Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:1

Barren Jews in captivity, or Church of the Gentiles, to which alone the expressions can be applied. (Calmet) — The Gentiles were before unfruitful, as the Jews will be till towards the latter times. (Worthington)

Isaiah 54:2

Stakes, to receive so great a family. All the Israelites did not return, and it does not appear that many embraced their religion, as they have done that of Christ.

Isaiah 54:3

Left. To the north and south. Jerusalem increased. But what was it compared with the Christians establishment!

Isaiah 54:4

Widowhood. Thy former excesses shall be forgotten. (Calmet)

Isaiah 54:5

Thee. Hebrew, " Bohalaic (Haydock) shall be your Baalim," or husband, who was styled Lord, 1 Peter iii. 6. Perhaps he may allude to the two wives, the synagogues and the Church, or to the idols, which should be adored no more.

Isaiah 54:6

Youth. This enhances her fault. God is pleased to overlook it, in the captives (chap. l. 1.) and Gentiles.

Isaiah 54:9

Earth. Giving him the rainbow for a sign. My covenant with the Church is equally irrevocable: she is founded on a rock, Matthew xvi. 18. (Calmet) — Christ will no more abandon her than he will drown the world. Some mountains shall be moved out of their place, but she shall not. (Worthington)

Isaiah 54:11

Sapphires. Hebrew, “antimony,” a mineral shining like silver, 4 Kings ix. 30.

Isaiah 54:12

CHAPTER LIV.

Bulwarks. Hebrew, windows of crystal; (Ezechiel xxvii. 1[].; Calmet) Protestants, “of agate.” (Haydock) — All this is allegorical, like the redemption of the new Jerusalem, Apocalypse. xxi.

Isaiah 54:13

Lord, Christ, Jeremias xxxi. 33., and John vi. 45.

Isaiah 54:14

Thee. The Cutheans rendered the Jews suspected, 1 Esdras iv. 2., and vi. 1

Isaiah 54:15

To thee, in the inheritance. This was verified in the Church. We have no accout of many being converted before.

Isaiah 54:16

Destroy. I can give peace or war. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “but I have created thee not for utter destruction.” (Haydock)