Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Here the drunkards are introduced as scoffingly commenting on Isaiah's warnings: "Whom will he (does Isaiah presume to) teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand instruction? Is it those (that is, does he take us to be) just weaned, etc.? For (he is constantly repeating, as if to little children) precept upon precept," etc.
line—a rule or law. [MAURER]. The repetition of sounds in Hebrew tzav latzav, tzav latzav, qav laqav, qav laquav, expresses the scorn of the imitators of Isaiah's speaking; he spoke stammering (Isaiah 28:11). God's mode of teaching offends by its simplicity the pride of sinners (II Kings 5:11-12; I Corinthians 1:23). Stammerers as they were by drunkenness, and children in knowledge of God, they needed to be spoken to in the language of children, and "with stammering lips" (compare Matthew 13:13). A just and merciful retribution.
The prophet now turns to Judah; a gracious promise to the remnant ("residue"); a warning lest through like sins Judah should share the fate of Samaria.
crown—in antithesis to the "fading crown" of Ephraim (Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:3).
the residue—primarily, Judah, in the prosperous reign of Hezekiah (II Kings 18:7), antitypically, the elect of God; as He here is called their "crown and diadem," so are they called His (Isaiah 62:3); a beautiful reciprocity.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Isaiah 28:9:
Isaiah 28:22
Isaiah 32:4
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