Isaiah 52:1

CHAPTER LII

Jerusalem, in manifest allusion to the strong figure employed

in the close of the preceding chapter, is represented as fallen

asleep in the dust, and in that helpless state bound by her

enemies. The prophet, with all the ardour natural to one who

had such joyful news to communicate, bids her awake, arise, put

on her best attire, (holiness to the Lord,) and ascend her

lofty seat; and then he delivers the message he had in charge,

a very consolatory part of which was, that "no more should

enter into her the uncircumcised and the polluted," 1-6.

Awaking from her stupefaction, Jerusalem sees the messenger of

such joyful tidings on the eminence from which he spied the

coming deliverance. She expresses, in beautiful terms, her joy

at the news, repeating with peculiar elegance the words of the

crier, 7.

The rapturous intelligence, that Jehovah was returning to

resume his residence on his holy mountain, immediately spreads

to others on the watch, who all join in the glad acclamation, 8;

and, in the ardour of their joy, they call to the very ruins of

Jerusalem to sing along with them, because Jehovah maketh bare

his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends

of the earth are about to see the salvation of Israel's God,

9, 10.

To complete the deliverance, they are commanded to march in

triumph out of Babylon, earnestly exhorted to have nothing to

do with any of her abominations, and assured that Jehovah will

guide them in all their way, 11, 12.

The prophet then passes to the procuring cause of this great

blessedness to the house of Israel in particular, and to the

world in general, viz., the humiliation, sufferings, death,

burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ; a very

celebrated and clear prophet which takes up the remainder of

this and the whole of the following chapter.

NOTES ON CHAP. LII

Verse Isaiah 52:1. There shall no more come into thee] For יבא yabo, "shall come," לבא lebo, "to come," is the reading of five of Kennicott's and two of De Rossi's MSS. This is the better reading, כי לא יוסיף לבא ki lo yosiph lebo, "There shall not add to come."

The uncircumcised and the unclean.] Christians have turned many passages of the prophets against the Jews; and it is not to be wondered at, that in support of their obstinate and hopeless cause, they should press a prophecy into their service, and make it speak against the Christians. This Kimchi does in this place; for he says, by the uncircumcised, the Christians are meant; and by the unclean, the Turks. The Christians are uncircumcised; and the Turks, though circumcised, and using many ablutions, are unclean in their works.