Isaiah 66:7-8 - Exposition

Before she travailed , etc. Without any long delay, without any labour pains, Zion will bring forth a man-child—a whole nation, which wilt be born at once, and not grow up by slow degrees. The occupation of Jerusalem by the great body of the returned exiles ( Ezra 2:1 ; Ezra 3:1 ) is intended. Such a second birth of a nation was strange, and without precedent (comp. Isaiah 42:9 ; Isaiah 43:19 ). Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? rather, can a land be brought forth in one day ? It is not only a people, but a country, that is born anew; not only the Jews, but Judaea.