Isaiah 41:2 - Exposition

Who raised up the righteous man , etc.? rather, who raised up from the East one whom righteousness will call to his foot. It is generally agreed among moderns that the reference is to Cyrus, who is further referred to in Isaiah 41:25 , in Isaiah 44:28 ; Isaiah 45:1-4 , Isaiah 45:13 ; and Isaiah 46:11 . Cyrus, whether we regard him as King of Persia, or as King of Elam (Susiana), would come from a land lying east of Babylon. "Righteousness called him to his foot" when God, the Righteous One, made him his minister, and gave him a certain task to perform ( Isaiah 44:28 ). Gave the nations before him ; rather, gives , or will give. That he was God's instrument must be admitted by all who allow that the course of history is determined by a superintending Providence. Made him rule over kings . Mr. Cheyne translates, "makes him trample upon kings," which seems to give the true sense. It was certainly not the general policy of Cyrus to establish under him a number of subject kings, but rather to rule the conquered countries by means of Persian or Median governors He gave them as the dust to his sword , etc.; or, according to some, he maketh their sword as dust , and their bow as driven stubble. The result is the same, whichever we regard as the true construction. The prophecy tells of the ease and completeness with which Cyrus vanquished his enemies.