Bible Commentaries

Isa 60:1-22.

ISRAEL'S GLORY AFTER HER AFFLICTION.

An ode of congratulation to Zion on her restoration at the Lord's second advent to her true position as the mother church from which the Gospel is to be diffused to the whole Gentile world; the first promulgation of the Gospel among the Gentiles, beginning at Jerusalem

[Lu 24:47],

is an earnest of this. The language is too glorious to apply to anything that as yet has happened.

1. Arise--from the dust in which thou hast been sitting as a mourning female captive

(Isa 3:26; 52:1, 2).

shine--or, "be enlightened; for thy light cometh"; impart to others the spiritual light now given thee

(Isa 60:3).

The Margin and GESENIUS translate, "Be enlightened"; be resplendent with posterity; imperative for the future indicative, "Thou shalt be enlightened"

(Isa 58:8, 10; Eph 5:8, 14).

glory of the Lord--not merely the Shekinah, or cloud of glory, such as rested above the ark in the old dispensation, but the glory of the Lord in person

(Jer 3:16, 17).

is risen--as the sun

(Mal 4:2; Lu 1:78,

Margin).

2. darkness . . . earth--the rest of the earth: in contrast with "light . . . upon thee"

(Isa 60:1).

The earth will be afterwards enlightened through Israel

(Isa 9:2).

be seen--conspicuously: so the Hebrew.

3.

(Isa 2:3; 11:10; 43:6; 49:22; 66:12).

kings--

(Isa 49:7, 23; 52:15).

thy rising--rather, "thy sun-rising," that is, "to the brightness that riseth upon thee."

4. Lift up . . . eyes--Jerusalem is addressed as a female with eyes cast down from grief.

all they . . . they--The Gentile peoples come together to bring back the dispersed Hebrews, restore their city, and worship Jehovah with offerings.

nursed at thy side--rather "carried at thy side." It is the custom in the East to carry the children astride on the hip, with the arms around the body

(Isa 66:12).

5. see--

(Isa 60:4),

namely, the bringing back of thy sons.

flow together--rather, "overflow with joy" [LOWTH]; or, from a different Hebrew root, "be bright with joy" [GESENIUS]

(Job 3:4).

fear--rather, beat with the agitation of solemn joy at the marvellous sight [HORSLEY]

(Jer 33:9).

be enlarged--swell with delight. Grief, on the contrary, contracts the heart.

abundance of . . . sea--the wealth of the lands beyond the sea, as in Solomon's time, the type of the coming reign of the Prince of peace.

converted--rather, "be turned," instead of being turned to purposes of sin and idolatry.

forces--rather, "riches."

6. camels--laden with merchandise; the camel is "the ship of the desert" (compare

Isa 30:6).

cover thee--so many of them shall there be.

dromedaries--They have one hunch on the back, whereas the camel has two: distinguished for swiftness

(Jer 2:23).

Midian--east of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, and stretching northward along Mount Seir. Associated with the Ishmaelites in traffic

(Ge 37:25, 28).

Ephah--part of Midian, east of the Dead Sea. It abounded in camels

(Jud 6:5).

Sheba--in Arabia-Felix, famed for frankincense and gold

(Ps 72:15; Jer 6:20),

which they traded in

(Isa 45:14; Job 6:19; Eze 27:22).

7. Kedar--

(Isa 21:16; So 1:5),

in the south of Arabia-Deserta, or north of Arabia-Petræa; they traded in flocks

(Eze 27:21).

Nebaioth--son of Ishmael, as was Kedar. Father of the Nabatheans in Arabia-Petræa.

minister--by coming up as an acceptable sacrifice.

come up with acceptance--that is, acceptably. The rams offering themselves voluntarily

(Ps 68:30; Ro 12:1; 1Pe 2:5),

without waiting for any other priest, answer to believers strong in faith and lamb-like meekness; and in the white fleece-like robe of sanctity [VITRINGA].

house of my glory--the temple

(Eze 41:1-26; Hag 2:7, 9; Mal 3:1).

8. The prophet, seeing in vision new hosts approaching quickly like a cloud of doves, asks who they are.