Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. The righteous man] The Chaldee and Vulgate seem to have read qydx tsaddik. But Jerome, though his translation has justum, appears to have read qdx tsedek; for in his comment he expresses it by justum, sive justitiam. However, I think all interpreters understand it of a person. So the Septuagint in MS. Pachom. ekalesen auton, "he hath called him; " but the other copies have authn, her. They are divided in ascertaining this person; some explain it of Abraham, others of Cyrus. I rather think that the former is meant; because the character of the righteous man, or righteousness, agrees better with Abraham than with Cyrus.
Besides, immediately after the description of the success given by God to Abraham and his posterity, (who, I presume, are to be taken into the account,) the idolaters are introduced as greatly alarmed at this event.
Abraham was called out of the east; and his posterity were introduced into the land of Canaan, in order to destroy the idolaters of that country, and they were established there on purpose to stand as a barrier against the idolatry then prevailing, and threatening to overrun the whole face of the earth. Cyrus, though not properly an idolater or worshipper of images, yet had nothing in his character to cause such an alarm among the idolaters, ver. 5-7. Farther, after having just touched upon that circumstance, the prophet with great ease returns to his former subject, and resumes Abraham and the Israelites; and assures them that as God had called them, and chosen them for this purpose, he would uphold and support them to the utmost, and at length give them victory over all the heathen nations, their enemies; ver. 8-16. Kimchi is of the same mind and gives the same reasons.
Be gave them as the dust to his sword "Hath made them like the dust before his sword"] The image is strong and beautiful; it is often made use of by the sacred poets; see Psa. i. 4; xxxv. 6; Job xxi. 18, and by Isaiah himself in other places, chap. xvii. 13; xxix. 5. But there is great difficulty in making out the construction. The Septuagint read µbrj µtq kashtam, charbam, their sword, their bow, understanding it of the sword and bow of the conquered kings: but this is not so agreeable to the analogy of the image, as employed in other places. The Chaldee paraphrast and Kimchi solve the difficulty by supposing an ellipsis of ynpl liphney before those words. It must be owned that the ellipsis is hard and unusual: but I choose rather to submit to this, than, by adhering with Vitringa to the more obvious construction, to destroy entirely both the image and the sense.
But the Vulgate by gladio ejus, to his sword, and arcui ejus, to his bow, seems to express wbrjl lecharbo, to his sword, and wtql lekashto, to his bow, the admission of which reading may perhaps be thought preferable to Kimchi's ellipsis.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The preaching of the gospel, and glad tidings of the coming of Christ (Is. 40:1-11) The almighty power of God. (Is. 40:12-17) The folly of idolatry. (Is. 40:18-26) Against unbelief. (Is. 40:27-31)
Is. 40:1-11 All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the mos so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of the Lord's han double for all their sins; for the satisfaction Christ made by his death was of infinite value. The prophet had some reference to the return of the Jews from Babylon. But this is a small event, compare with that pointed out by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when Joh the Baptist proclaimed the approach of Christ. When eastern prince marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them, an hinderances removed. And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high an proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked an rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderanc removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower thereof! And what wil all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leav him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, whic all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for youn converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By his wor he requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no mor trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd' voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.
Is. 40:12-17 All created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with the Creator. When the Lord, by his Spirit, made the world, non directed his Spirit, or gave advice what to do, or how to do it. The nations, in comparison of him, are as a drop which remains in the bucket, compared with the vast ocean; or as the small dust in the balance, which does not turn it, compared with all the earth. Thi magnifies God's love to the world, that, though it is of such smal account and value with him, yet, for the redemption of it, he gave his only-begotten Son, John 3:16. The services of the church can make n addition to him. Our souls must have perished for ever, if the only So of the Father had not given himself for us.
Is. 40:18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more tha God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make image or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely a sacrific to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own. They spared no cos upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all ages an nations. Those who are ignorant of this, are willingly ignorant. God has the command of all creatures, and of all created things. The prophet directs us to use our reason as well as our senses; to conside who created the hosts of heaven, and to pay our homage to Him. Not on fails to fulfil his will. And let us not forget, that He spake all the promises, and engaged to perform them.
Is. 40:27-31 The people of God are reproved for their unbelief an distrust of God. Let them remember they took the names Jacob an Israel, from one who found God faithful to him in all his straits. An they bore these names as a people in covenant with Him. Many foolis frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before inquiry into the causes It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to tur them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, wa sufficient to silence all these fears and distrusts. Where God ha begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascen above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandment cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carrie above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of ou high calling in Christ Jesus _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew מי4310 העיר5782 ממזרח4217 צדק6664 יקראהו7121 לרגלו7272 יתן5414 לפניו6440 גוים1471 ומלכים4428 ירד7287 יתן5414 כעפר6083 חרבו2719 כקשׁ7179 נדף5086 קשׁתו׃7198
