Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 28:13

13. But the word of the LORD was unto them, precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little ; that they might go and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken .

The sence of the words thus rendred, may be this, They spake of God's Word, with scorn and contempt, repeating the Prophets words in a scoffing manner, and with a stammering and ridiculous tone, saying, Precept upon precept, &c. as if they had said, It seems the Prophet takes us to be meer Children, that need to be taught our first Rudiments, and that but slowly. That these were scornful men and mockers, is affirmed, ver. 14, 22. and as scoffers frequently catch the words out of other mens Mouths, and use them in way of derision; so it may be thought they did with the Prophets words. But the words may be, and by divers learned Men, are rendred a little otherwise; And the word of the Lord shall be unto them, precept upon precept, &c. As this Method hath been used with them, and was altogether necessary for them; so it still is, and for the future shall be. As they were Children in understanding, they shall still continue to be such; they shall be ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the Truth; as they formerly would not, so now they shall not profit by the Word; and their sin shall be their punishment. And this seems to suit with the following Clause, which notes the dreadful design and effect of that judicial blindness, That they may, or might go and fall backward, &c.

According to the former, which is our Translation, this Clause notes onely the event, or consequent of their Sin: According to the Latter, it notes the just Judgment of God designed and inflicted for it; that God's Word being so horribly abused by them, might be an occasion at which they might stumble and fall, and that backward, which is the worst, and most dangerous way of falling; and so be broken to pieces, or by which they might be snared and taken.