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“Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth! Break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says the LORD.
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.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
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.
For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and settle in desolate cities.
Verse 3. Left. To the north and south. Jerusalem increased. But what was it compared with the Christians establishment!
“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
Verse 4. Widowhood. Thy former excesses shall be forgotten. Calmet.
For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.
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.
For the LORD has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your God.
Verse 6. Youth. This enhances her fault. God is pleased to overlook it, in the captives (Calmet. 50:1) and Gentiles.
“For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies.
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
“For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
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.
For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says the LORD who has mercy on you.
“You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
Verse 11. Sapphires. Hebrew “antimony,” a mineral shining like silver. 4 Kennicott. 9:30.
I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
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.
All your children will be taught by the LORD, and your children’s peace will be great.
Verse 13. Lord, Christ. Jeremiah 31:33. John 6:45.
You will be established in righteousness. You will be far from oppression, for you will not be afraid, and far from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Verse 14. Thee. The Cutheans rendered the Jews suspected. 1 Ezra 4:2. and 6:1
Behold, they may gather together, but not by me. Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.
Verse 15. To thee, in the inheritance. This was verified in the Church. We have no accout of many being converted before.
“Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame, and forges a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy.
Verse 16. Destroy. I can give peace or war. Calmet.—Septuagint “but I have created thee not for utter destruction.” Bible.
No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says the LORD.