Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. He shalt enter into peace "He shall go in peace"] µwl awby yabo shalom; the expression is elliptical, such as the prophet frequently uses. The same sense is expressed at large and in full terms, Gen. xv. 15: µwlb ūytwba la abt htaw veattah libbo al abotheycha beshalom, "and thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace." They shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness "He shall rest in his bed; even the perfect man."] This obscure sentence is reduced to a perfectly good sense, and easy construction by an ingenious remark of Dr. Durell. He reads µt wbkm l[ jwny yanuach al mishcabo tam, "the perfect man shall rest in his bed. " Two MSS. (one of them ancient) have jwny yanuach, singular; and so the Vulgate renders it, requiescat, "he shall rest. " The verb was probably altered to make it plural, and so consistent with what follows after the mistake had been made in the following words, by uniting wbkm mishcabo and µt tam into one word. See Merrick's Annotations on the Psalms, Addenda; where the reader will find that J. S. Moerlius, by the same sort of correction, and by rescuing the adjective µt tam, which had been swallowed up in another word in the same manner, has restored to a clear sense a passage before absolutely unintelligible:- wml twbxrj ya yk lemo chartsubboth ein ki :µlwa ayrbw µt ulam ubari tham "For no distresses happen to them; Perfect and firm is their strength." Psa. lxxiii. 4.
To follow on my application of this to our Lord: - HE, the JUST ONE, shall enter into peace-the peaceable, prosperous possession of the glorious mediatorial kingdom. They shall rest upon their beds-the hand of wrong and oppression can reach these persecuted followers of Christ no more.
(But see below.) The perfect man walking in his uprightness. This may be considered as a general declaration. The separated spirit, though disunited from its body walking in conscious existence in the paradise of God, reaping the fruit of righteousness. The word which we render their beds, µtwbkm Dmishkebotham, the learned bishop supposes to be two words; and to be compounded of wbkm mishkabo, his bed, and µt tam, the upright or perfect man. This is the reading both of the Syriac and Vulgate, and it is favoured by the Chaldee: and one of De Rossi's MS. has wbkm mishkabo, his bed, without the word mt tam, which has been added by a later hand. Bishop Lowth, as we have seen, adopts this separation of the word and for wjwny yanuchu, they shall rest, reads hwny yanuach, he shall rest, which is supported by two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and by the Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic. The word µt tam, taken from µtwbkm mishkebotham, should begin the latter clause of the verse; and then the interpolated words, each one, which our translators supplied, may be very well spared. The verse may be then read and paraphrased thus;] He shall enter into peace: he shall rest upon his bed; The perfect man walking in his uprightness.
The bed must signify the grave; the walking in uprightness after death, the conscious existence of the happy spirit, and its eternal progression in happiness and perfection: wjkn nechochol straight before him; proceeding into the unlimited extent of eternal glory, increasing in happiness, and increasing in perfection.
My old MS. Bible translates very nervously:- The rigtwise man perishith, And there is not that bethinke in his herte.t.
And men of mercy ben gedrid, For there is not that understonde: From the face of malice, Gedreid is the rigtwise.
Cumm pese: reste it in his bed That geede in his rigt rewlinge.
It has been often remarked that, previously to the execution of God's judgments upon a wicked place, he has removed good men from it, that they might not suffer with the wicked. When great and good men are removed by death, or otherwise, from any place, the remaining inhabitants have much cause to tremble.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- A charge to keep the Divine precepts. (Is. 56:1,2) Blessings promised (Is. 56:3-8) Reproof to the careless watchmen, the teachers and ruler of the Jews. (Is. 56:9-12)
Is. 56:1,2 The Lord tells us what are his expectations of duty from us Be honest and just in all dealings. Also strictly observe the sabbat day. To have the blessing of God upon employments all the week, make conscience of keeping the sabbath holy. Have nothing to do with sin Blessed is the man that keeps his hand from all things displeasing to God and hurtful to his own soul. Those who, through the Spirit, wai for the hope of righteousness by faith, will be found walking in way of holy obedience.
Is. 56:3-8 Unbelief often suggests things to discourage believers against which God has expressly guarded. Spiritual blessings ar unspeakably better than having sons and daughters; for children are care, and may prove a grief and shame, but the blessings we partake of in God's house, are comforts which cannot be made bitter. Those wh love the Lord truly, will serve him faithfully, and then his commandments are not grievous. Three things are promised. Assistance: will not only bid them welcome, but incline them to come. Acceptance and comfort: though they came mourning to the house of prayer, the shall go away rejoicing. They shall find ease by casting their care and burdens upon God. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer. The Gentiles shall be one body with the Jews that, as Christ says, John 10:16, there may be one fold and on Shepherd. Thanks be to God that none are separated from him except be wilful sin and unbelief; and if we come to him, we shall be accepte through the sacrifice of our great High Priest.
Is. 56:9-12 Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuk of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to othe ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to sen us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, tha we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily adde to the church _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew יבוא935 שׁלום7965 ינוחו5117 על5921 משׁכבותם4904 הלך1980 נכחו׃5228
