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"chosen (p). 2. Thus saith the LORD that "made (p) thee, and formed (p) thee from "the womb, which will help thee. Fear not, "O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jesu"run (q), whom I have chosen. 3. For "I will pour water (r) upon him that is "thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: "I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and "my blessing upon thine offspring :

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4. And they shall spring up as among "the grass (s), as willows by the water "courses. 5. One (t) shall say, I am the "LORD's and another shall call himself

"leader." Bp. Lowth. The meaning probably is, So far are you from merit and justification, that your chief men and leaders, from whom the best was to have been expected, are given up to sin and to transgression.

(2) v. 28. "Have profaned," and "have "given," speaking of what was about to come, as though it had already happened.

(2) Assurances from God to his people of protection and favour, upon his foreknowledge and power, upon the absurdity of idol worship, and upon the mercy God would display, and the deliverance he would accomplish. The date commonly ascribed to it is 712 years before the birth of Christ, about 106 before the commencement of the Babylonish captivity.

(p) v. 1. "My servant," "whom I have "chosen," and verse 2. " made thee," and "formed thee from the womb." Expressions of attachment calculated to produce corresponding sentiments from the people towards God, to secure their fidelity and animate their hopes during adversity.

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(q) v. 2. Jesurun," i. e. "Israel." same name is used for Israel. Deut. xxxii. 15.xxxiii. 5. 26. The word signifies" upright," or "uprightness."

(r) v. 3. "Pour water, &c." This and the following verse probably look forward to the times of the Messiah, and to spiritual blessings to be then bestowed, when, according to Joel ii. 28, "God was to pour out his spirit 66 upon all flesh."

"by the name of Jacob and another "shall subscribe with his hand unto the "LORD (u), and surname himself by the

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name of Israel. 6. Thus saith the LORD "the King of Israel, and his redeemer the "LORD of hosts, I am the first, and I am "the last, and beside me there is no God. 7. And who (x), as I, shall call, and "shall declare it, and set it in order for "me, since I appointed the ancient people' "and the things that are coming, and sha "come? let them shew unto them. 8. Fer

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ye not, neither be afraid : have not I to "thee from that time (y), and have de"clared it? ye are even my witnesses (2). "Is there a God beside me? yea, " is no God; I know not any. 9. They "that make a graven image are all of them "vanity; and their delectable things "shall not profit; and they are their own "witnesses; they see not, nor know; "that they may be ashamed. 10. Whe

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(t) v. 5. Is considered as alluding coming in of the Gentiles to the religion of Christ. See ante, Is. ii. 3.

(u) v. 5. "Subscribe with his hand unto "the Lord," or "subscribe

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his hand, I upon am the Lord's," Sept. alluding to the cus tom as to soldiers, who received a mark on their hands to signify who was their commander. This practice is referred to Rev.xiii. 16. “he "caused all, both small and great, &c. to re"ceive a mark in their right hand, or in their "forehead;" and again Rev. xiv. 9. "man worship the beast and his image, and "receive his mark on his forehead, or o "hand, &c." See Blayney on Jer. 388.

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(x) v. 7. "Who, as I, shall call, &c."i "who, like me, can foretell future events "bring them to pass: if there be any such, t "them display their power; let them she "what is immediately coming, and what she

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come hereafter." The same idea, expressed more fully, occurs, Is. xli. 22. 23. ante 618, and see Is. xliii. 9. ante 620.

(y) v. 8. " From that time," or " from of

"old."

(*) v. 8. "My witnesses." He makes the like appeal to thein, Is. xliii. 10. ante 620. "Their delectable things," it (a) v. 9. "their idols," in which they delight.

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ath formed a god, or molten a graven mage that is profitable for nothing? - I. Behold all his fellows (a) shall be shamed: and the workmen, they are of (a) nen; let them all be gathered together, et them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 2. The smith (b) with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth t with hammers, and worketh it with he strength of his arms; yea, he is -ungry (c), and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint, 13. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof and warm

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(a) v. II. "Fellows," or "followers," worshippers." "They are of men," or "they above all men."

(b) v. 12. "The smith, &c." Bp. Lowth serves upon this passage, "the sacred writers are generally large and eloquent upon the subject of idolatry: they treat it with great severity, and set forth its absurdity in the strongest light; but this passage of Isaiah, to verse 12 to 20, far exceeds any thing that was ever written upon the subject in force of argument, energy of expression, and elegance of composition." Idolatry was a sin against which the Israelites were peculiarly cautioned, and the strongest denuntiations passed against t. Deut. xi. 16. 26. 28.-xii. 2.-xvii. 2 to 7. The character of their kings is in general decided in scripture by this test. Solomon, in his old age, was seduced into it by his wives, and for this offence God wrested from his son Rehoboam ten of the tribes, and they formed a separate kingdom under the kings of Israel. Every one of the kings of Israel, without exception, was addicted to this offence, and so were many of the kings of Judah. Great part of the ten tribes had within ten years been carried captive into Assyria, 2 Kings xvii. 6. and the time was now approaching when the prophecy of Isaiah, Is. vii. 8. " within threescore

"himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh "bread; yea, he maketh a god, and wor"shippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, " and falleth down thereto. 16. He burn"eth part thereof in the fire; with part

thereof he eateth flesh (d); he roasteth "roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth "himself, and saith, "Aha, I am warm, I "have seen the fire." 17. And the resi"due thereof he maketh a god, even his

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graven image: he falleth down unto it, "and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, "and saith, "Deliver me, for thou art "my god." 18. They have not known, "nor understood: for he hath shut their "eyes (f), that they cannot see; and their "hearts that they cannot understand.

19. And none considereth in his heart, "neither is there knowledge nor under"standing to say, "I have burnt part of "it in the fire; yea, also I have baked "bread upon the coals thereof; I have ❝roasted flesh and eaten it; and shall I "make the residue thereof an abomina❝tion? shall I fall down to the stock of a "tree?" 20. He feedeth on ashes (g): a

and five years shall Ephrain, (i. e. the ten "tribes) be broken, that it be not a people," was to be fulfilled. Judah had been deeply involved in idolatry in the time of Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, and were again about to become so in the time of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. They would also be carried into an idolatrous country in the Babylonish captivity. These warnings therefore, against idolatry, were well suited to the times, to deter the devout part of the people from idolatrous practices, and to keep them a distinct and separate people, as the stock from which the Messiah was to come, during the captivity. The denuntiation against the ten tribes was about 30 years before the period to which this chapter is ascribed, and at the end of the 65 years, the carrying away those tribes was completed. 2 Hales 455.

(c) v. 12. "Is hungry, &c. So that this his god he is making cannot protect him from hunger or thirst, fatigue or weakness.

(d) v. 16. "Eateth flesh," or rather "baketh bread," Sept.; and this agrees with what is stated in verses 15 and 19.

(f) v. 18. "He hath shut their eyes," or rather "their eyes are shut." It is their own

act.

(g) v. 20. "Ashes," unpalatable, and without nourishment; probably a proverb, for

"deceived heart hath turned him aside, "that he cannot deliver his soul (h), nor

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say, "Is there not a lie (i) in my right "hand?" 21. Remember these, O Jacob, "and Israel; for thou art my servant (k): "I have formed thee (k), thou art my ser"vant: O Israel, thou shalt not be for"gotten of me: 22. I have (1) blotted(m) "out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, "and as a cloud thy sins: return unto 66 me, for I have redeemed (n) thee. "23. Sing (0), O ye heavens; for the "LORD hath done it shout ye lower

parts of the earth; break forth into sing"ing ye mountains, O forest, and every "tree therein: for the LORD hath re"deemed Jacob, and glorified himself in "Israel." 24. Thus saith the LORD thy "redeemer, and he that formed thee from

"the womb, "I am the LORD that maketh "all things, that stretcheth forth the heavens "alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth "by myself; 25. That frustrateth the "tokens of the liars (p), and maketh di-: "viners mad; that turneth (q) wise men "backward, and maketh (r) their know"ledge foolish; 26. That confirmeth() "the word of his servant, and performeh "the counsel of his messengers; that saith "to Jerusalem, "Thou shalt be inhabited:"| "and to the cities of Judah, "Ye shall "built, and I will raise up the decay "places thereof:" 27. That saith to th "deep, "Be dry (t), and I will dry up) "thy rivers:" 28. That saith of Cyrus (x, "He is my shepherd, and shall perform "all my pleasure, even saying to Jeru "salem, "Thou shalt be built' (y),” and to

using disagreeable means without accomplishing any good end.

(b) v. 20. "Deliver his soul," i. e. "extri"cate himself from this delusion."

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(i) v. 20. “A lie, &c." i. e. perhaps, Is not my strength, what I make my right hand, "that on which I depend, falsehood."

(k) v. 21. "My servant," "I have formed "thee, &c." The repetition of these and similar expressions, intimates a strong anxiety on God's part to keep them to the true worship, and deter them from idolatry.

(1) v.22. "Have blotted," or "blot," am "ready to blot."

(m) v. 22. "I have blotted, &c." or rather "I have made thy transgressions vanish as a "cloud, and thy sins as a vapour." Bp. Lowth; and so Sept. and Heb.

(n) v. 22. "For I have redeemed" or "that "I may redeem." Pole. "And I will re"deem." Sept.

(o) v. 23. "Sing, &c." a spirited apostrophe to heaven and earth to celebrate the deliverances God would effect; calling upon them to join in thanksgiving and praise, as though the event had already happened, and intimating the greatness of the deliverance from the joy it would produce.

(p) v. 25. "The liars," i. e. probably, heathen astrologers and magicians: preten"ders to divine inspiration." The Chaldeans were notorious for the practices of astrology and magic, and for pretensions to the powers of prophecy; and in the Babylonish captivity, to which this chapter looks forward, they would be able to judge of the Chaldean gods by ob

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(u) v. 27. "Dry up, &c." It was by turn. ing the course of the Euphrates, making its channel dry, and marching his troops through it, that Cyrus, about 173 years after this prediction, took Babylon, and rescued the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. Jeremiah has predictions referring to the same event. I speaking of Babylon, Jer. 1. 38. he says,

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draught is upon her waters, and they shall "dried up ;" and Jer. li. 36. "I will dry? "her sea, and make her springs dry, and Ba"bylon shall become heaps, &c."

(x) v.28. "Cyrus." So that God met tioned Cyrus by name above 100 years before his birth; and in the next chapter, Is. xlv. 4. be assigns this reason, "For Jacob my servant's "sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called "thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me."

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(y) v. 28. "Thou shalt be built, &c." God afterwards promised the Jews by Jeremiah, "after seventy years be accomplish d at Baby "lon, I will visit you, and perform my goo!

the temple, "Thy foundation shall be laid."

CHAP. XLVI. (2)

EL (a) boweth down, Nebo (a) stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden, they are a burden (b) to the weary beast. 2. They stoop, they bow down together, they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. 3. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me (c) from the belly, which are carried from the womb (d). 4. And even to your old age (d) I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry (c) you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry and will deliver you. 5. To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal and compare me, that we may be like? 6. They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. 7. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set "him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one

word towards you, in causing you to return to this place. Jer. xxix. 10." See also Jer. xxv. 2, 13. Shortly before the expiration of this eriod, Darius the Mede, the father-in-law of Cyrus, took Babylon; and in the 70th year, 36 years before the birth of Christ, Cyrus auhorized the Jews to return to Judea to rebuild he temple and the city, and ordered them supEes. Ezra i. 2 to 4.-Josephus, B. 11. c. I. -3 Hales 108.

(z) The weakness of idols contrasted with e power and foreknowledge of God.

(a) v. 1. "Bel," Nebo." Two Babylonian ols.

(b) v. I. "Burden." So far from being ods, they cannot move themselves, nor can ey exempt from fatigue those who carry

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(c) v. 3. 4. "Borne by me," and "I will carry you." Expressions intimating God's indness towards them, and pointing out a trong difference between God and idols: God arries his people; idols must themselves be arried by theirs.

(d) v. 3. 4. "From the womb, and even to your old age, &c." a constant superintend

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"shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8. Re"member this, and shew yourselves

men (e) bring it again to mind, O ye "transgressors. 9. Remember the former "things of old, for I am God, and there " is none else; I am God, and there is none "like me, 10. Declaring (ƒ) the end "from the beginning, and from ancient "times the things that are not yet done, "saying, "My counsel shall stand, and "I will do all my pleasure:" 11. Calling

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a ravenous bird (g) from the east, the "man (g) that executeth my counsel from a "far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will "also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, "I will also do it. 12. Hearken unto me 66 ye stout-hearted, that are far from ❝righteousness. 13. I bring near my " righteousness (b); it shall not be far off, " and my salvation shall not tarry: and I "will place (i) salvation in Zion for Israel "my glory."

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(g) v. 11. "A ravenous bird," or an "eagle," which was Cyrus's ensign. The ravenous bird," and "the man that executeth my counsel," both refer to Cyrus. (b) v. 13. "My righteousness," i. e. " the "deliverance I promised."

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(i) v. 13. "Place, &c." or "give salva❝tion in Zion, and my glory to Israel. Dr. Lowth.

(k) An exhortation to confidence in God, calling to mind his works of former times, and promises of deliverances.

(1) v. 1. "Rock," i. e. "Abraham," from whom, on account of his age, there was no more prospect of children, than of produce from the barren rock; and "hole of the pit," or "deadness of the womb," whence ye pro

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"whence ye are digged. 2. Look unto Abra"ham (m) your father, and unto Sarah (m) "that bare you; for I called him alone (~), "and blessed him, and increased him. 3. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: "he will comfort all her waste places, and "he will make her wilderness like Eden (0), " and her desert like the garden of the "LORD: joy and gladness shall be found "therein, thanksgiving, and the voice "of melody. 4. Hearken unto me, my "people (p), and give ear unto me, O "my nation (p): for a law (q) shall proceed "from me, and I will make my judgment "to rest (r) for a light of the people. 66 5. My righteousness (s) is near; my sal"vation is gone forth, and mine arms shall "judge the people (t): the isles (†) shall "wait upon me, and on mine arm shall "they trust. 6. Lift up (u) your eyes to "the heavens, and look upon the earth "beneath for the heavens shall vanish "away like smoke, and the earth shall wax "old like a garment, and they that dwell "therein shall die in like manner (x): but 66 my salvation shall be for ever; and my "righteousness shall not be abolished.

"ceed;" referring to Sarah, from whom there was still less chance of offspring. The meaning is, if God could in that instance go so far beyond all human probability, he can do as great things now. În Rom. iv. 19. there is a similar allusion to the state of Abraham and Sarah, at the time when a son was promised them Gen. xviii. 10, "he (Abraham) con"sidered not his own body, now dead, when "he was about an hundred years old, neither

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yet the deadness of Sarah's womb, but was "strong in faith, being fully persuaded, that "what God had promised, he was able also to "perform."

(m) v. 2. "Abraham," and "Sarah." "Remember what was done for them: how, "beyond all human expectation, I made of "them a great and powerful nation."

(n) v. 2. "Alone, i. e. (probably) "when " he had no child."

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(0) v. 3. "Eden," i. e. "paradise." (p) v. 4. For " my people," and "O my "nation," Bp. Lowth reads "O ye people,' and "O ye nations ;" and two of Dr. Kennicot's MSS. sanction the former reading, and nine the latter. He considers it as applying to the call of the gentiles, to whom no doubt the latter part of this verse and verse 5 apply.

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༡. Hearken unto me, ye that know right. "eousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revil"ings. 8. For the moth shall eat them 66 up like a garment, and the worm shall "eat them like wool: but my righteousness "shall be for ever, and my salvation from "generation to generation. 9. Awake, "awake, put on strength, O arm of the "LORD; awake as in the ancient days, in "the generations of old. Art thou not it "that hath cut Rahab (z) and wounded t "dragon (z)? 10. Art thou not it which "hath dried the sea (a), the waters of the "great deep; that hath made the depth "of the sea a way for the ransomed (b) to

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pass over? 11. Therefore (c) the re"deemed of the LORD shall return, and "come with singing unto Zion, and ever"lasting joy shall be upon their head: they "shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow " and mourning shall flee away. 12.Į, “even I, am he that comforteth you: who "art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the sof man which shall be made as grass?

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