Isaiah 48 - Introduction

Exhortations addressed to the Exiles in the near Prospect of Deliverance

The chapter is largely a recapitulation of certain outstanding themes of the prophecy, several of which are here touched upon for the last time. The references to the victories of Cyrus, the predictions of the fall of Babylon, the appeal to prophecy, and the distinction between "former things" and "new things" henceforth disappear from the circle of the author's thoughts, along with other familiar subjects, such as the polemic against idolatry and the impressive inculcation of the sole deity of Jehovah. This circumstance indicates that we have reached the end of the first great division of the prophecy, and the impression is confirmed by the closing hymn of praise, which carries us forward to the very eve of the departure from Babylon. On some critical difficulties of the passage see the introductory notes to Isaiah 48:1; Isaiah 48:17, below.

There are four distinct sections:

(i) Isaiah 48:1. The prophet vindicates the methods of Jehovah's revelation to Israel; predictions have been given and withheld in such a way as to remove every excuse for attributing the great events of history to any other cause than the will of God.

(ii) Isaiah 48:12. An instance of the withholding of prophecy till the eve of its accomplishment is the present announcement of the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus; it is the crowning proof of Jehovah's abiding presence with His people.

(iii) Isaiah 48:17. Jehovah's compassion finds expression in a cry of distress over the neglect of His commandments, which has stood in the way of Israel's salvation.

(iv) Isaiah 48:20. In a final jubilant outburst of praise, the exiles are summoned to flee from Babylon, whose power is already broken, and to proclaim the marvels of their redemption to the ends of the earth.