And as the doves to their windows "And like doves upon the wing?" - Instead of אל el , to, forty-two MSS. of Kennicott's, and one of mine, have by על , upon. For ארבתיהם arubboteyhem , their windows, read אברתיהם ebrotheyhem , their wings, transposing a letter. - Houbigant. The Septuagint render it συν νεοσσοις , "with their young;" they read אפרחיהם ephrocheyhem , nearer to the latter than to the present reading. - L. read more
The ships of Tarshish first "The ships of Tarshish among the first" - For בראשנה barishonah twenty-five MSS. and the Syriac read כבראשנה kebarishonah , "as at the first." The ships of Tarshish AS at the first; that is, as they brought gold and silver in the days of Solomon. read more
Arise, shine. The subject of the address does not distinctly appear until Isaiah 60:14 , where it is found to be "the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." Zion has long been prostrate in the dust from the prophet's standpoint, and covered with thick darkness. Now she is bidden to "arise" and "shine forth as the day." For thy light is come. Zion cannot shine with her own light, for she has no light of her own, having preferred to "walk in darkness" ( Isaiah 59:9 ).... read more
The blessed dawn. " Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." The original reads, "Be enlightened; for thy light cometh." For it does not follow that all are enlightened to whom the light comes. There must be a receptive and a reflecting power in us. I. OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT ENOUGH . These come to nations and to men; but we must arise, and shake ourselves from slumber and indifference. Israel is to live as a witness for God. We... read more
The call to shine if we have light: or, the duty of doing as well as knowing. Our first response to God is the reception of his light; but the second is the giving forth of that light. We read this truth and duty in its Christian phases, and urge it by the use of Christian persuasions. Our Lord made very much of the connection between knowing and doing, profession and practice. His disciples must be salt, that savours something or somebody; light, that shines forth on somebody. See the... read more
The first stanza. Zion's brightness and numbers. read more
The rebuilding of the temple. I. THE DAWN OF THE NEW DAY . Zion, lying like a prostrate woman on the ground, is bidden to arise, because the glory of her God has dawned upon her. And this in contrast to the thick darkness enwrapping the earth in general. This darkness means alienation from God. As the Israelites had light in their dwellings when thick darkness was on the land of Egypt, so again now. Israel is the "central and mediatorial people." Here a community of God; yonder a... read more
SECTION VII . THE GLORIES OF THE RESTORED JERUSALEM ( Isaiah 60:1-22 .). A SONG OF TRIUMPH UPON GLORIFIED ZION . This is rather a detached poem than an integral portion of a book. It is complete in itself, and but slightly connected, either with what precedes or with what follows. Delitzsch and Mr. Cheyne regard it as a "counterpart" to the magnificent ode in Isaiah 47:1-15 , which describes the fall and ruin of Babylon. It is composed of five stanzas, of... read more
The characteristics of the final Church of the Redeemer. Isaiah's teaching on this subject divides itself under three heads. I. THE CHURCH SHALL BE RADIANT WITH A LIGHT DERIVED FROM HER LORD . The radiance spoken of (verses 1-3) is a radiance of moral and spiritual goodness. The absolute moral perfection of the Son of man can, of course, be but faintly and feebly imitated by his followers. Still, they are bound to imitate him; for he "left them an example, that they... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 60:7
The rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee - Vitringa on the place understands their ministering, and ascending or going up on the altar, as offering themselves voluntarily: ipsi se, non expectato sacerdote alto, gloriae et sanctificationi divini nominis ultro ac libenter oblaturi . "They, waiting for no priest, go and freely offer themselves to the glory and sanctification of the sacred name." This gives a very elegant and poetical turn to the image. It was a general notion that... read more