The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 94

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XLI. kings. Mr. Cheyne translates, "me.kes him trample upon kings," which seems to give Vers. 1-7.-A.N"NOUNCEMENT OF THI!: DE- the true sense. It we.s certainly not the LIYERER, AND EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING genera.I policy of Cyrus to establish under NATIONS. Isaiah returns to the standpoint him e. number of suliject kings, but re.ther to rule the conquered countries by mee.ns of of eh. xl. 9-11. A. deliverer of Israel is Persie.n or Median governors (see He1·od., i. about to appear. The nations are therefore 153, 156; 'Tre.nsactions of the Society of summoned to attend, and consider the facts Bihl. Archmol.,' vol. vii. p. 166). He gave (ver. 1). He will carry all before him them as the d11St to his sword, etc. ; or, (vers. 2, 3), being raised up by God (ver. 4). e.ccording to some, he maketh their sword aa dust, and their bow as driven stubble. 'fhe The ne.tions will tremble, e.nd seek the pro- result is the so.me, whichever we regard a.a tection of their id.ll-deities (vere. 5-7). the true construction. 'l'he prophecy tells Ver.1.-Keep silence before me, 0 islands. of the ee.se e.nd completeness with which God is the spee.ker. The "isle.nds," or Cyrus ve.nquished his enemies. me.ritime le.nds of Western Asia., are to be Ver. 3.-He pursued them, and pe.ssed silent before him, pondering the facts with se.fely ; re.ther, he shall pursue them, and a view to future argument. "Then let shall pass on in safety. Even by the we.y them speak" (see vers. 21-29). Let the that he he.d not gone with his foet; re.ther, people renew their strength; rather, the a path with his feet he shall not tread. The peop/,es or the nations; i.e. the inhe.bite.nts of meaning ~eems to be that he will dispense the maritime tracts. To judgment; i.e. to with custome.ry po.the, me.king his advance a discussion, which she.11 terminat.e in a everywhere over e.11 obstacles, by untrodden right verdict. we.ys. Compare the frequent boe.sts of the Ver_ 2.-Who raised up the righteou Aesyrie.n kings : "To the recesses of the deep man, etc.? rather, icho raued up from the forests e.nd the peaks of the difficult moun- East 01le whum righteoumeu -u call to his ts.ins, which ho,d n.iver been trodden by the foot. It is generally a.greed among modems foot of man, I e.scended " (' Records of the the.t the reference is to Cyrus, who is further Past,' vol. v. p. 13). " Difficult mounts.in referred to in ver. 25, in eh. iliv. 28; xiv. cha.ins, e.nd inaccessible hills, which none 1--4, 13; e.nd xlvi. 11. C,rus. whether we of our kings he.d ever previously ree.ched regard him e.s Kiug of Per~ie., or as King of -tedious po.the e.nd unopened roo,ds-1 Elam (Snsie.ue.), would come from e. le.nd tre.versed" (ibid., p. 16). "The le.nds of lying east of Be.liylon. "Righteousness Sihe.k, of Arda, of Ulaye.n, of Allurie., in• called him to his foot" when God, the accessible mountains, impossible for the horBes, Righteous One, me.de him his minister, and and inacces1ible for myBelj, I went through" gave him a certs.in task to perform (eh. xliv. (ibid., vol. vii. p. 36). 28). Gave the ne.tions before him; rather, Ver. 4.-Who hath wrought and done it? gitJes, or will gi-11e. (On the rapid conquests i.e. "by whom he.s this mighty conqueror of Cyrus, see Herod., i. 75-191; and comp. been re.ised up?" Ce.n e.ny of the idol- 'Ancient Mone.i-chies,' voL iv. pp. 354- gods cle.im him e.s their proteglf? Assuredly 377.) The.t he we.s God's instrument must not. He is my work; I, J ehove.h, that he.ve be admitted by all who e.llow that the called (into being) the generations (of me.n) course of history is determined by a super- from the beginning (of the world)-1, Intending Providence. llt&do billl rule over Jehove.h, the First, and with the last, e.m !lll, XLI, 1-29.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 97