Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Islands, near Asia, whose conversion Isaias often predicts, ( Calmet.) as he does that of all nations. Bible.—God continues to prove his divinity, ( Calmet.) expostulating with idolaters, whose conversion is insinuated, and among the rest that of Britain, which is the most renowned island in Europe. Bristow, anot. 11. Worthington.
Verse 2. Just one. Septuagint “justice.” Christ, (Eus. Saint Jerome) Abraham, (Chal. Grot.) or Cyrus, whose conquests were effects of God’s providence. verse 10. Calmet. 45.—Kings. Cyrus liberated Persia, conquered Babylon and all Asia.
Verse 3. Feet. His march and victories shall be so rapid, like those of Alexander. Daniel 8:5.
Verse 4. Beginning. Disposing all things, as the conquests of Cyrus, announced so long before by name, evince.—Last. Alpha and Omega. Revelation 1:8 and 22:13.
Verse 5. Islands. People of Asia Minor. Genesis 10:5. Calmet.—The Babylonians made a league with the most potent king Crœsus, to oppose the young conqueror. Xen. B. i.
Verse 7. Moved. Thus the nations conspire against Cyrus ( Calmet.) and the Messias. Bible.
Verse 10. Upheld thee. Cyrus shall gain the victory, and give thee liberty.
Verse 14. Dead. Though you were in the grave, I could protect you. Captivity is often represented under this idea. Calmet.—You who are despised, fear not, since Christ will protect and reward you. Worthington.
Verse 15. Chaff. Cambyses perished on the mountains of Judea, ( Bible.) and the Machabees gained many victories over the Syrians. Mic. 4:13. Ezekiel 39. Calmet.—They are here meant, as their exploits resembled those of Cyrus. Houbigant.
Verse 18. Waters. The captives shall be refreshed in the deserts. Calmet. 35:6 and 43:20. Calmet.
Verse 19. The thorn. In Hebrew, the shitta or settim, a tree resembling the whitethorn. Challoner. Saint Jerome—A fragrant shade shall speedily rise up. Baruch 5:6. Calmet.
Verse 21. Thing. Add “strong,” forte, ( Bible.) any good proof of idolatry.
Verse 23. Good. The prescience and power of God prove his divinity. Can idols produce any thing similar? Calmet.—None can tell what will happen, unless God reveal it. Worthington.
Verse 24. Work. All that you can do or promise. Hebrew “your work is worse than a viper.”
Verse 25. Sun. Cyrus had a Persian for his father, and a Mede for his mother; thus uniting both nations, ( Calmet.) so that he was styled a mule by an ancient oracle. Eus. præp. ix. 41.—These countries lay to the north-east of Judea. Calmet.
Verse 26. Just, or “the just one,” ( Bible.) that we may recognise Cyrus at once.—Your words. He addresses the idols. You cannot dive into futurity. Calmet.
Verse 28. I. Isaias, ( Menochius.) or God, ( Bible.) pronounces sentence against the speechless idols. Menochius.