Isaiah Chapter 9

From The Open Bible Project

9:1 But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

• (a) He comforts the Church again after these great threatenings promising to restore them to great glory in Messiah.
• (b) With which Israel was punished, first by Tiglath-pilesar, which was a light scourge in respect to that which they suffered afterward by Shalmaneser, who carried the Israelites away captive.
• (c) While the Jews and Gentiles dwelt together by reason of those twenty cites, which Solomon gave to Hiram.

9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.

• (d) Which were in captivity in Babylon and the prophets speaks of that thing which would come to pass 60 years later as though it were now done.
• (e) Meaning, the comfort of their deliverance.
• (f) This captivity and deliverance were figures of our captivity by sin and of our deliverance by Christ through the preaching of the Gospel, (Matthew 4:15,16).

9:3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

• (g) Their number was greater when they went into captivity then when they returned but their joy was greater at their return, (Haggai 2:9).

9:4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.

• (h) You gave them perfect joy by delivering them, and by destroying the tyrants, that had kept them in cruel bondage, as you delivered them by Gideon from the Midianites, (Judges 7:21).

9:5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

• (i) He speaks of the deliverance of his Church, which he has delivered miraculously from his enemies, but especially by the coming of Christ of whom he prophecies in the next verse.

9:6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

• (k) The author of eternity, and by whom the Church and every member of it will be preserved forever, and have immortal life.

9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

• (l) His singular love and care for his elect.

9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.

• (m) This is another prophecy against them of Samaria who were mockers and contemners of God’s promises and menaces.

9:9 All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,

9:10 "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."

• (n) We were but weak, when the enemy overcame us, but we will make ourselves so strong, that we will neither care for our enemies, nor fear God’s threatenings.

9:11 Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

• (o) Rezin king of Syria, who was in league with Israel, was slain by the Assyrians, after whose death, Aram that is, the Syrians were against Israel, who on the other side were assailed by the Philistines.

9:12 The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

9:13 Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies.

9:14 Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

9:15 The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

9:16 For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

9:17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

9:18 For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

• (b) Wickedness as a bellows kindles the fire of God’s wrath which consumes all his obstinate enemies.

9:19 Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.

• (q) Though there was no foreign enemy, yet they will destroy one another.

9:20 One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

• (r) Their greediness will be insatiable, so that one brother will eat up another, as though he should eat his own flesh.

9:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.