| Geneva Study Bible Woe to {a} Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; {b} let them kill sacrifices. (a) Or Ariel: the Hebrew word Ariel signifies the Lion of God, and signifies the Altar, because the altar seemed to devour the sacrifice that was offered to God, as in Eze 43:16. (b) Your vain confidence in your sacrifices will not last long. Wesley's Notes 29:1 The city - The royal city, and seat of David and his posterity. Set them - Go on in killing sacrifices from time to time, one year after another, whereby you think to appease me, but all shall be in vain. King James Translators' Notes Woe...: or, O Ariel, that is, the lion of God the city: or, of the city kill: Heb. cut off the heads of Scofield Reference Notes Margin Ariel "Lion of God" = Jerusalem. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary CHAPTER 29 Isa 29:1-24. Coming Invasion of Jerusalem: Its Failure: Unbelief of the Jews. This chapter opens the series of prophecies as to the invasion of Judea under Sennacherib, and its deliverance. 1. Ariel-Jerusalem; Ariel means "Lion of God," that is, city rendered by God invincible: the lion is emblem of a mighty hero (2Sa 23:20). Otherwise "Hearth of God," that is, place where the altar-fire continually burns to God (Isa 31:9; Eze 43:15, 16). add . year to year-ironically; suffer one year after another to glide on in the round of formal, heartless "sacrifices." Rather, "add yet another year" to the one just closed [Maurer]. Let a year elapse and a little more (Isa 32:10, Margin). let . kill sacrifices-rather, "let the beasts (of another year) go round" [Maurer]; that is, after the completion of a year "I will distress Ariel." Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 29:1-8 Ariel may signify the altar of burnt-offerings. Let Jerusalem know that outward religious services will not make men free from judgements. Hypocrites never can please God, nor make their peace with him. God had often and long, by a host of angels, encamped round about Jerusalem for protection and deliverance; but now he fought against it. Proud looks and proud language shall be brought down by humbling providences. The destruction of Jerusalem's enemies is foretold. The army of Sennacherib went as a dream; and thus the multitudes, that through successive ages fight against God's altar and worship, shall fall. Speedily will sinners awake from their soothing dreams in the pains of hell. | 
