Isaiah 26:1

CHAPTER XXVI

This chapter, like the foregoing, is a song of praise, in

which thanksgivings for temporal and spiritual mercies are

beautifully mingled, though the latter still predominate. Even

the sublime and evangelical doctrine of the resurrection seems

here to be hinted at, and made to typify the deliverance of

the people of God from a state of the lowest misery; the

captivity, the general dispersion, or both. This hymn too,

like the preceding, is beautifully diversified by the frequent

change of speakers. It opens with a chorus of the Church,

celebrating the protection vouchsafed by God to his people;

and the happiness of the righteous, whom he guards, contrasted

with the misery of the wicked, whom he punishes, 1-7.

To this succeeds their own pious resolution of obeying,

trusting, and delighting in God, 8.

Here the prophet breaks in, in his own person, eagerly catching

the last words of the chorus, which were perfectly in unison

with the feelings of his own soul, and which he beautifully

repeats, as one musical instrument reverberates the sound of

another on the same key with it. He makes likewise a suitable

response to what had been said on the judgments of God, and

observes their different effects on the good and the bad;

improving the one, and hardening the other, 9-11.

After this, a chorus of Jews express their gratitude to God

for past deliverances, make confession of their sins, and

supplicate his power, which they had been long expecting,

12-18.

To this God makes a gracious reply, promising deliverance that

should be as life from the dead, 19.

And the prophet, (apparently alluding to the command of Moses

to the Israelites, when the destroying angel was to go through

the land of Egypt,) concludes with exhorting his people to

patience and resignation, till God sends the deliverance he

has promised, 20, 21.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVI

Verse Isaiah 26:1. We have a strong city] In opposition to the city of the enemy, which God hath destroyed, Isaiah 25:2. Isaiah 25:2.

Salvation - for walls and bulwarks] חומת וחל chomoth vachel, walls and redoubts, or the walls and the ditch. חל chel properly signifies the ditch or trench without the wall; see Kimchi. The same rabbin says, This song refers to the time of salvation, i.e., the days of the Messiah.