Isaiah 9:1

CHAPTER IX

This chapter contains an illustrious prophecy of the Messiah.

He is represented under the glorious figure of the sun, or

light, rising on a benighted world, and diffusing joy and

gladness wherever he sheds his beams, 1-3.

His conquests are astonishing and miraculous, as in the day of

Midian; and the peace which they procure is to be permanent,

as denoted by the burning of all the implements of war, 4, 5.

The person and character of this great Deliverer are then set

forth in the most magnificent terms which the language of

mankind could furnish, 6.

The extent of his kingdom is declared to be universal, and the

duration of it eternal, 7.

The prophet foretells most awful calamities which were ready to

fall upon the Israelites on account of their manifold

impieties, 8-21.

NOTES ON CHAP. IX

Verse Isaiah 9:1. Dimness - "Accumulated darkness"] Either מנדחה menuddechah, fem. to agree with אפלה aphelah; or אפל המנדח aphel hammenuddach, alluding perhaps to the palpable Egyptian darkness, Exodus 10:21.

The land of Zebulun] Zebulun, Naphtali, Manasseh, that is, the country of Galilee all round the sea of Gennesareth, were the parts that principally suffered in the first Assyrian invasion under Tiglath-pileser; see 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26. And they were the first that enjoyed the blessings of Christ's preaching the Gospel, and exhibiting his miraculous works among them. See Mede's Works, p. 101, and 457. This, which makes the twenty-third verse of chap. viii. in the Hebrew, is the first verse in chap. ix. in our authorized version. Bishop Lowth follows the division in the Hebrew.