Isaiah 11

Verse 1. Root. Juda shall not be exterminated, like the Assyrians. Calmet.—Christ shall spring from the blessed Virgin, ( Worthington.) for the salvation of mankind. The Jews agree, that this prediction regards the Messias; though some, with Grotius, would explain it literally of Ezechias. They do not reflect that he was now ten years old, and that the prophet speaks of an event which should still take place after he had been a long while upon the throne. If we were to look for any figure of the Messias, to whom this might be applicable, it would be Zorobabel. Zechariah 3:8. But how disproportionate would be the promises to the execution? Some passages may indeed relate to the return of the captives, (verse 11) as the people must have a more immediate object, to insure the accomplishment of the more elevated predictions concerning the Messias: but these also refer ultimately to the propagation of the gospel, which the prophet had also in view. Calmet.

Verse 2. Him. In the form of a dove. John 1:32. Bible.—“The whole fountain of the Holy Ghost descending.” Ev. Nazar. Saint Jerome—Christ was filled with his seven gifts, and of his fullness his servants receive. Worthington.—Yet all virtues are the gifts of the holy Spirit, and the number seven is not specified in Hebrew, as the same word ( Calmet.) yirath, is rendered godliness, which (verse 3) means, the fear of the Lord. Bible.—God enables us to penetrate the difficulties of Scripture, and to act with prudence, and so forth Menochius.

Verse 3. Filled. Hebrew “breath or smell.” So Saint Paul says, (2 Corinthians 2:15) we are the good odour of Christ. Calmet.—Prot. “he shall make him of quick understanding (marg. smell) in the fear,” and so forth Bible.—Ears. Which are often deceived. Menochius.

Verse 4. Wicked. Antichrist, (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and all impiety, by means of the apostles.

Verse 5. Reins. He shall possess these virtues, performing his promises with the strictest fidelity. Calmet.

Verse 6. Wolf. Some explain this of the Millennium. ap. Saint Jerome Lact. vii. 24.—But the more intelligent understand, that the fiercest nations shall embrace the gospel, and kings obey the pastors of the Church. Calmet.—Lead. Or “drive,” as the word is used by Festus. Bible.

Verse 8. Basilisk. Psalms 9:13. The apostles subdued kings and philosophers, without any human advantages.

Verse 9. Kill. The most inveterate pagans, being once converted, entirely alter their manners. Ose. 2:18.

Verse 10. Ensign. the cross is the standard of Christians.—Sepulchre. Hebrew Septuagint and so forth “rest.” S. Jerom give the true sense. The holy places have been greatly reverenced, and Christian princes strove for a long time to recover them. Calmet.—They are respected even by the Turks. Christ’s death was ignominious, but his monument was full of glory. Thus the saints begin to shine, where the glory of the wicked ends. Worthington.

Verse 11. Time. After the deliverance from Sennacherib, they shall return from captivity. Ezechias recalled some few. 2 Chronicles 29:9.—Remnant. Some embraced the gospel. Romans 2:2. Acts 2:41. and so forth—Phetros, in Egypt.—Of the Mediterranean sea, and all places to which the Jews went by water.

Verse 13. Away. Under Ezechias the Israelites began to join with Juda. But they did it more cordially after their return from Babylon.

Verse 14. Shoulders. Or confines. Ezekiel 25:9. Ezechias and the Machabees attacked the Philistines. Calmet.—Septuagint “and they shall fly on the ships of the strangers; they shall plunder the sea together, and those on the east, and Idumea.” Bible.—East. Ammonites, and so forth often defeated by the Machabees, and probably by Ezechias.

Verse 15. Tongue. Gulf of the Mediterranean, near Pelusium, or the seven mouths of the river Nile. The country was ravaged by Sennacherib, Cambyses, Alex. and Epiphanes. Calmet. 19:4. and so forth The Jewish captives shall return thence. Calmet. 50:3. Zechariah 10:10.

Verse 16. Assyrians. They shall march without impediment. Calmet.