply in this place the defect in the other copies of the Septuagint thus, dia touto h doxa kuriou estai en taiv nhsoiv thv qalasshv en taiv nhsoiv to onoma tou kuriou qeou israhl endoxon estai "Therefore the glory of the Lord shall be in the isles of the sea: in the islands shall the name of the Lord God of Israel be glorified. " Kimchi says, that by µyrwab beurim, in the valleys is meant the cities, because they were generally built in valleys. The Vulgate has in doctrinis, and so my old MS., in techingis. Coverdale translates, Praise the name of the Lord God of Israel in the valleys and in the floodis. It should not be revered in the fires; none of the ancient Versions understood it thus. According to which the Septuagint had in their Hebrew copy µyyab beiyim, repeated afterwards, not µyrab beurim.

Is. 24:1-12 All whose treasures and happiness are laid up on earth will soon be brought to want and misery. It is good to apply to ourselves what the Scripture says of the vanity and vexation of spiri which attend all things here below. Sin has turned the earth upsid down; the earth is become quite different to man, from what it was when God first made it to be his habitation. It is, at the best, like flower, which withers in the hands of those that please themselves with it, and lay it in their bosoms. The world we live in is a world of disappointment, a vale of tears; the children of men in it are but of few days, and full of trouble, See the power of God's curse, how is makes all empty, and lays waste all ranks and conditions. Sin bring these calamities upon the earth; it is polluted by the sins of men therefore it is made desolate by God's judgments. Carnal joy will soo be at end, and the end of it is heaviness. God has many ways to imbitter wine and strong drink to those who love them; distemper of body, anguish of mind, and the ruin of the estate, will make stron drink bitter, and the delights of sense tasteless. Let men learn to mourn for sin, and rejoice in God; then no man, no event, can tak their joy from them.

Is. 24:13-15 There shall be a remnant preserved from the general ruin and it shall be a devout and pious remnant. These few are dispersed like the gleanings of the olive tree, hid under the leaves. The Lor knows those that are his; the world does not. When the mirth of carna worldlings ceases, the joy of the saints is as lively as ever, becaus the covenant of grace, the fountain of their comforts, and the foundation of their hopes, never fails. Those who rejoice in the Lor can rejoice in tribulation, and by faith may triumph when all abou them are in tears. They encourage their fellow-sufferers to d likewise, even those who are in the furnace of affliction. Or, in the valleys, low, dark, miry places. In every fire, even the hottest, in every place, even the remotest, let us keep up our good thoughts of God. If none of these trials move us, then we glorify the Lord in the fires.

Is. 24:16-23 Believers may be driven into the uttermost parts of the earth; but they are singing, not sighing. Here is terror to sinners the prophet laments the miseries he saw breaking in like a torrent; an the small number of believers. He foresees that sin would abound. The meaning is plain, that evil pursues sinners. Unsteady, uncertain ar all these things. Worldly men think to dwell in the earth as in palace, as in a castle; but it shall be removed like a cottage, like lodge put up for the night. It shall fall and not rise again; but ther shall be new heavens and a new earth, in which shall dwell nothing but righteousness. Sin is a burden to the whole creation; it is a heav burden, under which it groans now, and will sink at last. The hig ones, that are puffed up with their grandeur, that think themselves ou of the reach of danger, God will visit for their pride and cruelty. Le us judge nothing before the time, though some shall be visited. None in this world should be secure, though their condition be ever s prosperous; nor need any despair, though their condition be ever s deplorable. God will be glorified in all this. But the mystery of Providence is not yet finished. The ruin of the Redeemer's enemies mus make way for his kingdom, and then the Sun of Righteousness will appea in full glory. Happy are those who take warning by the sentence agains others; every impenitent sinner will sink under his transgression, an rise no more, while believers enjoy everlasting bliss __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew