The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 416

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER LXIl. ludi.11). Thou she.lt beoalled by anew name (comp. vcrs. 4 and 12; and see also eh. Vere. 1-12.-FuRTBER GR.\CIOUS PRo- lxv. 15). It is not altogether cle11r what the lllSES MADE TO ISRAEL BY" THE SERVANT." "new name" is, since in the rem11inder of Some regard the speaker in this chapler as the present chapter more th11n one n11me is Jehovah; some as the prophet, or the pro- sugµ:ested. Rosenmiiller supposes" Hephzi- phetical order; some as "the Servant." bah" to be men.nt. Ur. Kay suggests "the holy people," and notes that the title of The last supposition appears to us the "holy ones," or "sn.ints," is given by St. simplest and the best. The close connec- Paul to all Christians (Acts xxvi. 10; Rom. tion with Lhe preceding chapter is evident. i. 7; ni. 15; 1 Cor. i. 2, eto.). Mr. Cheyne If that then be, in the main, "a soliloquy thinks that it is some unknown title of of the Servant," tl, is should be a continun.- honour, akin to that mentioned by Jere- miah-"Jehovah our Righteousness" (Jer. tion of the soliloquy. Israel is promised xxxiii. 16). "Now names'' will be given '' righteousness," '' glory," "a. new name," a to individual saints in the heavenly king- guard of angels, a time of peace and pros- dom (Rev. ii. 17; iii. 12). perity, deliverance from Babylon, and tri- Ver. 3.-Thou ehalt also be a orown of umphant establishment in Zion under God's glory, etc. God wil I exhibit Israel to an admiring world, as a man might exhibit a protection. "crown " or "diadem " which he held in Ver. 1.-For Zion's se.ke will I not hold his hand. They will look on with admira- my pee.oe. In the past God he.s kept silence tion and reverence-" for they shall per- (eh. xlii. 14; lvii. 11). "The Servant" has ceive that it is his work" (Ps. !xiv. 9). not caused his voice to be beard. Babylon Ver. 4.-Thou she.It no more be termed has been a.I lowed to continue her oppression Forse.ken. Judah had believed herself" for- unchecked. But now there will be e. change. saken" of God (eh. xlix. 14), and had aotu- God will lift np Lis voice, an<l the nations ue.lly been, in a certain sense, forsaken "for will hear ; and the " salvation " of Israel a small moment" (eh. !iv. 7). Her enemies, will be effected speedily. For Jerusalem's it would seem, had gone so far as to give her sake. "Zion" and "Jerusalem" are used the name in derision. Neither shall thy land throug!,out as synonyms (eh. ii. 3; iv. 3, 4; ... be termed Desolate. J udma had not only xxxi. 4, 5, end 9 ; xxxiii. 20; xl. 9; xli. 27; been desolat.ed by the Babylonian invaders Iii. 1; lxiv. 10, etc.), like "Israel" and under Nebuchadnezzar, but had remained Jacob." Strictly speaking, "Zion " is the "desolate" during the whole period of the mountain," Jernse.lem" the city bailt upon Captivity (eh. xnii. 13, 14; xlix. 10, etc.). it. Until the righteousness thereof go forth It had come to be spoken of as Sh'marnah, (comp. eh. liv. li; lxi. 10, 11). As bright- "a desolation" (see J er. xxxiv. 22; iliv. ness ; or, cu the dawn (comp. eh. lx. 3; 2, 6 ; Ezek. xxxiii. 29 ; xxxvi. 34). Now Prov. iv. 18; Dan. vi. 19). Salvation ... all should be altered. As Ezekiel prophe- as a ls.mp that bumeth; rather, cu a sied, " The land that was desolate is become torch that blazeth ( comp. J udg. xv. 4; like the garden of Eden ; and the w11ste and Nab. ii. 14; Zech. xii. 6). Israel's "salva- desolat.e and ruined cities are become fenced tion " would be made manifest; primarily and are inhabited" (xxxvi. 35). Thou by her triumphant return from Babylon, she.It be oalled Rephzi-bah; i.e. "my delight and more complet.ely by her position in the is in her." Hephzi-bah was the n11me of final kingdom of the Redeemer. Hezekiah's queen, Manasseh's mother (2 Ver. 2.-The Gentiles shall see, etc. A Kings x.xi. l). And thy land :Beulah. Beu- continuation of the e.ccount of Israel's final lah, or rather Bi!'ulah, means "married w glory, as given in eh. lxi. 6-9. What the (comp. eh. !iv. I). Judl!le. would be "map Gentiles are especially to see an<l admire ried " to her sons, or her people, when they is Israel's righteousneBB. This may point quitted Babylon and once more took posses- to those ackuowledgmeuts of the purity and sion of her. The Hebrew verb for "to excellence of the early Church which were marry" (as e. man marries) means literally me.de by the heathen (Flin., 'Epist.,' L 97), "to be lord over." and which culminated in the saying, "See Ver. 5.-As the bridegroom rejoioeth over how these Christians love one another I " the bride. There ii! a double employment The sceptic Gibbon acknowledges, among of the analogy with marriage here. The the causes of the success of Christianity, land, Judme., personified as a female, is " the virtues of the early Christi.ans." All married to her sons, or her people, regarded kinp (oomp. eh. xliL 7, 23; lL 8; P1. (in tb.i.B connection) a1 e. male. The people, oa. LXII. 1-12.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 431