7. double--Instead of your past share, ye shall have not merely as much, but "double" as much reward ([Is 40:2]; [Zec 9:12]; compare the third clause in this verse).
confusion--rather, "humiliation," or "contumely."
rejoice--They shall celebrate with jubilation their portion [Maurer]. Transition from the second to the third person.
in their land--marking the reference to literal Israel, not to the Church at large.
everlasting joy--([Is 35:10]).
8. judgment--justice, which requires that I should restore My people, and give them double in compensation for their sufferings.
robbery for burnt offering--rather, from a different Hebrew root, the spoil of iniquity [Horsley]. So in [Job 5:6]. Hating, as I do, the rapine, combined with iniquity, perpetrated on My people by their enemies, I will vindicate Israel.
direct ... work in truth--rather, "I will give them the reward of their work" (compare [Is 40:10], Margin; [Is 49:4], Margin; [Is 62:11], Margin) in faithfulness.
9. known--honorably; shall be illustrious ([Psa 67:2]).
people--rather, "peoples."
seed ... blessed--([Is 65:23]).
10. Zion ([Is 61:3]) gives thanks for God's returning favor (compare [Lu 1:46], 47; [Ha 3:18]).
salvation ... righteousness--inseparably connected together. The "robe" is a loose mantle thrown over the other parts of the dress ([Psa 132:9], ; ; [Re 21:2]; ).
decketh himself with ornaments--rather "maketh himself a priestly headdress," that is, a magnificent headdress, such as was worn by the high priest, namely, a miter and a plate, or crown of gold worn in front of it [Aquila, &c.]; appropriate to the "kingdom of priests," dedicated to the offering of spiritual sacrifices to God continually ([Ex 19:6]; [Re 5:10]; ).
jewels--rather, "ornaments" in general [Barnes].
11. ([Is 45:8], , ; [Psa 72:3]; ).
bud--the tender shoots.
praise--([Is 60:18]; ).
Chapter 62
Is 62:1-12. Intercessory Prayers for Zion's Restoration, Accompanying God's Promises of It, as the Appointed Means of Accomplishing It
1. I--the prophet, as representative of all the praying people of God who love and intercede for Zion (compare [Is 62:6], ; [Psa 102:13-17]), or else Messiah (compare [Is 62:6]). So Messiah is represented as unfainting in His efforts for His people ([Is 42:4]; ).
righteousness thereof--not its own inherently, but imputed to it, for its restoration to God's favor: hence "salvation" answers to it in the parallelism. "Judah" is to be "saved" through "the Lord our (Judah's and the Church's) righteousness" ([Jr 23:6]).
as brightness--properly the bright shining of the rising sun ([Is 60:19]; ; [2Sa 23:4]; [Pr 4:18]).
lamp--blazing torch.
2. ([Is 11:10]; [42:1-6]; 49:7, 22, 23; 60:3, 5, 16).
new name--expression of thy new and improved condition ([Is 62:4]), the more valuable and lasting as being conferred by Jehovah Himself ([Is 62:12]; [Is 65:15]; [Re 2:17]; ).
3. ([Zec 9:16])
in ... hand of ... Lord--As a crown is worn on the head, not "in the hand," hand must here be figurative for "under the Lord's protection" (compare [De 33:3]). "All His saints are in thy hand." His people are in His hand at the same time that they are "a crown of glory" to Him ([Re 6:2]; ); reciprocally, He is "a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty" to them ([Is 28:5]; compare Mal 3:17).
4. be termed--be "forsaken," so as that that term could be applicable to thee.
Hephzi-bah--([2Ki 21:1]), the name of Hezekiah's wife, a type of Jerusalem, as Hezekiah was of Messiah ([Is 32:1]): "my delight is in her."
Beulah--"Thou art married." See the same contrast of Zion's past and future state under the same figure ([Is 54:4-6]; [Re 21:2], ).
land ... married--to Jehovah as its Lord and Husband: implying not only ownership, but protection on the part of the Owner [Horsley].
5. thy sons--rather, changing the points, which are of no authority in Hebrew, "thy builder" or "restorer," that is, God; for in the parallel clause, and in [Is 62:4], God is implied as being "married" to her; whereas her "sons" could hardly be said to marry their mother; and in [Is 49:18], they are said to be her bridal ornaments, not her husband. The plural form, builders, is used of God in reverence as "husbands" (see on [Is 54:5]).
over the bride--in the possession of the bride ([Is 65:19]; [Jr 32:41]; [Zep 3:17]).
6. I--Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah.
watchmen upon ... walls--image from the watches set upon a city's wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings ([Is 52:7], ); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Is 21:6-11; 56:; [Eze 3:17]; ). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen.
ye that ... mention ... Lord--Hebrew, "ye that are the Lord's remembrancers"; God's servants who by their prayers "put God in remembrance" of His promises ([Is 43:26]); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises ([Psa 119:49]; [Jr 14:21]).
7. no rest--Hebrew, "silence"; keep not silence yourselves, nor let Him rest in silence. Compare as to Messiah Himself, "I will not hold ... peace ... not rest" ([Is 62:1]); Messiah's watchmen ([Is 62:6], ) imitate Him ([Is 62:1]) in intercessory "prayer without ceasing" for Jerusalem ([Psa 122:6]; ); also for the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church ([Lu 18:1], ; [Ro 1:9]).
a praise--(See on [Is 61:11]; [Zep 3:20]).
8. sworn by ... right hand--His mighty instrument of accomplishing His will (compare [Is 45:23]; [He 6:13]).
sons of ... stranger--Foreigners shall no more rob thee of the fruit of thy labors (compare [Is 65:21], ).
9. eat ... and praise--not consume it on their own lusts, and without thanksgiving.
drink it in ... courts--They who have gathered the vintage shall drink it at the feasts held in the courts surrounding the temple ([De 12:17], ; , &c.).
10. What Isaiah in the person of Messiah had engaged in ([Is 62:1]) unrestingly to seek, and what the watchmen were unrestingly to pray for ([Is 62:7]), and what Jehovah solemnly promised ([Is 62:8], ), is now to be fulfilled; the Gentile nations are commanded to "go through the gates" (either of their own cities [Rosenmuller] or of Jerusalem [Maurer]), in order to remove all obstacles out of "the way of the people (Israel)" (see on [Is 7:14]; [Is 40:3]; [52:10-12]).
standard--for the dispersed Jews to rally round, with a view to their return ([Is 49:22]; ).