1.
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
My servant. The subject of these members. See note on Isaiah 37:35 .
chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .
2.
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Thus saith, &c. Jehovah's first controversy with Israel closes with this member (p. 980); and the second closes with " N" (p. 984).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
formed = fashioned. Jesurun. This is a direct reference to the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:15 ; Deuteronomy 33:5 , Deuteronomy 33:26 ), the only three places where this name occurs. See notes there and App-92 .
3.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
I will pour, &c. These promises all refer to the day of Israel's future restoration.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . For this promise, see Ezekiel 36:25-30 ; Ezekiel 39:29 . Compare Isaiah 32:15 ; Isaiah 59:21 .Joel 2:28 . Zechariah 12:10 . It began at Pentecost (Acts 2:16 ); but the kingdom was then rejected (Acts 28:25 , Acts 28:26 ), and the promise is now in abeyance. Compare Joel 2:28 , "afterward".
4.
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
as willows, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:6 ). App-92 .
water courses. See note on "streams", Isaiah 30:25 .
5.
One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
One . . . another . . . another. Hebrew. zeh = this one, that one, &c.
6.
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
the King of Israel. Note this title (1) in connection with the O.T. manifestation of the kingdom; (2) the Gospels, the proclamation of the kingdom by the Son (Matthew 27:42 .Mark 15:32 . Joh 1:49 ; John 12:13 ). All were rejected, and the kingdom therefore is now in abeyance.
his Redeemer: i.e. his Kinsman-Redeemer. Reference to Pentateuch (See note on Isaiah 41:14 ).
the first, &c. See note on Isaiah 41:4 . Quoted in Revelation 1:17 .
beside Me. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:35 .Deuteronomy 32:39; Deuteronomy 32:39 ). the first, &c. See note on Isaiah 41:4 . Quoted in Revelation 1:17 , &c.
beside Me. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:35 ; Deuteronomy 32:39 ). App-92 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
7.
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
appointed = set, or established.
the ancient People = the everlasting Nation. The nation of Israel is everlasting, like the Covenant. The nations which oppressed Israel (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Rome) have passed away; but Israel remains, and, when restored, will remain for ever. Note and compare the nine everlasting things in Isaiah: (1) covenant (Isaiah 55:3 ; Isaiah 61:8 ; compare note on Genesis 9:16 ); (2) kindness (Isaiah 54:8 ); (3) salvation (Isaiah 45:17 ); (4) excellency (Isaiah 60:15 ); (5) joy (Isaiah 51:11 ); (6) name (Isaiah 56:5 ); (7) light (Isaiah 60:19 , Isaiah 60:20 ); (8) sign (Isaiah 55:13 ); and (9) as the pledge of all, "the everlasting God" (Isaiah 40:28 ; Isaiah 63:12 ).
and shall come = and [which] shall come.
8.
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
My witnesses. Note the Structures above).
no God = no Rock. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:4 . Compare Isaiah 26:4 ). App-92 .
9.
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
make = fashion, or, form.
vanity = emptiness. Hebrew. tohu (without form), as in Genesis 1:2 . See note on Isaiah 24:10 .
their = the fashioners'.
delectable things. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the things they have desired.
they: i.e. the makers and worshippers. See the Structure, above.
ashamed: as the Babylonians were when their city was taken by the Medo-Persians.
10.
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11.
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12.
The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
The smith with the tongs, &c. "The smith was more or less a sacred person, and the iron foundry was an annex of heathen temples. "Mounds of scorioe and iron slag are found near many heathen temples. Note the contrast exhibited (apparently on purpose) in 1 Kings 6:7 .
13.
The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14.
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15.
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
take thereof = take [of the wood] thereof.
16.
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
with. Some codices in margin, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and with".
17.
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
maketh a = maketh into a.
18.
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
not known = not taken note.
shut = smeared.
19.
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
none considereth = none reflecteth; none bringeth back to his heart.
understanding = discernment.
the stock of a tree = a log of wood.
20.
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
a lie: i.e. the maker's vain fancy.
21.
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
O Israel. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic, 1517), read "And Israel", The reference is to Genesis 32:26 .
not be forgotten. Because of being the "everlasting Nation" (Isaiah 44:7 ).
22.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
I have blotted out. See Isaiah 43:25 .
transgressions = rebellions. Hebrew. pasha '.
redeemed. Hebrew. ga'al. See note on Exodus 6:6 .
23.
Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Sing . . . shout. Figure of speech Poeanismos .
break forth into singing. See note on Isaiah 14:7 .
24.
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25.
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
tokens = signs. See note on Isaiah 7:11 .
liars: i.e. the false prophets of the heathen.
diviners: i.e. the astrologers, &c, of Assyria. See note on Isaiah 47:13 .
wise. Figure of speech Antiphrasis ( App-6 ) = accounted wise.
26.
That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
His Servant: i.e. His prophet (Isaiah).
Jerusalem . . . cities, &c. These named first because first built. See Isaiah 44:28 .
built = rebuilt.
27.
That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
the deep: i.e. the Euphrates, on which Babylon was built.
I will dry up. Literally fulfilled, at the taking of Babylon, by Cyrus through his general, Gobryas. Compare Jeremiah 50:38 , &c.
rivers. Plural of Majesty for the great river Euphrates.
28.
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Cyrus. See note on Isaiah 45:1 .
even saying = and saying: i.e. Jehovah, the Speaker from Isaiah 44:24 , and in the preceding clause. It does not mean that Cyrus spoke of rebuilding Jerusalem (for he did not), but it records what Jehovah would say of Cyrus, and what He would say also to Jerusalem. Nehemiah must have obtained a copy of Isaiah on his visit to Jerusalem, or he could not have instructed Cyrus.
Jerusalem. Named before the temple, because the city and its walls were first built, before the temple foundations were laid. See notes on Nehemiah 7:4 , and also App-57 and App-58 .
temple. Named after Jerusalem, because the city walls were first built. See note above, and compare Nehemiah 7:4 with Haggai 1:1-4 .