The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 9:1-2
Great light in deep darkness. In wrath God remembers mercy; be makes us to "sing of mercy and of judgment." He " will not always chide, nor keep his anger forever." Even unto disobedient and perverse Israel he will manifest his Divine pity, his redeeming power. Respecting this promise we may note— I. ITS HISTORICAL FULFILMENT . This, in the literal and primary sense, is involved in no slight obscurity (see Exposition). The difficulty in determining the period when these regions... read more
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase - In the common Hebrew Bibles, and in many MSS., this word is written with the close or final ם למרבה . But in twelve of Kennicott's MSS., and twelve of De Rossi's, it is written with the open מ mem ; but here it is supposed to contain mysteries, viz., that Jerusalem shall be shut up, closed, and confined, till the days of the Messiah. This is an illustrious prophecy of the incarnation of Christ, with an enumeration of those characters in which he stands most nearly... read more