イザヤ書 45:1-5 JCB

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1

Thus saith the Lord to his anointed . The "anointed of Jehovah" is elsewhere always either an Israelite king, or the expected Deliverer of the nation, "Messiah the Prince" ( Daniel 9:25 ). This Deliverer, however, was to be of the line of David ( Isaiah 11:1 ), and of the city of Bethlehem ( Micah 5:2 ), so that we can scarcely suppose Isaiah to have seen him in Cyrus. But he may have seen in Cyrus a type of the great Deliverer, as he saw in the release of Israel from the power of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-5

The unfelt hand on the human heart. Of this passage the most striking and inviting words are those in the fourth and fifth verses: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me;" "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." But while these sentences furnish the theme of consideration, the other part of the passage suggests three particular things in which the prophetic word was fulfilled. 1 . The opening of the gates of brass ( Isaiah 45:1 ), fulfilled during the capture of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-7

GOD 'S WILL CONCERNING HIM ANNOUNCED TO CYRUS . This direct address of God to a heathen king is without a parallel in Scripture. Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Abimelech, were warned through dreams. Nebuchadnezzar was even promised Divine aid ( Ezekiel 30:24 , Ezekiel 30:25 ). But no heathen monarch had previously been personally addressed by God, much less called "his anointed," and spoken to by his name ( Isaiah 45:4 ). Three motives are mentioned for this special favour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-8

Cyrus the anointed of Jehovah. I. THE REASON OF THE DIVINE FAVOR TO CYRUS . Cyrus is the only king out of Israel who bears the title of Jehovah's anointed. He is solemnly set apart as an instrument to perform an important public service in the cause of Jehovah. It does not necessarily imply the piety of Cyrus. For the purposes of Jehovah he is upheld, "grasped by the right hand," that he may subdue nations before him—from the Euxine to Egypt, from the Indian Ocean to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

I will … make the crooked places straight ; rather, I will make the rugged places level. No doubt intended generally, "I will smooth his way before him." The gates of brass … the bars of iron . According to Herodotus, the gates of Babylon were of solid bronze, and one hundred in number (1.179). Solid bronze gates have, however, nowhere been found, and would have been inconvenient from their enormous weight. It is probable that the "gates of brass," or "bronze," whereof we read, were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

The secret of assured success. These figures indicate the removal of all obstacles and hindrances out of the way of him who is called of God, entrusted with some particular work for God, and helped of God in the doing of that work. Historical illustration is found in the fact, as stated by the older writers, that in some unaccountable way the river-gates of Babylon were found open on the approach of Cyrus; or, as stated on the authority of the monuments, that the city capitulated, as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:3

I will give thee the treasures of darkness ; i.e. "treasures stored in dark places"—"bidden treasures." Treasuries were built for greater security without windows. Of the treasures which fell into the hands of Cyrus, the greatest were probably those of Babylon (Herod; 1.183) and of Sardis (Xen; 'Cyrop.,' 7.2, § 11). The value of the latter has been estimated at above one hundred and twenty-six millions sterling. That thou mayest know ; or, acknowledge . If these documents are accepted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:4

For Jacob my servant's sake . This second motive is, in a certain sense, the main one. Cyrus is raised up, especially, to perform God's pleasure with respect to Judah and Jerusalem ( Isaiah 44:26-28 ). Jacob, his Church, is more important in God's eyes than any individual. No doubt his Church is maintained, in part, that it may be "a light to lighten the Gentiles;" but it is not maintained solely: or even mainly, for this end. Its welfare is an end in itself, and would be sought by God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:4-5

The Divine surnaming. "I that call thee by thy name." "I have titled thee" (Cheyne's translation). Some think the reference is to the name Cyrus, or Koresh, regarded as a new title for one who was originally known as Agradates." Others, with more probability, think the reference is to the honourable epithets, "my shepherd," "my anointed." Our knowledge of Cyrus has been modified, in some very important particulars, by recent discoveries of Babylonian inscriptions. Professor Sayce is of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:5

I girded thee . As God "loosed the loins" of Cyrus's adversaries ( Isaiah 45:1 ), to weaken them, so he "girded" those of Cyrus, to give him strength (comp. Psalms 18:32 ). read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:5

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