Promises of]

CHAP. XLIV.

YET ET now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel whom I have chosen :

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.

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:

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the

water courses.

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.

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.

7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient peo

[God's Spirit.

ple? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

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.

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.

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.

13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh

prediction, till it should at length be completely fulfilled by the Almighty power of God. He then returns to their nearer deliverance, from the captivity of Babylon, which, as usual, he illustrates by allusions to that from Egypt; (see Exod. xiv.) than which this is represented as much more wouderful. On this occasion the Prophet represen's the tender care of God, in comforting and refreshing his people on their way through the desert, to be so great as to make even the wild beasts

haunting those places sensible of the blessing of the copious streams then provided by Him. This leads finally to a beautiful contrast of the ingratitude of the Jews, and a vindication of God's dealings toward them.-In a figurative sense, this prophecy may he well applied to the redemption by Messiah, the effects of his gospel among the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews at the same time for their infidelity.

CHAP. XLIV. Ver. 2. Jesurun, or Jeshurun.See Note on Deut. xxxii. 15.

Ver. 4. As among the grass-Lowth reads, "As grass among the waters?" So the LXX, and the sense obviously requires it.

Ver. 5. Subscribe with his hand.--The preposition "with" is not in the original, and probably should not be supplied. It was customary to mark some part of the body, as the forehead, arm, or hand, with punctures, which were made indelible. "The slave was marked with the name of his master; the soldier, of his commander; the idolater, with the name or ensign of his god; and the Christians seem to

have imitated this practice." Procopius says, "Many marked their wrists or arms with the sign of the cross, or the name of Christ." Bp. Lowth. Compare Rev. xx. 4.

Ver. 10. Who hath formed-Lowth connects this verse with the preceding, thus; "That every one may be ashamed that he hath formed a god." See, his reasons, which appear satisfactory to Boothroyd, who hath followed his version. Ver. 11. They are of men men only," or "but men." Boothroyd. Ver. 12. The smith with the tongs-Lowth, "The smith cutteth off a portion of iron." So Boothroyd.

rather, "They are

An exposure of]

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 neweth 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.

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:

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.

18 They have not known nor understood for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

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?

[the folly of idolatry.

heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

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.

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.

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.

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;

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:

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my

Ver. 13. With a line-Lowth, "He marketh the form of it with red ochre: so Kimchi. See Orient. Cust. No. 1079..... With planes-Lowth," With a sharp tool."

Ver. 14. Which he strengtheneth, &c. -Boothroyd," And prepareth for himseit the trees of the forest."

Ver. 16. He cateth flesh-Lowth, " He dresseth Resh and eateth."

Ver. 18. He hath shut-Heb. " Daubed" their eyes. Mr. Harmer explains this of closing, or seal. ing, the eyes with gum, &c. by way of punishment. Observ. vol. ii. p. 278.

Ver. 19. None considereth in his heart - Heb. "None setteth it) to his heart."

XLIV. Con.

Ver. 20. He feedeth on ashes a proverbial expression for labouring to no purpose. Compare Hos. xii. 1.

Ver. 22. I have blotted out as a cloud, &c.-Boothroyd, "I have blotted out thy transgressions as a cloud, and thy sins as a thick clond.

Ver. 25. Of the liars-Lowth," Impostors." The Hebrew word badim here means a species of conju rors who affected solitude, and pretended to be divine, as is common among the heathen, both in the east and west, even to the present day. Comp. ca. xlvii. 12, 13, Jer. 1. 36.

Ver. 27. Be dry-Compare Jer. 1, 78.—li, 36,

Predictions]
Thou shalt be built; and to the temple,
Thy foundation shall be laid. (R.)

CHAP. XLV.

THUS saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut:

2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west,

CHAP. XLIV.

[respecting Cyrus.
I am

that there is none beside me.
the LORD, and there is none else.

7 I form the light, and create darkness I make peace, and create evil : I the LORD do all these things.

8 Drop down ye heayens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together: I the LORD have created it.

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

12 1 have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

13 I have raised him up in righte

(R) Promises of God's Spirit, and an exposure of the folly of idolatry.-This chapter, besides promises of redemption, of the effusion of the Spirit, and success of the Gospel, sets forth, in a very sublime manner, the supreme power and foreknowledge of the one true God, and exposes the absur dity of idolatry with admirable force and spirit.

The God of Israel, being reconciled to his people, promises to blot out or forgive their sins, as the rising sun disperses the morning vapour, or the driving wind the more heavy clouds. The Prophet then

calls upon all nature to unite with Israel in a song of universal praise.-Ver. 27th plainly alludes to the stratagem used by Cyrus to draw off the waters of the Eu phrates, while his army entered the dry bed of the river, by night, at a time when the Babylonians were all intoxicated and asleep, of which we shall remark farther particulars in the next chapter.

The prophet concludes with announcing by name Cyrus as their deliverer from Babylon; and this remarkable prediction, which has excited the admiration, as well of heathens as of Jews and Christians, appears to have been recorded more than 200 years before Cyrus himself was born.

CHAP. XLV. Ver. 1. I will loose the loins of kings-that is, loose their girdles, which rendered them unfit for exertion. Compare ver. 5.

Ver. 2. Break in pieces. They were rendered useless, in the first instance, by being left open, and they were doubtless eventually destroyed.

Ver. 3. Treasures of darkness - that is, hidden treasures, as in the next clause, Cyrus had conquered

ousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

14 Thus saith the LORD, the labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee; they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

[of deliverance.

a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness; I declare things that are right.

20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

25 In the LORD shall all the seed

CHAP. XLV.

(S) God calleth Cyrus to deliver his people, and encourages him to trust in him."The predictions of the Prophets," says Dr. J. Smith, "became always the clearer, in proportion as they approached the event predicted. Isaiah at length particularizes the very circumstances and manner of the taking of Babylon by Cyrus. He had already alluded to the drying up of the Euphrates, and now he mentions the gates of brass being opened before him, and that the treasures he should find there should be immeuse. (Ver. 1--3.) Accordingly, the historians of this event, (Herodotus and Xenophon,) with a most astonishing con

formity to the prophecy, tell us, that Cy-1 rus contrived the stratagem of diverting the river Euphrates into a channel cut by the kings of Babylon, to receive a part of its waters in times of an inundation; and of entering the city upon the night of an annual festival, in the empty channel, which ran in through the midst of it; that after he and his army had got into the bed of the river, they might have been taken there as in a net, if the brazen gates which led from the streets to the river had not on that night been providentially left open, by which means they got in; and then the gates of the palace were opened by the king's orders, to inquire into the cause of

instance of referring to a remote antecedent, remarked Expos. chap. xlii.]-I will direct-Heb. "Make straight. See ver. 2.

Ver. 14. There is no God that is, no other God, See ver. 6

Ver. 15. Hidest thyself—that is, thy counsels and desigus,

Ver. 19. In a dark place, &c. This alludes to the heathen oracles, which were generally in deep and obscure caverns, as particularly that at Delphi. Ver. 24. Surely shall one say Marg. Surely, he (i. e. every one) shall say of me, in the Lord all righteousness (Heb. " righteousnesses ") and strength."

1

The idols of Babylon]

BEL

CHAP. XLVI.

EL boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the birth, which are carried from the womb :

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith: and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

[carried captive.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 Declaring the end from the be-ginning, and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

the tumult. So clearly are the most contingent circumstances foreseen by God!" The same historians mention, that the treasures which Cyrus found there and in Sardis (the court of Croesus) amounted to more than 126 millions of our money. That Cyrus might know to whom he was indebted for this wonderful success, and on what account, the Prophet tells him that it was to the God of Israel; and then exposes the absurd opinion of the Persians, (of whom Cyrus was king) that there were two supreme beings, an evil and a good one, represented by light and darkness, which are here declared to be both the work of the One great Supreme. From this the Prophet, in his usual way, makes a transition to the still greater work of Salvation displayed in the dispensation of the gospel,

and calls, in a strain of sublime eloquence, for righteousness and truth to spring out of the earth, and to drop down from heaven. See Psalm, lxxxv. 10-14.

To this subject the latter part of the chapter is devoted; and the magnificent language employed respecting God, the Creator and Saviour of the world, is expressly applied to Jesus Christ, in St. Paul's Epistles. (See Rom. xiv. 10-12. Phil. ii. 10, 11.) Whether the passages were originally intended by the prophet in reference to the Messiah, or only accommodated to him by St. Paul, as Dr. Pye Smith observes, it equally affords a proof of his divine nature, since an inspired apostle would never apply to a mere creature the peculiar honours of the Creator, (See Dr. Smith's Messiah, vol. i. p. 300.)

CHAP. XLVI, Ver. 1. Bel was the chief idol of the Babylonians, called by profane writers Jupiter Belus, and supposed to be the same with the Baal of the Canaanites.- Nebo delivered oracles, and is said to have presided over prophecy.

Ver. 2. They could not deliver the burden-that is, they could not save themselves from being carried away captive. See Jer. x. 5.

Ver. 4. From the birth.--The common version is, From the belly," but we have ventured to change that word, on the authority of Bp. Lowth. See Psalm xxii. 10.

Ver. 5. To whom, &c.-.-Compare Isa. xl. 18.-25. Ver. 11. A ravenous bird---Ait," the eagle," the very word, remarks Low:h, used by Xenophon, with a Greek termination (aetos), in speaking of the ensign of Cyrus. The man that executeth my counsel-- Heb, "The man of my counsel."

Ver 12. Ye stout-hearted---Lowth," Stubborn of heart."

Ver. 13. I will bring near my righteousness--. that is, make it evident in the fulfilment of my promises.