Isaiah 10:27

His burden; the burden of the Assyrian: for so it was actively, because imposed by him; though passively it was Israel's burden, as being laid upon him. Because of the anointing; out of the respect which I bear to that holy unction which I have established amongst you. And so this may relate either,

1. To the body of the people, who were in some sort anointed, being made by God a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, Exodus 19:6; or,

2. To that sacred kingdom which God had, by his positive precept and solemn covenant, established in David and his posterity for ever. The Jews therefore, and some others, understand this of Hezekiah, to whom God had a singular respect, and upon whose prayers God gave this deliverance, as we read, Isaiah 37:15, &c. Possibly it might be better understood of David, who is oft mentioned in Scripture by the name of God's anointed, as Psalms 20:6, Psalms 89:20 132:17, and elsewhere; and for whose sake God gave many deliverances to the succeeding kings and ages, as is expressly affirmed, 1 Kings 11:32,34 2 Kings 8:19. And, which is more considerable, God declareth that he would give this very deliverance from the Assyrian for David's sake, 2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6. But the Messiah, I doubt not, is here principally intended, of whom David was but a type, and who was in a peculiar manner anointed above all his fellows, as is said, Psalms 45:7. For he is the foundation of all the promises, 2 Corinthians 1:20, and of all the deliverances and mercies granted to God's people in all ages; whence this very prophet makes use of this great promise of the Messiah, as an assurance that God would make good his promises of particular deliverances from their present or approaching calamities, as Isaiah 7:14, &c.; Isaiah 9:4, &c. And therefore the prophet might well say, that God would grant this deliverance for Christ's sake; especially if it be considered, that this was the very reason why God had promised, and did so constantly perform, his mercy promised unto the tribe of Judah, and unto the house of David, until the coming of the Messiah, because the Messiah was to come of the tribe of Judah, and of the posterity of David, and was to succeed David in his throne and kingdom; and he was to be known by this character; and therefore this tribe, and house, and kingdom were to continue, and that in a visible manner, till Christ came.