Isaiah 51:17 to Isaiah 52:12. The Lord will turn the Captivity of Zion The three oracles into which this passage naturally falls are these: (1) Isaiah 51:17. The prophet, returning to the thought with which the book opens (ch. Isaiah 40:2), announces that the period of Jerusalem's degradation has e... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 52:1-2. Here the prophet's imagination takes a higher flight. The cup of indignation having finally passed from her hands, Jerusalem is summoned to shake off her stupor, and array herself in garments befitting her dignity as the bride of Jehovah. The description is influenced by the contrast... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have sold yourselves_ R.V. YE WERE SOLD; See on ch. Isaiah 50:1; cf. Psalms 44:12. _redeemed without money_ Cf. ch. Isaiah 45:13. Jehovah _gained_nothing by delivering Israel into the hand of its enemies, and He _asks_nothing as the price of its redemption.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is here a sudden change both in form and subject. The rhythmic structure of the preceding verses gives place to prose, and the figure of Jerusalem arising from the dust is altogether abandoned. Jehovah is represented as deliberating with Himself on the religious situation, so injurious to His... [ Continue Reading ]
For _aforetime_render with R.V. AT THE FIRST, at the outset of its history. _without cause_ i.e. probably, "for nought," without having acquired any right over Israel by services rendered to Jehovah. The meaning can hardly be that Israel suffered innocently.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore_ Rather, BUT NOW, accentuating the gravity of the present situation. Exile and oppression were indeed no new experiences for Israel (Isaiah 52:4), but no such overwhelming disaster as this had ever befallen it hitherto. _what have I here &c._ The sentence may be variously understood.... [ Continue Reading ]
The contempt thus brought on His name is the crowning motive of Jehovah's interposition, another point of affinity with Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 36:21). _my people shall know my name_ i.e. shall know by experience what My name imports; comp. "shall know that I am Jehovah," in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:42; Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
Describes, in vivid pictorial imagery taken from ch. Isaiah 40:9, the arrival in Jerusalem of the first tidings of the deliverance from Babylon and the establishment of the kingdom of God. Part of the verse occurs in Nahum 1:15. _of him that bringeth good tidings_ The _měbassçr_(see on Isaiah 40:9 a... [ Continue Reading ]
The return of Jehovah to Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy watchmen … sing_ Render, HARK, THY WATCHMEN! THEY LIFT UP THE VOICE, TOGETHER DO THEY SING (see R.V.). Although the prophets are often called "watchmen" (ch. Isaiah 56:10; Habakkuk 2:1; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 33:2 ff.) there is no reason to suppose that they are referred to here. Prophets are n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break forth into joy, sing_ Render, BREAK FORTH INTO SINGING (lit. "Break forth, sing"). Cf. Isaiah 44:23. _the Lord hath comforted his people_ Isaiah 51:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here (if not already in Isaiah 52:9) the prophet withdraws his gaze from the future, and describes Jehovah as preparing Himself for the conflict which leads to the joyous scene of Isaiah 52:7 f. _hath made bare his holy arm_ throwing back the sleeveless upper garment from the right shoulder, in read... [ Continue Reading ]
A summons to the exiles to prepare for their departure from Babylon (cf. Isaiah 48:20-21). These are to accompany Jehovah in his triumphal "return to Zion" (see on ch. Isaiah 40:10-11). _go ye out from thence_ from Babylon; "in this section (Isaiah 52:7) the prophet places himself in spirit at Jeru... [ Continue Reading ]
Unlike the former exodus, the departure is to take place deliberately and in perfect security, without _haste_(Exodus 12:11; Deuteronomy 16:3), a representation differing somewhat from Isaiah 48:20. _the Lord will go before you_ Exodus 13:21 f., &c. will be _your rereward_ YOUR REAR GUARD; see Exo... [ Continue Reading ]
_my servant shall deal prudently_ A more appropriate rendering is that of R.V. marg. MY SERVANT SHALL PROSPER, i.e. his career shall be crowned with complete success. The primary idea of the verb used is no doubt "wisdom" (not mere shrewdness, however, rather "insight," see Genesis 3:6; Isaiah 44:18... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah utters a brief but pregnant announcement of the brilliant destiny in store for His Servant. Known to many in his misfortunes as an object of aversion and contempt, he shall suddenly be revealed in his true dignity; and the unexpected transformation will startle the whole world into astonishm... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12. The Servant's Sacrifice and His Reward This is the last and greatest, as well as the most difficult, of the four delineations of the Servant of Jehovah, and in several respects occupies a place apart. In the previous passages the Servant has been described as the ideal... [ Continue Reading ]
_so shall he sprinkle many nations_ The verb rendered "sprinkle" means elsewhere to "scatter (a liquid) in small drops," and its usage is confined to the ceremonial act illustrated by Leviticus 4:6; Numbers 19:18 f. etc. This is the sense intended by the A.V. and the ancient authorities (Aquila, The... [ Continue Reading ]