The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 133

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XLill. (Dan. iii. 27) will be obvious to every reader. But the prophecy has, no doubt, a far wider Vere. 1-7.-A RENEWED PROMISE TO scope. ISRAEL OF PROTECTION AND DELIVERANCE. Ver. 3.-The Roly One of Israel (comp. Severe rebuke (eh. xiii. 18-25) is followed, ob. xii. 14, 20, with the comment). Thy as so often in Isaiah ( eh. i. 25-27; iv. Saviour. He who had saved them from 2-6; ix. 1-16, etc.), by comfort and con- Pharaoh (Exod. xiv. 23-31), from Jabin solation. Israel is assured that God has not (Judg. iv.), from Midian (Judg. vii.), from the Philistines (2 Sam. viii. 1), from Zcrah cast him off, and promised the comfort of (2 CI.Jron. xiv. 9-15), from Sennacherib the Dinne presence during the existing ( eh. xxxvii. 36). The te1·m is fu-st used of tribulation ("rer. 2), and a speedy restora- God by David in 2 Sam. xxii. 3 and Ps. tion to Palestine (vers. 3-7). The scattered cvi. 21 (if that psalm be Davidical). It is Israelites will be brought together from all also applied to God once in Jeremiah (xiv. 8), and once in Hosea (xiii. 4). quarters by the Dinne omnipotency. With Isaiah, in these later chapters it is Ver. 1.-llut now. The words mark the n favourite epithet, being used of God no strong co:itrast between the closing passage fewer than eight times (see ver. 11 ; eh. xiv. of the precvdiug cLapter and the opening 15, 21; xlvii. 15; xlix. 26; Ix. 16; !xiii. 8). paragraph of tLe present one. Israel ho.d With his eye fixed on the deliverance of undergone a sernre punishment for his sins; Israel out of the double captivity of sin and he is still suffering, but now there is going of Babylon, he naturally had much before to be an entire cho.nge. He is to be protected him this aspect of Jehovah. I gave Egypt and delivered. Created thee . . . formed for thy ransom, etc. ; rather, I have given; thee . . . redeemed thee . . . called thee by that is to say, "In my counsels I have thy na.me. An ascending series of benefits. already assigned to the Persians, as com- First, creation, like that of formless matter pensation for their letting thee go free, the out of nought; then, formation, or putting broad countries of Egypt, Ethiopia, and of the formless matter into shape; thirdly, Seba." Even the latest date assigned by redemption, or making them _all his own: sceptical critics to "the Second Isaiah" lastly, calling tLem by their name, and so would make this a most remarkable prophecy. coufcrring on them a proud and enviable Egypt was not reduced, nor was Ethiopio disLnctiou. On this fourfold ground God made tributary to Persia until several ye1u-s claims Israel as his own. after the death of Cyrus, whose son, Cam- Ver. 2.-Through the water& ... through byses, effected the conquests about n.o. the rivers; i.e. tl,rough troubles of any kind 527-G. Human foresight could not, in tl!e (comp. Ps. !xvi. 12, "We went through fue lifetime of Cyrus, hove predicted with any and through w"ter: but thou broughtest us certainty what would be the result of oot into a wealthy place"). There were, collision between Egypt and Persia; much perhaps. fpecial troubles to be endured con- Iese could it have ventured on the im- nected mLh tile final Babylonian struggle. probable supposition thot the remote 'There were certainly others connected with :Ethiopia woultl submit itself to the Achm- the tedious and dangerous journey from menian yoke. Yet this was the result ot Babylonia to Palestine (Ezra viii. 22, 31 ). the invasion of Cambyscs, who made Egypt There were others, again, after the Holy a Persian province, and forced the Ethiopians Land was reached, ari•ing out of the jealousy to submit to the pa;>:ment of an annuol nnd ill will of neighbouring nations (Ezra iv. tribute (see Herod., iii. 97; vii. 69). And and v.; Neh. iv.-vi.). Neither ■hall the Seba. If "Seba" is "the land of Meroe, fl.e.me kindle upon thee. The literal fulfil- which is enclosed between the Whito and ment in the persons of the "three children" Blue Niles" (Dclitzsch), it ma.y be ques- 011. XLIIL 1-28.] 'l'HE IlOOK 01" TllE PROl'llET ISAIAH. 137