Isaiah 49

The character and office of the Messiah was exhibited in general terms at the beginning of chapter xlii., but here he is introduced in person, declaring the full extent of his commission; which is not only to restore the Israelites and reconcile them to their Lord and Father, from whom they had so often revolted, but also to bring in the Gentiles, and make them to be one church together with the Israelites, to partake with them of the same common salvation, procured for all by the great Redeemer and reconciler of man to God.” The prophet then glancing towards the happy though distant period of these events, makes a beautiful apostrophe to heaven and earth, to shout forth the praises of God on the opening prospect.

The tender mercies of God to his people, in the destruction of all its enemies, make the subject of the remaining part of the chapter.—* Some of the images in this chapter are tender and pathetic in the highest degree. A whole volume could not express the love which God bears to his people, so well as the affecting image in the 15th verse. ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child,’ &c. It is the same to the fainting soul, that a spring of water is to the weary traveller in the parched desert.” Dr. J. Smith.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XLIX. Ver. 1—26. The Messiah being rejected by the Jews, his mission is directed to the Gentiles.—“Hitherto (says Bp. Lowth) the subject of the prophecy has been chiefly ‘among you.’”——The Lord “hath loved him.—Namely, Cyrus:- See (Isaiah 44:28). and xlv. 1, 2. Lowth, “He whom the Lord hath loved.” Ver. 16. The Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.—Some consider these as the words of the prophet: so Boothroyd. But Dr. Pye Smith contends, from a comparison of the preceding verses, 12—15, with chap. xlv. latter part, that they are the words of the Messiah, and Bishop Lowth quotes Origen, as thus applying them. So also Dr. Dwight. Ver. 19. Like the gravel thereof.—Lowth, “Like that of the bowels thereof,”

namely, the issue of the fishes, here called the bowels of the sea: so the most learned Rabbins. See note on (Genesis 1:21).: Chap. XLIX. Ver. 1. The Lord hath called me.—This refers not to Isaiah, but to Messiah himself, as appears by the next verse. __ p Ver. 2. Polished shaft.—[‘The polished shaft,’ says Bishop Lowth, denotes the same efficacious word which is before represented by the sharp sword. The doctrine of the Gospel pierced the hearts of *a man bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” This bold yet just metaphor has been employed by the most ingenious heathen writers, if with equal elegance, not with equal force. It is said of Pericles by Aristophanes, ‘His powerful speech pierced the hearer’s soul, and left behind deep in his bosom its keen point infixt.”]—Bagster.

Ver. 3. O Israel.—This “cannot (says Bishop Lowth) be Isaiah;’’ but it may apply to Messiah, who, in correspondence with the import of the name, “as a prince had power with God, and prevailed.” Compare (Genesis 32:28). and (Hosea 12:3-4). with (Hebrews 5:7). Ver. 5. Though Israel be not gathered.—Instead of the negative in this verse, the Keri (which is confirmed by five MSS. two ancient) reads to him; so most of the ancient versions. Lowth therefore reads, “… to bring back Jacob to him, and that to him Israel may be gathered: therefore shall I be glorious,” &c, ‘The latter part of this verse should be read in a parenthesis. Ver. 6. It is a light thing.—See margin. That is, comparatively, inasmuch as Israel is but

a small nation, compared with the whole world——The preserved.—Lowth, “The branches of Israel.” So Boothroyd. Ver. 7. To him whom man despiseth.—See margin. Lowth, “To him whose person is despised.” See (Isaiah 53:3)——And arise.—Lowth, “Rise up,” in respect of him. See (Isaiah 52:15).—And he shall choose thee.—Lowth, “For he hath chosen thee.” Ver. 8. For a covenant of the people.—That is, the only Mediator between God and man. See (1 Timothy 2:5). Ver. 9. Go forth.—Compare (Isaiah 42:7).—In all high places.—The best pastures, in the East, are in fertile mountains. See Orient. Lit. No. 987. Ver. 12. Sinim.—[From the connexion, it is evident that “the land of Sinim,” must be situated either on the south or east.

The Chaldee, Jerome, and the Hebrew interpreters, render it “the land of the south,” the LXX. “the land of the Persians,” and the Syriac, ‘the sea of Senjam.” Some understand by it Sin, or Pelusium, and others Syene, the southern frontier of Egypt. But it seems more probable that it denotes China; called by the natives Sin, and by the Arabians and Syrians Zin.]—Bagster. Ver. 16. I have graven thee on the palms of my hands.—This alludes to the eastern custom of tracing out on their hands the sketches of certain — (with the points of needles) and then rubbing them with the powder of henna, or cypress, and thereby making them perpetual. Maundrell says, the modern pilgrims to Jerusalem have a similar way of marking their arms.

See Orient Cust. No. 265.—Thy walls are continually before me.—That is, delineated on my hands, as just explained. Ver. 17. Thy children shall make haste.—That is, to return home.——They that made thee waste.—That is, thine enemies shall go forth, or hasten to retreat. But Bishop Lowth, from a different pointing of the Hebrew, reads “They that destroy thee shall soon become thy builders, and they that laid thee waste shall become thine offspring.” So Eppa r ae As a bride doeth—what? The LXX. supplies “her jewels.” So Ver. 21. Where had they been?—Lowth, “These then, where were they?” Ver. 23. Nursing.—Literally, ‘Suckling mothers.” See (Exodus 2:7), &c.—[Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, and other Persian monarchs, as well as Alexander the Great, and his successors, particularly Demetrius, conferred many

privileges and immunities on the Jewish men and were munificent benefactors to their temple. Though it cannot be said that the grand and signal accomplishment of these predictions is yet future.]—Bagster. Ver. 24. Or the lawful captive delivered.—Lowth reads, on authority of the Syriac and Vulgate, and verse following, ‘Or the prey seized by the terrible be reserved.” So Boothroyd. Fi ge L. Ver. 2. When I came.—That is, into the public court. See (Ruth 4:1, 4). Ver. 7. Is my hand shortened?—See (Numbers 11:23).—I make the rivers a wilderness.—That is, dry as a desert.——Their fish stinketh.—See (Exodus 7:21). Ver. 4. The Lord hath given me.—That is, Messiah, whose office it was to address the weary.——He wakeneth, &c.—This seems an allusion to the manner of prophetic inspiration.

See (1 Samuel 3:4-10). Ver. 6. Plucked off the hair.—(The eastern people always held the beard in great veneration; and to pluck a man’s beard is one of the grossest indignities that can be offered.]—Bagster.—From shame and spitting.—See notes on (Numbers 12:14). (Deuteronomy 25:9).—[Another instance of the utmost contempt and detestation throughout the East it is highly offensive to spit in any one’s presence; and if this is such an indignity, how much more spitting in the face?]—Bagster. Ver. 8. Who is mine adversary?—See margin; i.e. the accuser, See (John 14:30), (Romans 8:33-35). Ver. 11. All ye that kindle.—Vitringa thinks this may refer particularly to those seditious Jews, who, by exciting the indignation of the Romans, brought destruction both on themselves and their city.