And — And having said that the Assyrian yoke should be destroyed because of the anointing, he now explains who that anointed person was. The stem — Or, stump: for the word signifies properly a trunk cut off from the root. By which he clearly implies, that the Messiah should be born of the royal hous... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom — It is not needful, exactly to distinguish these two gifts; it is sufficient that they are necessary qualifications for a governor, and a teacher, and it is evident they signify perfect knowledge of all things necessary for his own and peoples good, and a sound judgment, to distinguish betwe... [ Continue Reading ]
In the fear — He shall not judge rashly and partially, but considerately and justly, as the fear of God obliges all judges to do. Judge — Of persons or causes. After the sight — According to outward appearance, as men do, because they cannot search mens hearts. Reprove — Condemn or pass sentence aga... [ Continue Reading ]
Judge — Defend and deliver them. Reprove — Or condemn their malicious enemies. Thy rod — With his word, which is his scepter, and the rod of his power, Psalms 110:2, which is sharper than a sword, Hebrews 4:12, by the preaching whereof he subdued the world to himself, and will destroy his enemies, 2... [ Continue Reading ]
The girdle — It shall adorn him, and be the glory of his government, as a girdle was used for an ornament, Isaiah 3:24, and as an ensign of power, Job 12:18, and it shall constantly cleave to him in all his administrations, as a girdle cleaveth to a man's loins.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wolf — The creatures shall be restored to that state of innocency in which they were before the fall of man. Men of fierce, and cruel dispositions, shall be so transformed by the grace of Christ, that they shall become gentle, and tractable. A child — They will submit their rebellious wills to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Feed — Together, without any danger or fear. Straw — The grass of the earth, as they did at first, and shall not devour other living creatures.... [ Continue Reading ]
My holy mountain — In Zion, in my church. The sea — The channel of the sea.... [ Continue Reading ]
A root — A branch growing upon the root. Ensign — Shall grow up into a great tree, shall become an eminent ensign. The people — Which not only the Jews, but all nations, may discern, and to which they shall resort. Rest — His resting — place, his temple or church, the place of his presence and abode... [ Continue Reading ]
The second — The first time, to which this word second relates, seems to be the deliverance out of Babylon: and then this second deliverance must be in the days of the Messiah. To recover — From all places far and near, into which either the ten tribes or the two tribes were carried captives. Pathro... [ Continue Reading ]
Nations — All nations, Jews and Gentiles. Out — casts — That were driven out of their own land, into foreign parts. Israel — Of the ten tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephraim — Of the ten tribes, frequently called by the name of Ephraim. Of enemies they shall be made friends. The adversaries — Not the body of Ephraim, for they are supposed to be reconciled, and they shall not be cut off, but live in love with Judah, as we see by the next clause; but those few of... [ Continue Reading ]
Fly — It is a metaphor from birds and beasts of prey. Spoil — They shall subdue them, which is to be understood of the spiritual victory which the Messiah shall obtain by his apostles and ministers over all nations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Destroy — Shall not only divide it, as of old, but dry it up, that it may be an high — way. The sea — The Red Sea, which may well be called the Egyptian sea, both because it borders upon Egypt, and because the Egyptians were drowned in it, which is called a tongue in the Hebrew text, Joshua 15:2, Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
As it was — As there was another high — way from Egypt. All impediments shall be removed, and a way made for the return of God's Israel from all parts of the world. He mentions Assyria, because thither the ten tribes were carried, whose case seemed to be most desperate.... [ Continue Reading ]