Isaiah 60

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXI. Ver. 2. Not call back.—See margin. Lowth, “Not set aside.” Ver. 5. Passing over.—Or rather, as Bishop Lowth renders, “leaping forward,” pasoach. As the mother bird spreads her wings to cover her young, throws herself before them, and opposes the rapacious bird that assaults them; so shall JEHOVAH protect, as with a shield, Jerusalem from the enemy, protecting and delivering, springing forward and rescuing her.—Bagster. Ver. 8. Not of a mighty man, &c.—Lowth, “Not of man;” the meaning is he should not fall by the sword of man, but, of God.—His young men shall fail.’ ‘easiest’ or “The courage of his young (or chosen) men shall fail.” Ver. 9. He shall pass over to his strong hold.—Lowth, “Beyond his strong hold,”

even to Nineveh, where he was slain. (Isaiah 38:37-38).—Afraid of the ensign.—Lowth, “Struck with consternation at his flight.” Chap. LX. Ver. 1. Arise, shine.—See margin, portion as she is —— from above. The last two verses of the preceding chapter, or, according to Dr. Boothroyd, the last two verses, should be connected with this chapter. Ver. 4. Nursed by thy side.—[Bishop Lowth reads, with the LXX. and Chaldee, “‘shall be carried at the side;” and Sir J. Chardin says, in his MS. note on this place, that it is a general custom in the East to carry their children astride upon the hip, with the arm round the body. One MS. has, “shall be carried on the shoulder;” which is also a common mode in the East.]—B. Ver. 5. Thou shalt see and flow together.—Here forty MSS.

and one edition, for see read fear, with the addition only of a yod.—Lowth. The present text, however, yields an excellent sense: “Thou shalt see thy children coming on every side, flowing together like an inundation; at first, perhaps, with alarm, but afterwards with joy, and enlargement of heart.—The abundance.—Lowth, “Wealth” of the sea—The forces of the Gentiles.—Lowth, “Riches of the nations.” Ver. 7. The rams of Nebaioth.—This idea of sacrifices coming voluntarily from all quarters, must certainly be explained figuratively. Ver. 8. Like doves to their windows.—That is, the windows of their dove-

Ver. 11. The forces of the Gentiles.—Rather, “the riches of the nations,” as ver.

5. Compare (Revelation 21:24-25). Ver. 13. Glory of Lebanon.—[That is, the cedar; and, as the choice timber of Lebanon beautified Solomon’s temple, that footstool of Jehovah—so shall the peculiar advantages of every nation, and of every description of men, concur to beautify the church of Christ, which He has determined to make]