This chapter treats of the conversion of the Gentiles, before spoken of in general, now particularly named; of the coming of Christ into the world, and the advantages of it to his church; of the preaching of the Gospel by the apostles, and of their protection, encouragement, and success.

The burden of the word of the Lord A prophecy, as in which is sometimes of things sorrowful and distressing, as the destruction of people, as in (Isa. 21:1, Isa.

And Hamath also shall border thereby By the land of Hadrach, or by Damascus; and that it was near Damascus is clear from it is called Hamath the great in and according to Jerom [[3]], is the same with Antioch, which he says was so called by some; and the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel on , renders…

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold Tyre was built upon a rock, and was a strong fortress itself, from whence it had its name; and, besides its natural defence, it had a wall one hundred and fifty feet high, and its breadth was answerable to its height [[4]]; but yet, as it could not defend…

Behold, the Lord will cast her out Or “inherit her” [[5]], or “them”, as the Septuagint render the words; when, being converted, she would become the Lord’s inheritance and possession, and her riches should be devoted to his service: and he will smite her power in the sea; for Tyre was situated in…

Ashkelon shall see it, and fear That is, as Kimchi explains it, when Ashkelon shall see that Tyre humbles herself and submits, she shall humble herself and submit also: and the sense may be, that the inhabitants of Ashkelon, seeing that Tyre, with all her wisdom and strong reasoning, could not…

And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod Some [[14]] take “mamzer”, the word for “bastard”, to be the name of a people that should dwell in Ashdod; this is the same place with Azotus, and was also one of the five lordships of the Philistines, some, by the “bastard” here, understand Alexander the great,…

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read “their blood”; not the blood of the bastard, but of the Philistines.

And I will encamp about my house, because of the army Of profane and wicked men, persecutors and heretics, who rose up in great numbers in the first ages of Christianity against the church, the house of God, where he dwells, which consisted of persons called from among the Gentiles as before; in…

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem By whom are meant, not the inhabitants of Jerusalem in common; nor the children in it, that said Hosannas to the son of David; but the church of God, and true believers in Christ, who are called upon to “rejoice” and “shout”: not…

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim That is, the military one; signifying that wars shall cease, : and the horse from Jerusalem; the warlike one; see .

As for thee also These words are not spoken to Christ, for (את) , “thee”, is of the feminine gender; but the congregation of Israel, as Kimchi observes; or the church of God: nor are they the words of Christ to her; he is the person before spoken of; but of God the Father, who, having given out…

Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope “That hope for redemption”, as the Targum paraphrases it; not for redemption from the Babylonish captivity, at the end of seventy years, which was now over; but for redemption and salvation by Christ; for not the people of the Jews, who stayed in…

When I have bent Judah for me By whom are meant the apostles, who were Jews, and whose ministrations were made use of as a bow with arrows, to strike the hearts of men, and bring them into subjection to Christ: they were a bow of the Lord’s bending and preparing, and which abode in strength, being…

And the Lord shall be seen over them His apostles and ministers: or, “shall appear to them” [[15]]; and be seen by them, as he was in the days of his flesh; they saw his person, his miracles, his sorrows, and sufferings; they saw him after his resurrection, and some have seen him since his…

The Lord of hosts shall defend them Against all their enemies; against Satan, and his temptations, and all the opposition made by him; against the world, and all the rage and reproach of men; this was remarkably verified in the apostles, who were preserved by the Lord amidst a thousand snares and…

And the Lord their God shall save them in that day In the times of the Gospel, and the dispensation of it; meaning either the apostles, before said to be protected and defended, or rather the persons converted, conquered, and subdued by them, who are not killed, but saved by the Lord their God,…

For how great is his goodness? &c.] Not of the land of Judea, as Kimchi; nor of the doctrine of the law, as the Targum; nor of the people of the Jews; but of the Messiah: and designs not his essential nor his providential goodness; but his goodness as Mediator, which he has in his heart, and has…