This chapter contains renewed assurances of the deliverance of the exile Jews from Babylon. It is designed, in the main, to state the causes for which the captivity would occur, and to furnish the assurance also that, notwitbstanding the judgment that should come upon them, God would deliver them fr... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR YE THIS - This is an address to the Jews regarded as in Babylon, and is designed to remind them of their origin, and of their privileges as the descendants of Jacob, and having the name of Israel (compare the notes at Isaiah 43:1). AND ARE COME FORTH OUT OF THE WATERS OF JUDAH - This metaphor i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY CALL THEMSELVES OF THE HOLY CITY - Of Jerusalem (see Isaiah 52:1; Nehemiah 11:1; Matthew 4:5; Matthew 27:53; Revelation 21:2). The word rendered ‘for’ here, (כי _kı̂y_) means, as it often does, “although”; and the sense is, although they call themselves of the holy city, they do not worship... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE DECLARED THE FORMER THINGS - That is, in former times I have predicted future events by the prophets, which have come to pass as they were foretold. Though the fulfillment might have appeared to be long delayed, yet it came to pass at the very time, showing it to be an exact fulfillment of th... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THOU ART OBSTINATE - I made these frequent predictions, and fulfilled them in this striking manner, because I knew that as a people, you were prone to unbelief, and in order that you might have the most full and undoubted demonstration of the truth of what was declared. As they w... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING DECLARED IT TO THEE - He had foretold future events, so that they had abundant demonstration thai he was the true God, and so that they could not be under a mistake in regard to the source of their deliverances from danger. MINE IDOL HATH DONE THEM - The idols and mol... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST HEARD - You are witnesses that the prediction was uttered long before it was fulfilled. SEE ALL THIS - Behold how it is all fulfilled. Bear witness that the event is as it was predicted. AND WILL YE NOT DECLARE IT? - Will you not bear witness to the entire fulfillment of the prophecy? Go... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE CREATED NOW - The Septuagint renders this, Νῦν γίνεται _nun_ _ginetai_ - ‘Done now;’ and many expositors interpret it in the sense that they are now brought into light, as if they were created. Aben Ezra renders it, ‘They are decreed and determined by me.’ Rosenmuller supposes that it ref... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THOU HEARDEST NOT - This verse is designed to show not only that these events could not have been foreseen by them, but that when they were actually made known to them, they were stupid, dull, and incredulous. It is not only re-affirming what had been said in the previous verses, but is designe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY NAME’S SAKE - (See the notes at Isaiah 43:25; compare Isaiah 66:5). It is possible that the design of this verse may be, to answer an objection. ‘If the character of the nation is such, it might be said, ‘why should God desire to restore them again to their own land? If their sins have been s... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE REFINED THEE - This refers to the Jews in their afflictions and captivity in Babylon. It states one design which he had in view in these afflictions - to purify them. The word used here, and rendered ‘refined’ (צרף _tsâraph_), means properly to melt; to smelt metals; to subject them... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MINE OWN SAKE - (See Isaiah 48:9). The expression here is repeated to denote emphasis. He had thrown them into the furnace of affliction on his own account, that is, in order that his own name should not be profaned by their irreligion and idolatry, and that the glory which was due to him should... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME - This is a solemn call on the Jews in Babylon to attend to what he was now about to say. It is the commencement of a new part of the argument, containing the assurance that he would deliver them, and utterly destroy the Chaldeans. He begins, therefore, by asserting that he is the on... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HAND ALSO HATH LAID ... - I am the Creator of all things, and I have all power, and am abundantly able to deliver you from all your foes. AND MY RIGHT HAND HATH SPANNED THE HEAVENS - Margin, ‘The palm of my right hand hath spread out.’ The sense is, that he by his right hand had spanned, or me... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL YE, ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES AND HEAR - Ye Jews who are in Babylon, gather together, and listen to the assurance that God is able to protect you, and that he will certainly restore you to your own country. WHICH AMONG THEM - Who among the pagan? HATH DECLARED THESE THINGS? - The things relating to... [ Continue Reading ]
I, EVEN I, HAVE SPOKEN - The word ‘I’ is repeated to give emphasis, and to furnish the utmost security that it should be certainly accomplished. It means, that Yahweh, and he alone, had declared this, and that it was entirely by his power that Cyrus had been raised up, and had been made prosperous.... [ Continue Reading ]
COME YE NEAR UNTO ME - (see Isaiah 48:14). I HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN SECRET - (See the notes at Isaiah 45:19). The idea here is, that he had foretold the raising up of Cyrus, and his agency in delivering his people, in terms so plain that it could not be pretended that it was conjectured, and so clear t... [ Continue Reading ]
THY REDEEMER - (see the notes at Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1). WHICH TEACHETH THEE TO PROFIT - Teaching you what things will most conduce to your welfare. The reference hero is chiefly to the afflictions which they suffered in Babylon. WHICH LEADETH THEE - I am thy conductor and guide. God taught th... [ Continue Reading ]
O THAT THOU HADST HEARDENED TO MY COMMANDMENTS! - This expresses the earnest wish and desire of God. He would greatly have preferred that they should have kept his law. He had no wish that they should sin, and that these judgments should come upon them. The doctrine taught here is, that God greatly... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SEED ALSO - Instead of being reduced to a small number by the calamities incident to war, and being comparatively a small and powerless people sighing in captivity, you would have been a numerous and mighty nation. This is another of the blessings which would have followed from obedience to the... [ Continue Reading ]
GO YE FORTH OF BABYLON - The prophet now directly addresses those who were in exile in Babylon, and commands them to depart from it. The design of this is, to furnish the assurance that they should be delivered, and to show them the duty of leaving the place of their long captivity when the opportun... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THIRSTED NOT - This is a part of that for which they would be called to celebrate his name. It was not merely that he had redeemed them, but that he had abundantly provided for their needs in the desert, and guided them safe through the pathless wilderness to their own land (see the notes a... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO PEACE, SAITH THE LORD, UNTO THE WICKED - This verse contains a sentiment whose truth no one can doubt. To the transgressor of the laws of God there can be no permanent peace, enjoyment, or prosperity. The word peace is used in the Scriptures in all these senses (see the note at Isaiah 48... [ Continue Reading ]