Isaiah 51

Isaiah 51:1

Lord. He speaks of the redemption of mankind, under the allegory of the return from captivity.

Isaiah 51:2

Alone, and gave him children when he was grown old, and Sara barren. I can surely save you likewise. (Calmet) — The example of these great progenitors is set before the Jews. Thus St. Paul says: Remember your prelates, Hebrews xiii. (Worthington)

Isaiah 51:4

Nations. This was verified when the Bible was translated into Greek, and still more by the preaching of the gospel.

Isaiah 51:5

Just. Christ, prefigured by Cyrus, whose empire was very mild, chap. xliv. 28.

Isaiah 51:6

Fail. Matthew xxiv. 35. The prosperity of the Jews was not of long duration. But the Church will remain till the end of time.

Isaiah 51:9

Proud. Hebrew, “Rahab,” Pharao, king of Egypt, Job xxvi. 12., and Ezechiel xxix. 3. (Calmet) — God drowned in the water, which had retired for Israel. He will thus destroy the devil. (Worthington)

Isaiah 51:10

CHAPTER LI.

Isaiah 51:13

Oppressor. If thou hadst not abandoned God, thou wouldst have had no reason to fear Nabuchodonosor; and his power is now gone.

Isaiah 51:14

Fail. Cyrus shall quickly restore the Jews to their country. He shall not lay waste the provinces, like many conquerors.

Isaiah 51:16

People. This may refer to Isaias, Cyrus, &c., as figures of Christ, chap. xlix. 1. He has bestowed greater favours on Christians than Cyrus did on the Jews, opening the kingdom of heaven to true believers, &c., Ephesians ii. 19.

Isaiah 51:17

Dregs. Take courage: Babylon’s turn is come, ver. 23. (Calmet)

Isaiah 51:19

Two. War and famine cause desolation and destruction. (Worthington) — Jerusalem was reduced to the greatest misery in the last siege under Nabuchodonosor, Lamentations iv. 3. (Calmet)

Isaiah 51:20

Ox, oryx. Hebrew Thua, Deuteronomy xiv. 5. (Haydock) — Many accounts respecting it are fabulous. Some understand a sort of wolf, mentioned by Pliny, [Natural History?] viii. 34. Septuagint, “like beet half boiled.”

Isaiah 51:23

Over. This inhumanity was not uncommon, Josue x. 24., and Psalm cix. 1.