28:1 Woe. The next six chapters (Isaiah 28–33) return from Isaiah’s visions of the end-time judgments, to pronounce judgments upon the Israelites of his own day. These center around six “Woes” (Isaiah 28:1; 29:1; 29:15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1). There are thirteen other such “Woes” pronounced in Isaiah, plus thirty-four in the other prophets of the Old Testament.

28:10 precept upon precept. In the midst of this pronouncement of “Woe” or “death” upon the drunkards that were destroying the northern kingdom of Israel (“Ephraim”), the prophet asks whether any can be taught knowledge and doctrine. They must be taught like little children, one point at a time, with much repetition. They evidently ridiculed this method, but the Lord, through Isaiah, confirmed the necessity of such an approach in their case (Isaiah 28:13). Even then, they refused to learn. Sadly, this situation is very similar to that in “Christian” America today.

28:11 another tongue. Because the Israelites would not hear God’s Word, He would speak to them in another “tongue”—that of the cruel Babylonians, who would soon be carrying those who survived their invasion into captivity in a strange land. This verse is quoted in I Corinthians 14:21 in support of Paul’s teaching that the gift of tongues—the ability to speak in a language one had never learned—was as a sign or miracle to unbelievers, not for the personal edification of the one speaking. Just as the Israelites had required another tongue to convince them of their responsibility before God, so God gave the gift of languages at Pentecost, so that all the foreigners there could supernaturally hear the gospel in their own tongues (Acts 2:7-11).

28:16 a stone. This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ (I Peter 2:6).

28:16 sure foundation. Christ is the only true foundation (I Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20).

28:16 not make haste. That is: “shall not suddenly have to flee [from an attack].”

28:17 plummet. That is, “plumb bob.”

28:18 covenant with death. God thus considers a compromise with paganism (with evolutionary pantheism) to be an actual covenant with death and hell. Those who attempt such a compromise in order to escape the wrath of those promoting it (whether the ancient Assyrian invaders or modern humanistic intellectuals) will find it devastatingly deadly in the long run, for this is part of Satan’s war against God.

28:21 his strange work. Although two different Hebrew words are translated “strange” in this verse, the primary meaning of both involves the concept of something contrary to the normal order of things. At Perazim (II Samuel 5:20), He had enabled David to defeat the Philistines. At Gibeon, He had enabled Joshua to defeat the Amorites by causing the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:10-14).

28:25 fitches. The Hebrew word refers to the nutmeg flower, whose seeds are quite pungent and used as seasoning.