Isaiah 60

Isaiah 60:3

3. — beauty for ashes, &c.] A description of the change of habit and appearance that should take place in proportion to the change of circumstances. Whereas, whilst they were mourners, they used to put ashes on their heads; now they were to wear a crown or diadem; for the word rendered here “beauty,” signifies an ornament proper to the head, and is so translated, Exck. xxiv. 17. W. Lowth.

— the garment of praise] Namely, the garment wont to be used in times of thanksgiving to God. Dr. Wells.

Isaiah 60:6

6. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: &c.] If we suppose these words contain a peculiar promise to the Jews after their conversion, they import, that God will restore to them that honourable title of being a “kingdom of priests,” formerly given to them, Exod. xix. 6: and some conceive the Jewish church to be represented in the Revelation by the “four and twenty elders,” (alluding to the four and twenty courses of the priests,) “clothed in white raiment, (as priests,) and having on their heads crowns of gold,” as advanced to a regal dignity, Rev. iv. 4. But this privilege of being “priests to God” does in some degree belong to all Christians; see 1 Pet. ii. 5; especially when they shall come to be wholly free from the bondage of sin, and continually employed in God’s service, Rev. v. 10; xx. 6. W. Lowth. See note on chap. lxvi. 21.

Isaiah 60:7

7. For your shame ye shall have double;] See note on chap. xl. 2.

Isaiah 60:8

8. For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering;] To the tenour of the covenant, promised at the end of the verse, consisting of inward righteousness, (see Jer. xxxi. 33.) God opposes the outward ceremonial service prescribed by the former covenant, which very often had no inward devotion accompanying it. W. Lowth. See note on chap. i. 11. God will not be pleased with the offerings of such as get riches by unlawful ways; see Deut. xxiii. 18. Yet how common is this sin among Christians, who hope to sanctify their ill-gotten wealth by dedicating a part of it to some pious uses! But God will not be mocked. Bp. Wilson.

Isaiah 60:9

9. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, &c.] They shall be acknowledged for God’s ancient people, unto whom all the promises of the Gospel were made, and principally belong: see Acts iii. 25; xiii. 46. They shall be esteemed as the firstborn or elder brethren in the Church. W. Lowth.

Isaiah 60:10

10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, &c.] The Jewish Church is here introduced as speaking, and returning her thanks to God for these great favours, that He hath advanced her and her sons to such honour after their dispersion, and made her thereby glorious in the eyes of the world. W. Lowth. She who was formerly described as sitting on the ground, and bewailing her condition, now comes forward with a joyful and assured heart, arrayed in all the splendour of the sanctuary. Vitrings. Allusion is made, as is evident from the marginal rendering, to the dress of the priesthood; of which so great was the magnificence, and so contrived and calculated were they, as Moses expresses it, “for glory and for beauty,” that nothing can be imagined more striking, or to minds prepared, as those of the Jews were, to unite with this uncommon splendour the idea of the