Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 7:25

25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns : but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattel .

Or, that were digged, to wit, formerly, that used to be digged and dressed for the planting of Vines, or other choice Fruit-trees.

The Words thus rendred, sound like a Promise: But that doth no way agree with the scope of the Place. And they may be, and are by some, understood not of Briers and Thorns growing in those Grounds, which would hinder the feeding of Cattel there, but of such wherewith they were fenced, and by which the Cattel were affrighted or hindred from breaking into them, which cause of their Fear being now removed by the general Devastation, they [illegible: 1+ letters]ght now enter there, and feed at pleasure, as the next [illegible: 1 word] imply. Or they may be rendred thus, as they are by a late Learned Interpreter, That there might not come [illegible: 1 word] &c. which is mentioned as the Reason why they were digged and dressed, that they might be freed from Briers and Thorns. And so there is onely a defect of the Hebrew Particle asher, which is frequent, and that not onely as it signifies which, but as it is taken finally for that, as Isa. 5. 11. & 10. 2. and elsewhere.

Or, even (as this Particle is oft rendred) there shall be, to wit, a place; which Word is understood, 2 Sam. 7. 1. 1 Kings 18. 12. Or the Words may be thus rendred, And all hills that shall be digged—and thorns, even they or each of them shall be, the Singular being taken collectively, as is very usual.

All sorts of Cattel may fairly enter, and feed there, the Fences being broken down, and the Owners generally slain, or carried into Captivity.

Marginal references: Chap. 32. 20.