Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. Sit down, O Jerusalem "Ascend thy lofty seat, O Jerusalem"] The literal rendering here is, according to our English translation, "arise, sit; " on which a very learned person remarks: "So the old versions. But sitting is an expression of mourning in Scripture and the ancients; and doth not well agree with the rising just before. " It does not indeed agree, according to our ideas; but, considered in an oriental light, it is perfectly consistent. The common manner of sitting in the eastern countries is upon the ground or the floor with the legs crossed. The people of better condition have the floors of their chambers or divans covered with carpets for this purpose; and round the chamber broad couches, raised a little above the floor, spread with mattresses handsomely covered, which are called sofas. When sitting is spoken of as a posture of more than ordinary state, it is quite of a different kind; and means sitting on high, on a chair of state or throne called the musnud; for which a footstool was necessary, both in order that the person might raise himself up to it, and for supporting the legs when he was placed in it. "Chairs, "says Sir John Chardin, "are never used in Persia, but at the coronation of their kings. The king is seated in a chair of gold set with jewels, three feet high. The chairs which are used by the people in the east are always so high as to make a footstool necessary. And this proves the propriety of the style of Scripture, which always joins the footstool to the throne. " (chap. lxvi. 1; Psa. cv. 1.) Voyages, tom. ix. p. 85, 12mo. Besides the six steps to Solomon's throne, there was a footstool of gold fastened to the seat,2 Chron. ix. 18, which would otherwise have been too high for the king to reach, or to sit on conveniently.
When Thetis comes to wait on Vulcan to request armour for her son, she is received with great respect, and seated on a silver-studded throne, a chair of ceremony, with a footstool:- thn men epeita kaqeisen epi qronou argurohlou, kalou, daidaleou upo de qrhnuv posin hen. Iliad xviii. 389.
"High on a throne, with stars of silver graced, And various artifice, the queen she placed; A footstool at her feet." POPE.
Ĉo gar qronov autov monon eleuqeriov esti kaqedra sun upopodiw. Athenaeus, v. 4. "A throne is nothing more than a handsome sort of chair with a footstool." -L.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Exhortations to trust the Messiah. (Is. 51:1-3) The power of God, an the weakness of man. (Is. 51:4-8) Christ defends his people. (Is 51:9-16) Their afflictions and deliverances. (Is. 51:17-23)
Is. 51:1-3 It is good for those privileged by the new birth, to consider that they were shapen in sin. This should cause low thought of ourselves, and high thoughts of Divine grace. It is the greates comfort to be made serviceable to the glory of God. The more holines men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have. Le us seriously reflect upon our guilt. To do so will tend to keep the heart humble, and the conscience awake and tender. They make Chris more precious to the soul, and give strength to our attempts an prayers for others.
Is. 51:4-8 The gospel of Christ shall be preached and published. Ho shall we escape if we neglect it? There is no salvation withou righteousness. The soul shall, as to this world, vanish like smoke, an the body be thrown by like a worn-out garment. But those whose happiness is in Christ's righteousness and salvation, will have the comfort of it when time and days shall be no more. Clouds darken the sun, but do not stop its course. The believer will enjoy his portion while revilers of Christ are in darkness
Is. 51:9-16 The people whom Christ has redeemed with his blood, as wel as by his power, will obtain joyful deliverance from every enemy. He that designs such joy for us at last, will he not work such deliveranc in the mean time, as our cases require? In this world of changes, it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in that world, sorrow shall neve come in view. They prayed for the display of God's power; he answer them with consolations of his grace. Did we dread to sin against God we should not fear the frowns of men. Happy is the man that fears God always. And Christ's church shall enjoy security by the power an providence of the Almighty.
Is. 51:17-23 God calls upon his people to mind the things that belon to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her comforters were their own tormentors. They have no patience by which to kee possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort. Thou art drunken, not a formerly, with the intoxicating cup of Babylon's idolatries, but with the cup of affliction. Know, then, the cause of God's people may for time seem as lost, but God will protect it, by convincing the conscience, or confounding the projects, of those that strive agains it. The oppressors required souls to be subjected to them, that ever man should believe and worship as they would have them. But all the could gain by violence was, that people were brought to outwar hypocritical conformity, for consciences cannot be forced _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew התנערי5287 מעפר6083 קומי6965 שׁבי3427 ירושׁלם3389 התפתחו6605 מוסרי4147 צוארך6677 שׁביה7628 בת1323 ציון׃6726
