Isaiah
Verse 1. Barren Jews in captivity, or Church of the Gentiles, to which alone the expressions can be applied. Calmet.—The Gentiles were before unfruitful, as the Jews will be till towards the latter times. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Isaiah 54
Historical chapter commentary
Isaiah
Verse 2. Stakes, to receive so great a family. All the Israelites did not return, and it does not appear that many embraced their religion, as they have done that of Christ.
Isaiah
Verse 3. Left. To the north and south. Jerusalem increased. But what was it compared with the Christians establishment!
Isaiah
Verse 4. Widowhood. Thy former excesses shall be forgotten. Calmet.
Isaiah
Verse 5. Thee. Hebrew “Bohalaic ( Bible.) shall be your Baalim,” or husband, who was styled Lord. 1 Peter 3:6. Perhaps he may allude to the two wives, the synagogues and the Church, or to the idols, which should be adored no more.
Isaiah
Verse 6. Youth. This enhances her fault. God is pleased to overlook it, in the captives (Calmet. 50:1) and Gentiles.
Isaiah
Verse 9. Earth. Giving him the rainbow for a sign. My covenant with the Church is equally irrevocable: she is founded on a rock. Matthew 16:18. Calmet.—Christ will no more abandon her than he will drown the world. Some mountains shall be moved out of their place, but she shall not. Worthington.
Isaiah
Verse 11. Sapphires. Hebrew “antimony,” a mineral shining like silver. 4 Kennicott. 9:30.
Isaiah
Verse 12. Bulwarks. Hebrew windows of crystal; (Ezekiel 27:16. Calmet.) Prot. “of agate.” Bible.—All this is allegorical, like the redemption of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 21.
Isaiah
Verse 13. Lord, Christ. Jeremiah 31:33. John 6:45.
Isaiah
Verse 14. Thee. The Cutheans rendered the Jews suspected. 1 Ezra 4:2. and 6:1
Isaiah
Verse 15. To thee, in the inheritance. This was verified in the Church. We have no accout of many being converted before.
Isaiah
Verse 16. Destroy. I can give peace or war. Calmet.—Septuagint “but I have created thee not for utter destruction.” Bible.