Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Isaiah 26:1
CHAPTER XXVI
This chapter, like the foregoing, is a song of praise, in
which thanksgivings for temporal and spiritual mercies are
beautifully mingled, though the latter still predominate. Even
the sublime and evangelical doctrine of the resurrection seems
here to be hinted at, and made to typify the deliverance of
the people of God from a state of the lowest misery; the
captivity, the general dispersion, or both. This hymn too,
like the preceding, is beautifully diversified by the frequent
change of speakers. It opens with a chorus of the Church,
celebrating the protection vouchsafed by God to his people;
and the happiness of the righteous, whom he guards, contrasted
with the misery of the wicked, whom he punishes, 1-7.
To this succeeds their own pious resolution of obeying,
trusting, and delighting in God, 8.
Here the prophet breaks in, in his own person, eagerly catching
the last words of the chorus, which were perfectly in unison
with the feelings of his own soul, and which he beautifully
repeats, as one musical instrument reverberates the sound of
another on the same key with it. He makes likewise a suitable
response to what had been said on the judgments of God, and
observes their different effects on the good and the bad;
improving the one, and hardening the other, 9-11.
After this, a chorus of Jews express their gratitude to God
for past deliverances, make confession of their sins, and
supplicate his power, which they had been long expecting,
12-18.
To this God makes a gracious reply, promising deliverance that
should be as life from the dead, 19.
And the prophet, (apparently alluding to the command of Moses
to the Israelites, when the destroying angel was to go through
the land of Egypt,) concludes with exhorting his people to
patience and resignation, till God sends the deliverance he
has promised, 20, 21.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXVI
Verse Isaiah 26:1. We have a strong city] In opposition to the city of the enemy, which God hath destroyed, Isaiah 25:2. Isaiah 25:2.
Salvation - for walls and bulwarks] חומת וחל chomoth vachel, walls and redoubts, or the walls and the ditch. חל chel properly signifies the ditch or trench without the wall; see Kimchi. The same rabbin says, This song refers to the time of salvation, i.e., the days of the Messiah.