THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
ISAIAH

1 The prophet begins here to comfort the people after he had in the previous chapter terrified and affrighted them with sore and grievous threatenings. As if he said: Although the Lord has grievously afflicted His land, that is, the land of Israel, when He suffered it first to be spoiled by Tiglath-pileser, 2 Kings 15:29, and afterward punished more grievously the entire land that was situated by the sea, and that part that was beyond the Jordan, yea also Galilee, which was on the borders of the Gentiles by Shalmaneser, yet He will not suffer it to remain or continue in the uttermost darkness and misery, but the people that sits or walks in darkness, shall in Christ’s time be made glorious, as here is affirmed in general, and afterward in particular in the following.

2 Namely, God the Lord.

3 Understand hereby the land of Zebulon and by the land of Naphtali, the land of the ten tribes, whom the prophet here mentions because the deliverance or redemption began first in them, namely, by the preaching of Christ, Mat. 4:12, 13, 14, 15.

4 Or, last of all, in the last times.

5 Understand here the Sea of Galilee, or the Galilean Sea, called otherwise the Sea of Gennesaret, or of Tiberias.

6 Other, on this side of Jordan. The Hebrew word signifies both the one and the other. Other, about the Jordan.

7 Thus called, because those of Tyre, Zidon and other heathen nations bordered on it westward, and others eastward. Other, in populous Galilee, which is the nether Galilee, situated by the Sea of Gennesaret or of Tiberias, which was very populated, because it was exceeding fruitful, as appears Deut. 33:23. See of the nether and upper Galilee 1 Kings 9 on verse 11; Ezek. 47 on verse 8.

a Mat. 4:15.

8 Namely, the people of God, both in Judah and in Israel.

b Mat. 4:15, 16; Eph. 5:14.

9 Namely, in ignorance or in great misery.

10 Namely, the preaching of the Holy Gospel, Mat. 4:13, 16, at the time of Christ’s appearance in the flesh, as may be gathered from verse 6.

11 That is, in the land where it is terribly dark, that is, in exceeding great misery. See Job 3 on verse 5.

12 That is, joy and gladness for the saving knowledge of God, taking its origin from the preaching of the Holy Gospel. See Mat. 4:15. See also Psalm 36 on verse 9.

13 This is spoken to God, concerning the people of the Jews or Israelites.

14 Other, and thou hast made their joy great, or, hast thou not made their joy great? According to the first translation this is the sense: The Israelites indeed did often rejoice by reason of the excellent mercies and deliverances, which they had received at Thy hand, O Lord, but all that is but a small thing in comparison of the exceeding great both physical and spiritual mercies, which they yet expect and look for at Thy hand, O Lord God. According to the other rendering, this is the sense: Lord, Thou hast increased the joy of the people, or made the people’s joy great (speaking of the state of the church of the New Testament), forasmuch as they (consisting of Israelites and Gentiles) shall praise Thee with one accord for the great mercies afforded unto them in Christ.

15 Namely, when they shall thank Thee for Thy grace and mercies, namely, when they shall hear Christ preach, and shall see His miracles.

16 This seems to signify the spiritual joy of the heart, which is only open in the sight of God. Or, before thy face, that is, bowing down before Thee when they come to give Thee thanks.

17 That is, the yoke wherewith they were burdened or oppressed, and the staff wherewith they were beaten on the shoulders. Yet all this is to be meant of the spiritual yoke of the devil and of sin, from which Christ delivers His people. And this spiritual deliverance is here resembled to the physical deliverance, which happened in the time of Midian, Judges 7:22; Isa. 10:26; for, as Gideon scattered and destroyed the Midianites by the sound of trumpets, so would Christ, by the trumpet of the Holy Gospel, destroy the kingdom of the devil.

18 Or, of him that drave therewith.

c Judges 7:22; Isa. 10:26.

19 Namely, when that terror came upon them, and they slew and destroyed one another, Judges 7:22. Other, with noise.

20 Other, the mantles, namely, of the Midianites.

21 Other, in the blood that was shed, namely, of the Midianites.

22 Hebr. meat.

23 Here the prophet gives a reason why he had said that the people, who walked in darkness, verse 2, would enjoy greater joy and gladness, as they had done in former time, and why their burdens would be broken and taken off, namely, because a Child would be born unto them, Who would bring them everlasting joy and salvation. Compare Isa. 10:27.

24 Namely, Jesus Christ, promised unto the fathers from the beginning of the world.

25 That is, shall be born unto us in the fullness of time. The prophet speaks of the birth of Christ no otherwise than as if it had already come to pass, and that by reason of the certainty of this prophecy. See Isaiah 53, in the description of Christ’s passion.

26 Namely, unto the people of God; or, us, that is, unto our salvation, Luke 2:10, 11.

d Isa. 22:22; Luke 2:10, 11; John 4:10.

27 Namely, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Psalm 2:7, and the Son of Mary, Isa. 7:14.

28 Namely, of God, John 4:10.

29 Other, upon whose shoulder the government shall be, that is, upon Whom all government, and especially the government of the church is imposed by the Father, and Who accepts and entertains the same with all eagerness and readiness of mind. See Mat. 28:18; Eph. 1:21, 22.

30Christ Jesus is so called, not merely by the Name only, but He is so in deed and in truth, and His church knows Him to be such.

31Christ is wonderful, both in regard of His Person, being God and Man in one Person, and also in regard of His wonderful works and deeds.

32 Or, Counsel, Giver of Counsel. Understand this likewise, that Christ alone knows His Father’s counsel and purpose, and reveals and communicates the same unto His church, John 1:18, namely, as much as is needful for them to know unto salvation, Acts 20:27. It is likewise He Who administers counsel and succor unto us in all trouble and adversity.

e Isa. 11:2; Jer. 23:6.

33 Who by the strength and power of His Godhead bare the intolerable burden of God’s anger against the sins of all the elect in His manhood, and rose again by His own power from the dead, and regenerates the hearts of His elect unto eternal life; Who also by the power of His Godhead has wrought, and yet still works great wonders, and will at last raise up all the dead out of the grave.

34 That is, Who Himself is from everlasting and gives us everlasting life.

35 That is, Who reconciles us unto God. See Eph. 2:14, etc.

36 Namely, which shall be laid upon the shoulders of the Messiah.

37 As being a true Heir, and unto whom He was promised and assured, 2 Sam. 7:12; Luke 1:32, 33. He changed the temporal kingdom into a spiritual and eternal Kingdom, John 18:36.

38 For He punishes all iniquity, and He loves and preserves the godly.

39 Which He has for His own glory, and for the salvation of His elect. See the annotation on 2 Kings 19 on verse 31.

f 2 Kings 19:31; Isa. 37:32.

40 Here the prophet comes again to his threats against the Israelites; as if he said: Lo, this is the burden which the Lord has commanded to proclaim to the Jews; for so he means by the word Jacob and by the word Israel, all the Jews; although some are of the opinion that this is only to be meant of the ten tribes.

41 That is, has caused His judgments to be preached by His prophets.

42 That is, it shall come to pass and be fulfilled.

43 That is, the Israelites, namely, the ten tribes, whereof Ephraim was at this time the most important.

44 The capital city of the ten tribes.

45 As if he said: who are so stout and insolent beyond measure, that instead of repenting by the plagues and judgments of God, they defy the Lord, speaking as it follows in verse 10.

g hardness, boldness*

46 That is, buildings of kindled bricks, which are not altogether so strong, neither are so exceeding costly. As if he said: Though we have suffered great harm and damage by the Assyrians and our houses and goods have been sorely spoiled and wasted (see 2 Kings 15:29), yet we value it not, we will build up all again, better and stronger than it was before.

47 That is, perished.

48 Other, cut, carved, polished stones, which are stronger, and cost more than bricks, and are also more lasting.

49 See 1 Kings 10:27. The sense is: The houses which were built of the wood of sycomore trees.

50 That is, we will now go build houses of cedar wood, which is much better and more lasting than sycomore wood; for, cedar wood will not perish nor putrefy, but is very durable and lasting by reason of its dryness. See similar boasting of proud, wicked man, Mal. 1:4.

51 Here the prophet explains how the word of the Lord would light upon the ten tribes, and how they would perceive it whereof mention is made in verses 8 and 9.

52 That is, the Assyrians, whom the Jews had raised up and set on foot against Rezin to make war against him, 2 Kings 16:7, 8, 9.

53 Namely, Ephraim’s enemies, that is, the enemies of the ten tribes of the Israelites. And understand here by the adversaries of the Israelites, their old enemies, which are mentioned in verse 12. The prophet implies that all manner of nations shall join together with Asshur to spoil Ephraim, after that God shall have subdued Rezin and his kingdom by the king of Assyria

54 That is, He shall cause them to be gathered together from all corners and quarters, and to come speedily for this end and purpose.

55 Hebr. eat with whole mouth.

56 That is, the Israelites, the ten tribes.

57 As lions, bears, tigers and other savage beasts do.

58 See the annotations at Isa. 5 on verse 25.

h Isa. 5:25; 10:4.

59 Namely, the Lord’s anger.

60 Namely, to strike and to destroy yet more.

61 Namely, the Israelites.

62 Namely, with sorrow and repentance for their sins, and with faithful prayer.

63 Namely, unto the true God.

64 Namely, by their prayer, as Psalm 34:4. Or, by keeping His commandments, as 2 Chron. 14:4.

65 Namely, by Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria. See 2 Kings 17:3.

66 That is, the great and mighty men with the small and poor ones. Therefore the prophet here mentions the branch, not the tree, because the stock or stem of the people of Israel continued in being, and grew up again, but the branches were cut off.

67 See the 66th annotation.

68 That is, all at once and speedily.

69 Hebr. lifted up in face. See Isa. 3:3.

70 That is, false doctrine or false religion.

71 That is, signifies.

72 These words are connected to the 14th verse.

73 That is, the rulers, both ecclesiastical and civil. See the annotations at Isa. 3 on verse 12.

74 Because, besides all other seductions, they made the people believe that that which God threatens, would not come to pass, but that all things would remain in a good state.

75 Or, devoured, namely, by their seducers. Compare Isa. 3:12. Other, are covered, that is, their heart is covered over with ignorance and false opinion.

76 Understand with this: but He shall suffer them to be carried away captive or to be slain, because they are wicked and corrupt.

77 Hebr. choice or chosen ones.

78 Or, dissembler, counterfeits. See Job 8 on verse 13.

i Isa. 10:6.

79 Namely, of the Israelites.

80 See the annotation at Gen. 34 on verse 7.

81 See Isa. 5 on verse 25, and above verse 12.

82 That is, the wicked shall, because of their wickedness and impenitence, be consumed and destroyed as it were with fire.

j Isa. 5:24; 24:6.

83 That is, one with another, great and small.

84 That is, the honorable and mighty men, who associate and combine themselves together. Hebr. the entwining of the forest. See Isa. 10:34. Or, shall be kindled in or among the entwining brushes of the forest, which shall mount up like a lifting up of smoke, that is, shall by reason of the fire or burning go up in smoke.

85 Or, rising up, mounting up, ascending.

86 Namely, the land of the Israelites.

87 That is, the land shall be full of misery on every side.

88 Hebr. meat.

89 See Job 15 on verse 34.

90 Or, the one shall not spare the other. The sense is: They, who escape the common calamity or destruction of the land, shall persecute, destroy, yea even slay or murder one another.

91 Namely, meat or food. Other, hew, or, cut off. The sense is: there shall be such want, and so great a famine, that everyone shall snatch and catch, cut and slash wherever he can somehow reach or come nigh, and yet all will not help him.

92 That is, the flesh of his neighbor, upon whom he had formerly relied. The sense is: The inhabitants of the land of Israel shall rise up one against another, and they shall destroy one another; as is straight way further affirmed in verse 21.

93 That is, those of Manasseh.

94 That is, those of Ephraim.

95 That is, against the tribe of Judah.

96 See verse 12.