Leviticus 9:24

Leviticus 9:24

And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

a. NLT: Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

b. NIV: Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

c. YLT: And fire cometh out from before Jehovah, and consumeth on the altar the burnt-offering, and the fat; and all the people see, and cry aloud, and fall on their faces.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Then there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

e. Septuagint: And fire came forth from the Lord, and devoured the offerings on the altar, both the whole-burnt-offerings and the fat; and all the people saw, and were amazed, and fell upon their faces.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: A fire went forth from before HASHEM an consumed upon the Altar the elevation-offering and the fats; the people saw and sang glad song and fell upon their faces.

1. “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat…”

a. And there came [Strong: 3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw' a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.]

b. a fire [Strong: 784 'esh aysh a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):-- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.]

c. [out] from before [Strong: 6440  paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. [of the] Lord [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

e. and consumed [398 'akal aw-kal' a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.]

f. upon [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

g. the altar [Strong: 4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh from 2076; an altar:--altar.]

h. the burnt offering [Strong: 5930 `olah o-law' or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle of 5927; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke):--ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to.]

i. and [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

j. the fat [Strong: 2459 cheleb kheh'-leb or cheleb {khay'-leb}; from an unused root meaning to be fat; fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part:--X best, fat(-ness), X finest, grease, marrow.]

1). Many Bible scholars believe the original fire on the altar was ignited by God which occurred at the dedication of the Tabernacle. The evidence which seemingly disputes this are the obvious times in Leviticus 9 where it clearly mentions fire being used in the previous different offerings.

2). The following note is found in the Chumash Jewish Commentary: “There was no permanent fire on the Altar until the Heavenly fire came down (v. 24) and consumed the sacrificial parts. Thus, the intent of the term in our verse [Leviticus 9:10] is that Aaron placed it on the pyre, so that it would be ready to be burned when the Heavenly fire descended upon the Altar (Rashburn to v. 13; Haamek Davar).

3). John Wesley’s notes on the other hand says, He burnt it-By ordinary fire, which was used until the fire came down from heaven, Le 9:24, though afterwards it was forbidden. And if it had not been allowed otherwise, yet this being done by Aaron at the command of Moses, and consequently with God's approbation, it was unquestionably lawful.  Add to this, that there is nothing said to be consumed by that heavenly fire, but the burnt-offering with the fat belonging to it, namely, that burnt-offering mentioned Le 9:16, which therefore is not there said to be burnt, as it is said of the other burnt-offering, Le 9:13, and of the rest of the sacrifices in their places.

4). The note in the Geneva Study Bible says, “That is, he laid them in order, and so they were burnt when the Lord sent down fire.”

5). Matthew Poole’s Commentary gives both possibilities. “Either, Disposed it for the burning, i.e. laid it upon the altar where it was to be burnt by the heavenly fire, Le 9:24. Thus interpreters generally understand the word here, as also Le 9:13,17,20, by an anticipation; or the consequent is put for the antecedent, of which there are examples in Scripture. Or, properly burnt by ordinary fire, which was used and allowed until the fire came down from heaven, Le 9:24, though afterwards it was forbidden. And if it had not been allowed otherwise, yet this being done by Aaron at the command of Moses, and consequently with God's approbation, it was unquestionably lawful. And therefore there seems to be no necessity of departing from the proper sense of the word. Add to this, that there is nothing said to be consumed by that heavenly fire, but the burnt-offering with the fat belonging to it, namely, that burnt-offering mentioned Le 9:16, which therefore is not there said to be burnt, as it is said of the other burnt-offering, Le 9:13, and of the rest of the sacrifices in their places.

6). Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary: He burnt upon the altar; Laid or disposed them upon the altar, to be burnt by the heavenly fire (Le 9:24), as most understand it. And the LXX(Septuagint) justify this opinion; who, though they here translate it, “he offered it on the altar,” yet, Le 9:13, where there is the same phrase, they expressly translate it, “he laid the burnt-offering upon the altar;” and again, Le 9:17, in the same manner, “he laid it upon the altar, beside the burnt-sacrifice of the morning.” For common fire, it is supposed, was no longer to be used when Aaron’s sacrifice began; as it had been all along before. But there is no certainty in this: and we may as well take the words in their proper sense, that Aaron burnt this and the following sacrifice, as Moses had done before (Le 8:14,21,28), until the burnt-offering for the people came to be offered, which God consumed by fire from himself; and then followed those other sacrifices mentioned, Le 9:17-18. For all these sacrifices, for Aaron and for the people, could not be laid upon the altar at once; but one after another, in the order here directed; and consequently, this sacrifice here mentioned was actually burnt upon the altar, to make way for those which followed it.

2. “…which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

a. [which when] all  [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]   

b. the people [Strong: 5971 `am am from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation, people.]

c. saw [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

d. they shouted [Strong: 7442 ranan raw-nan' a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout (for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.]

e. and fell [Strong: 5307 naphal naw-fal' a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]

f. on their faces [Strong: 6440  paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

1). The picture here is that the glory of God appeared to the people and the fire of God came out from the glory and consumed the sacrifice. Then everyone got on their faces before God. It is here we proceed to Leviticus 10 and the deaths of Nadab and Abihu.

Exodus 29:38-41

Exodus 29:38-41

Exodus 29:38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.

Exodus 29:39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

Exodus 29:40 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

Exodus 29:41 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

a. This is referring to the morning and evening sacrifice which was to be offered every day for ever. The instructions for this offering were repeated in at least two other places.

1). Numbers 28:3-8 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

Leviticus 28:4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;

Leviticus 28:5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

Leviticus 28:6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.

Leviticus 28:7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering.

Leviticus 28:8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

2). Leviticus 6:8-13 And the Lord said to Moses,

Leviticus 6:9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall remain on the altar all night until morning; the fire shall be kept burning on the altar.

Leviticus 6:10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen breeches on his body, and take up the ashes of what the fire has consumed with the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6:11 And he shall put off his garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be allowed to go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burnt offering in order upon it and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.

Leviticus 6:13 The fire shall be burning continually upon the altar; it shall not go out.

b. In the first two passages referring to the morning and evening sacrifice, which of course were burnt offerings there is no mention of the responsibility of the priest regarding the  maintenance of the fire, but the passage in Leviticus 6 mentions it four times.

c. The original fire on the altar was ignited by God. This occurred at the dedication of the Tabernacle after all the instructions were given and carried out concerning the Tabernacle, the furniture in the Tabernacle, the priestly garments, everything God instructed Moses on had to be carried out and made before the dedication. Then at the dedication, when the sacrifices had been laid on the altar the fire from the LORD consumed the sacrifices.

1).   Leviticus 9:23, 24 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.

And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

d. The evidence which disputes this are the obvious times in Leviticus 9 where it clearly mentions fire being used in the previous offerings.

1).  Leviticus 9:10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.

2). Leviticus 9:12-22 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.

Leviticus 9:13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.

Leviticus 9:14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 9:15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

Leviticus 9:16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.

Leviticus 9:17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

Leviticus 9:18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,

Leviticus 9:19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:

Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

Leviticus 9:21And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord; as Moses commanded.

Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

e. The following note is found in the Chumash Jewish Commentary: “There was no permanent fire on the Altar until the Heavenly fire came down (v. 24) and consumed the sacrificial parts. Thus, the intent of the term in our verse [Leviticus 9:10] is that Aaron placed it on the pyre, so that it would be ready to be burned when the Heavenly fire descended upon the Altar (Rashburn to v. 13; Haamek Davar).

f. Instances in Scripture where the fire of God manifested during the offerings.

1). Judges 6:21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

2). Judges 13:19, 20 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

Judges 13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

3). 1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

4). 1 Chronicles 21:26-28 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

1 Chronicles 21:27 And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

1 Chronicles 21:28 At that time when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

5). 2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Isaiah 9:10

Isaiah 9:10

The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

a. NLT: They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.” [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: 'Bricks have fallen, and hewn work we build, Sycamores have been cut down, and cedars we renew.' [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible Classic: The bricks have fallen, but we will build [all the better] with hewn stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put [costlier] cedars in their place. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint [Greek Old Testament]: The bricks are fallen down, but come, let us hew stones, and cut down sycamores and cedars, and let us build for ourselves a tower.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Bricks have fallen, we will rebuild with hewn stone; sycamores have been cut down, we will replace them with cedars. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “The bricks are fallen down…”

a. bricks [Strong: 3843 lbenah leb-ay-naw' from 3835; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay):--(altar of) brick, tile.] [Gesenius: a brick, a burnt tile.]

b. fallen down [Strong: 5307 naphal naw-fal' a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.] [Gesenius: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail, to fall (of violent death), to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before, to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to , go away to, fall into the hand of, to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result, to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to, to lie, lie prostrate, to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate, to overthrow, to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot, to let drop, cause to fail (fig.), to cause to fall, to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon, to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself, to fall.]

2. “…but we will build with hewn stones…”

a. [but we will] build [Strong: 1129 banah baw-naw' a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), X surely.]

b. [with] hewn stones [Strong: 1496 gaziyth gaw-zeeth' from 1491; something cut, i.e. dressed stone:--hewed, hewn stone, wrought.

3. “…the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.”

a. [the] sycamores [Strong: 8256 shaqam shaw-kawm' or (feminine) shiqmah {shik-maw'}; of uncertain derivation; a sycamore (usually the tree):--sycamore (fruit, tree).]

b. [are] cut down [Strong: 1438 gada` gaw-dah' a primitive root; to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything:--cut (asunder, in sunder, down, off), hew down.]  

c. [but we will] change [them] [Strong: 2498 chalaph khaw-laf' a primitive root; properly, to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change:--abolish, alter, change, cut off, go on forward, grow up, be over, pass (away, on, through), renew, sprout, strike through. 

d. [into] cedars [Strong: 730 'erez eh-rez' from 729; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots):--cedar (tree).] 

 

1). These words were spoken by the leaders of Israel after an attack by Assyria; an attack that was warned about by God to those leaders concerning their rebellion toward Him. The warning was mentioned in the previous two verses.

a). Isaiah 9:8, 9 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

9:9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

b). The words of Isaiah 9:10 were spoken as the previous verse describes, “in pride and stoutness of heart” to God. As the following Commentaries relate the rebellion they were demonstrating was incredible, nevertheless the account written by Isaiah is true.

2). John Gill’s Commentary:  The bricks are fallen down ... Houses made of bricks, which were without the cities besieged and destroyed by the Assyrians; of which the haughty Israelites made no account, looking upon such a desolation as little, or no loss at all: but we will build with hewn stone, so that the houses will be better and stronger, more beautiful, and more durable: the sycamores are cut down; which grew in the fields, and outer parts of the cities, and were but a mean sort of wood, and which the Assyrians cut down to serve several purposes in their siege; of this sort of trees… but we will change them into cedars; that is, will plant cedars in place of them; trees tall and large, very delightful to look at, of great worth and usefulness, and very durable; though this may regard not so much the planting of them as the use of them in building, and the sense be agreeable to the former clause; that as, instead of brick, they would build houses with hewn stone; so, instead of sycamore wood, which was not so substantial and durable, and fit for building, they would make use of cedar, which was both beautiful and lasting; so the Septuagint,"the bricks are fallen, let us hew stones, and cut down sycamores and cedars, and build for ourselves a tower;'' and so the Arabic version; so that, upon the whole, they flattered themselves they should be gainers, and not losers, by the Assyrian invasion; thus deriding it, and despising the prophecy concerning it.

3). Dake: “In this verse we have the defiance of the people against the judgments of God, the people saying that the bricks are thrown down, but we will build with stronger material-large hewn stones and cedars that are stronger than sycamores.”

4). Pulpit Commentary: The Israelites probably alluded to damage done by Tiglath-Pileser in his first invasion. 

5). Geneva Study Bible: We were but weak, when the enemy overcame us, but we will make ourselves so strong, that we will neither care for our enemies, nor fear God's threatenings.

Additional Notes

This would be just another study of a verse in Isaiah if not for the fascinating events that occurred on September 11,2001 and the wonderful work of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn in his book The Harbinger, who did a powerful study on the events that began on September 11, 2001. The notes I have posted here are just events that I have copied from his work.

1. On September 12, 2001, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle spoke the following words on the Senate floor in response to the attack on 911. [Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 118, Wednesday, September 12, 2001. Senate, Page S9283] “As an American, as an elected representative, I am outraged. As a husband and a father, I am pained beyond words. Last night we sent the message to the world that, even in the face of such cowardly and heinous acts, the doors of democracy will not close. This joint resolution we laid down today condemns yesterday's attacks, expresses our sympathy for the victims, and our support for the President as our Commander in Chief.   The world should know that the Members of both parties in both Houses stand united. The full resources of our Government will be brought to bear in aiding the search and rescue and in hunting down those responsible and those who may have aided or harbored them.  Nothing--nothing--can replace the losses that have been suffered. I know there is only the smallest measure of inspiration that can be taken from this devastation. But there is a passage in the Bible from Isaiah that I think speaks to all of us at times such as this: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will     replace them with cedars.” That is what we will do. We will rebuild and we will recover. The people of America will stand strong together because the people of America have always stood together. And those of us privileged to serve this great Nation will stand with you. God bless the people of America.”

a. The Senate Majority leader had no idea the words he was quoting from the Scripture were actually a statement of pride and rebellion uttered by the leaders of Israel directed to God after God allowed the Assyrians to launch an attack upon the northern communities of Israel in approximately 740 B.C.

2. Possible fulfillment of  “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones…”  On July 4, 2004 the Governor of New York dedicated for the cornerstone of a new tower, a 20 ton piece of New York granite, hewn and polished. Interestingly the Septuagint of this verse is 

a. Septuagint Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but come, let us hew stones, and cut down sycamores and cedars, and let us build for ourselves a tower.

3. Possible fulfillment of “…the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” On the morning of September 11, 2001 as the towers were crashing to the ground, a steel beam shot out from one of the towers and struck a tree in the next block on the grounds of St. Paul’s Chapel. It was a large sycamore tree. It destroyed the tree. What remains of the tree is the stump that was placed along with a plaque commemorating it. In September of 2003 a cedar tree was planted where the original sycamore had been.

4. On September 11,2004 Senator John Edwards spoke these words to the Congressional Black Caucus Prayer Breakfast. “Good morning. Today, on this day of remembrance and mourning, we have the Lord's word to get us through. "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” 

a. Again, just as Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Edwards has no clue what those words mean. They think they are speaking words of comfort, yet in reality they are speaking words of rebellion against the Lord.