Isaiah 26

Isaiah 26:1

Day. Under the law of grace, Christians sing this and such like canticles. (Worthington) — Sion. This word is not in Hebrew, &c., though it be understood. (Calmet) — Other nations have their respective cities. All Christians admit this one. (Worthington) — The captives continue to return thanks. Yet the Holy Ghost speaks chiefly of the Church, and of the general resurrection. (Calmet) — Bulwark. Faith and good works. (Worthington)

Isaiah 26:2

Truth. The Jews who returned from Babylon, were more virtuous than their ancestors, as the prophets intimate; though they have Christians principally in view.

Isaiah 26:3

Away: condemning the virtuous, as if they were fools. (Menochius) — Symmachus, “our work, or fiction, is taken away.” Hebrew may have other meanings. (Haydock)

Isaiah 26:4

You, people of Juda.

Isaiah 26:5

High: Nabuchodonosor and his empire.

Isaiah 26:6

Needy. The Jews shall behold the ruin of the city by Cyrus, (Calmet) who was of a contemptible nation. (Haydock)

Isaiah 26:7

In. God will remove every obstacle, at their return.

Isaiah 26:9

Night of distress.

Isaiah 26:10

Justice. Clemency would therefore be ill placed. If the Israelites had not been led away captives, would they ever have been reformed?

Isaiah 26:11

CHAPTER XXVI.

Not see. Let them perish, or live to witness the glory of the Jews.

Isaiah 26:12

Works, both in punishing and rewarding. (Calmet) — God crowns his own gifts. (Estius)

Isaiah 26:13

Lords of Babylon, (Calmet) and our own passions. (Haydock)

Isaiah 26:14

Giants; the proud emperors of Babylon, whom thou wilt destroy. Septuagint, “physicians;” as Rephaim has also this meaning.

Isaiah 26:15

Nation of the Jews. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “add evils to them, O Lord; add evils to the nobles of the land.” (Haydock) — Hebrew may have the same sense. — Ends: princes, or the Chaldeans, sending them also into captivity; or thou hast propagated thy Church over the world.

Isaiah 26:16

They. Septuagint, “We,” &c. (Calmet) — Affliction is a wholesome medicine. (Haydock)

Isaiah 26:18

Wind. Our expectation of aid from others has been disappointed. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “the spirit of thy salvation, which thou hast wrought on the earth. We shall not fall, but the inhabitants of the earth shall fall.” (Haydock) — Their copies must have been different from ours. — Fallen. The Chanaanites are left for our trial and punishment. (Calmet)

Isaiah 26:19

Dead: a civil death, shall regain their liberty; and those who have left this world in a state of virtue, shall be happy. — Ruin. Cyrus liberated the Jews, having conquered Babylon.

Isaiah 26:20

Away, and Cambyses be destroyed, Ezechiel xxxviii. 11. (Calmet)

Isaiah 26:21

Shall cover her stain no more. This is said with relation to the martyrs, and their happy resurrection. (Challoner) — The blood of the saints shall demand vengeance. (Calmet)