Isaiah 2

Verse 1. Jerusalem. Many particular prophecies are blended with the general one, which regards Christ. Calmet.

Verse 2. Days. The whole time of the new law, from the coming of Christ till the end of the world, is called in the Scripture the last days; because no other age, or time shall come after it, but only eternity. Challoner.—It is therefore styled the last hour. 1 John 2. Worthington.—Mountains. This shews the perpetual visibility of the Church of Christ: for a mountain upon the top of mountains cannot be hid. Challoner.—This evidently regards the Church. Matthew 5 Worthington.—The Jews can never shew the fulfillment of this prophecy in any material temple. Micheas (4:1) copies this text.

Verse 3. Jerusalem. Our Saviour preached there, and in some sense the religion established by him, may be esteemed a reform, or accomplishment of the old law.

Verse 4. War. Ezechias enjoyed peace after the defeat of Sennacherib, as the whole world did at the birth of Christ. Calmet.—Claudentur belli portæ. Æn. i.

Verse 5. Lord. Ezechias, or rather Christ and his Church, invite all to embrace the true faith. Calmet.

Verse 6. Jacob. Thus the converts address God, ( Bible.) or the prophet give the reasons of the subversion of the ten tribes.—Filled. Consecrated as priests.—Children. Imitating idolatrous nations, ( Calmet.) and marrying with them, ( Calmet. Septuagint Theod.) or even giving way to unnatural sins. Saint Jerome Menochius.—The Jews were not utterly cast off till they had put Christ to death. His Church shall never perish. Worthington.

Verse 8. Horses. Which the kings were forbidden to multiply. Deuteronomy 17:16. Great riches often precede the ruin of states.

Verse 9. Forgive. Septuagint “I will not dismiss them.” Hebrew “and thou hast not pardoned them.”

Verse 10. Rock. Screen thyself if thou canst. He alludes to the kingdom of Israel, which was ruined by idolatry. verse 18. 20.

Verse 13. Basan. Israel; or Syria and the Ammonites, ( Calmet.) whom Nabuchodonosor subdued, five years after he had taken Jerusalem, (Joseph. x. 11.) as the Idumeans, (verse 14.) Philistines, and Egyptians, (verse 15) and Tyrians, (verse 16) who felt also the indignation of the Lord. Jeremiah 25:15.

Verse 16. Tharsis. In Cilicia, denoting large ships for merchandise.—Fair. Hebrew “desirable pictures.” Septuagint “ships.” Calmet.

Verse 18. Destroyed. This was verified by the establishment of Christianity. And by this and other texts of the like nature, the wild system of some modern sectaries is abundantly confuted, who charge the whole Christian Church with worshipping idols, for many ages. Challoner.—Yea, for above a thousand years, while she still professed the name of Christ. Worthington.

Verse 20. Bats. The Egyptians adored all sorts of animals. Herod. ii. 65.—Ægyptus portenta colat. Juv. xv.—Omnigenumque Deum monstra. Æn. viii.—The mole was much esteemed by magicians, who promised any the art of divination and success, who should eat the heart of one still warm. Pliny xxx. 3. The Israelites were always ready to embrace such superstitious practices. Calmet.

Verse 22. High. Adhere to Jesus Christ. Orig. Menochius.—Septuagint omit this sentence, and Saint Jerome thinks they did it perhaps for fear of shocking their brethren. In Jeremiah 17.—It is supplied from Aquila’s version, “how must he be esteemed?” Calmet.—Prot. “for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Jesus will kill the wicked one with the spirit of his mouth. 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Bible.—No dependence must be had in man. The Israelites vainly trusted in Egypt. Calmet.