5 And the LORD H3068 will create H1254 upon every dwelling place H4349 of mount H2022 Zion, H6726 and upon her assemblies, H4744 a cloud H6051 and smoke H6227 by day, H3119 and the shining H5051 of a flaming H3852 fire H784 by night: H3915 for upon all the glory H3519 shall be a defence. H2646
And on the day H3117 that the tabernacle H4908 was reared up H6965 the cloud H6051 covered H3680 the tabernacle, H4908 namely, the tent H168 of the testimony: H5715 and at even H6153 there was upon the tabernacle H4908 as it were the appearance H4758 of fire, H784 until the morning. H1242 So it was alway: H8548 the cloud H6051 covered H3680 it by day, and the appearance H4758 of fire H784 by night. H3915 And when H6310 the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from the tabernacle, H168 then after H310 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 journeyed: H5265 and in the place H4725 where the cloud H6051 abode, H7931 there the children H1121 of Israel H3478 pitched their tents. H2583 At the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 journeyed, H5265 and at the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 they pitched: H2583 as long as H3117 the cloud H6051 abode H7931 upon the tabernacle H4908 they rested H2583 in their tents. And when the cloud H6051 tarried long H748 upon the tabernacle H4908 many H7227 days, H3117 then the children H1121 of Israel H3478 kept H8104 the charge H4931 of the LORD, H3068 and journeyed H5265 not. And so it was, H3426 when the cloud H6051 was a few H4557 days H3117 upon the tabernacle; H4908 according to the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 they abode H2583 in their tents, and according to the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 they journeyed. H5265 And so it was, H3426 when the cloud H6051 abode from even H6153 unto the morning, H1242 and that the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 in the morning, H1242 then they journeyed: H5265 whether it was by day H3119 or by night H3915 that the cloud H6051 was taken up, H5927 they journeyed. H5265 Or whether it were two days, H3117 or a month, H2320 or a year, H3117 that the cloud H6051 tarried H748 upon the tabernacle, H4908 remaining H7931 thereon, the children H1121 of Israel H3478 abode H2583 in their tents, and journeyed H5265 not: but when it was taken up, H5927 they journeyed. H5265
And the LORD H3068 went H1980 before H6440 them by day H3119 in a pillar H5982 of a cloud, H6051 to lead H5148 them the way; H1870 and by night H3915 in a pillar H5982 of fire, H784 to give them light; H215 to go H3212 by day H3119 and night: H3915 He took not away H4185 the pillar H5982 of the cloud H6051 by day, H3119 nor the pillar H5982 of fire H784 by night, H3915 from before H6440 the people. H5971
For thus hath the LORD H3068 spoken H559 unto me, Like as the lion H738 and the young lion H3715 roaring H1897 on his prey, H2964 when a multitude H4393 of shepherds H7462 is called forth H7121 against him, he will not be afraid H2865 of their voice, H6963 nor abase H6031 himself for the noise H1995 of them: so shall the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 come down H3381 to fight H6633 for mount H2022 Zion, H6726 and for the hill H1389 thereof. As birds H6833 flying, H5774 so will the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 defend H1598 Jerusalem; H3389 defending H1598 also he will deliver H5337 it; and passing over H6452 he will preserve H4422 it.
For I, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 will be unto her a wall H2346 of fire H784 round about, H5439 and will be the glory H3519 in the midst H8432 of her. Ho, H1945 ho, H1945 come forth, and flee H5127 from the land H776 of the north, H6828 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I have spread you abroad H6566 as the four H702 winds H7307 of the heaven, H8064 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Deliver H4422 thyself, O H1945 Zion, H6726 that dwellest H3427 with the daughter H1323 of Babylon. H894 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 After H310 the glory H3519 hath he sent H7971 me unto the nations H1471 which spoiled H7997 you: for he that toucheth H5060 you toucheth H5060 the apple H892 of his eye. H5869 For, behold, I will shake H5130 mine hand H3027 upon them, and they shall be a spoil H7998 to their servants: H5647 and ye shall know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me. Sing H7442 and rejoice, H8055 O daughter H1323 of Zion: H6726 for, lo, I come, H935 and I will dwell H7931 in the midst H8432 of thee, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And the angel H4397 of God, H430 which went H1980 before H6440 the camp H4264 of Israel, H3478 removed H5265 and went H3212 behind H310 them; and the pillar H5982 of the cloud H6051 went H5265 from before their face, H6440 and stood H5975 behind H310 them: And it came H935 between the camp H4264 of the Egyptians H4714 and the camp H4264 of Israel; H3478 and it was a cloud H6051 and darkness H2822 to them, but it gave light H215 by night H3915 to these: so that the one came not near H7126 the other H2088 all the night. H3915
Then a cloud H6051 covered H3680 the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908 And Moses H4872 was not able H3201 to enter H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 because the cloud H6051 abode H7931 thereon, and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908 And when the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from H5921 over the tabernacle, H4908 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went onward H5265 in all their journeys: H4550 But if the cloud H6051 were not taken up, H5927 then they journeyed H5265 not till the day H3117 that it was taken up. H5927 For the cloud H6051 of the LORD H3068 was upon the tabernacle H4908 by day, H3119 and fire H784 was on it by night, H3915 in the sight H5869 of all the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 throughout all their journeys. H4550
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 4
Commentary on Isaiah 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Isa 4:1-6.
that day—the calamitous period described in previous chapter.
seven—indefinite number among the Jews. So many men would be slain, that there would be very many more women than men; for example, seven women, contrary to their natural bashfulness, would sue to (equivalent to "take hold of," Isa 3:6) one man to marry them.
eat … own bread—foregoing the privileges, which the law (Ex 21:10) gives to wives, when a man has more than one.
reproach—of being unwedded and childless; especially felt among the Jews, who were looking for "the seed of the woman," Jesus Christ, described in Isa 4:2; Isa 54:1, 4; Lu 1:25.
2. In contrast to those on whom vengeance falls, there is a manifestation of Jesus Christ to the "escaped of Israel" in His characteristic attributes, beauty and glory, typified in Aaron's garments (Ex 28:2). Their sanctification is promised as the fruit of their being "written" in the book of life by sovereign love (Isa 4:3); the means of it are the "spirit of judgment" and that of "burning" (Isa 4:4). Their "defense" by the special presence of Jesus Christ is promised (Isa 4:5, 6).
branch—the sprout of Jehovah. Messiah (Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zec 3:8; 6:12; Lu 1:78, Margin). The parallel clause does not, as Maurer objects, oppose this; for "fruit of the earth" answers to "branch"; He shall not be a dry, but a fruit-bearing branch (Isa 27:6; Eze 34:23-27). He is "of the earth" in His birth and death, while He is also "of the Lord" (Jehovah) (Joh 12:24). His name, "the Branch," chiefly regards His descent from David, when the family was low and reduced (Lu 2:4, 7, 24); a sprout with more than David's glory, springing as from a decayed tree (Isa 11:1; 53:2; Re 22:16).
excellent—(Heb 1:4; 8:6).
comely—(So 5:15, 16; Eze 16:14).
escaped of Israel—the elect remnant (Ro 11:5); (1) in the return from Babylon; (2) in the escape from Jerusalem's destruction under Titus; (3) in the still future assault on Jerusalem, and deliverance of "the third part"; events mutually analogous, like concentric circles (Zec 12:2-10; 13:8, 9, &c.; 14:2; Eze 39:23-29; Joe 3:1-21).
3. left in Zion—equivalent to the "escaped of Israel" (Isa 4:2).
shall be called—shall be (Isa 9:6).
holy—(Isa 52:1; 60:21; Re 21:27).
written—in the book of life, antitypically (Php 4:3; Re 3:5; 17:8). Primarily, in the register kept of Israel's families and tribes.
living—not "blotted out" from the registry, as dead; but written there as among the "escaped of Israel" (Da 12:1; Eze 13:9). To the elect of Israel, rather than the saved in general, the special reference is here (Joe 3:17).
4. When—that is, After.
washed—(Zec 13:1).
filth—moral (Isa 1:21-25).
daughters of Zion—same as in Isa 3:16.
purged—purified by judgments; destroying the ungodly, correcting and refining the godly.
blood—(Isa 1:15).
spirit—Whatever God does in the universe, He does by His Spirit, "without the hand" of man (Job 34:20; Ps 104:30). Here He is represented using His power as Judge.
burning—(Mt 3:11, 12). The same Holy Ghost, who sanctifies believers by the fire of affliction (Mal 3:2, 3), dooms unbelievers to the fire of perdition (1Co 3:13-15).
5. create—The "new creation" needs as much God's creative omnipotence, as the material creation (2Co 4:6; Eph 2:10). So it shall be in the case of the Holy Jerusalem to come (Isa 65:17, 18).
upon—The pillar of cloud stood over the tabernacle, as symbol of God's favor and presence (Ex 13:21, 22; Ps 91:1). Both on individual families ("every dwelling") and on the general sacred "assemblies" (Le 23:2). The "cloud" became a "fire" by night in order to be seen by the Lord's people.
upon all the glory—"upon the glorious whole"; namely, the Lord's people and sanctuary [Maurer]. May it not mean, "Upon whatever the glory (the Shekinah spoken of in the previous clause) shall rest, there shall be a defense." The symbol of His presence shall ensure also safety. So it was to Israel against the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Ex 14:19, 20). So it shall be to literal Jerusalem hereafter (Zec 2:5). Also to the Church, the spiritual "Zion" (Isa 32:18; 33:15-17; Heb 12:22).
tabernacle—Christ's body (Joh 1:14). "The word 'tabernacled' (Greek for 'dwelt') among us" (Joh 2:21; Heb 8:2). It is a "shadow from the heat" and "refuge from the storm" of divine wrath against man's sins (Isa 25:4). Heat and storms are violent in the East; so that a portable tent is a needful part of a traveller's outfit. Such shall be God's wrath hereafter, from which the "escaped of Israel" shall be sheltered by Jesus Christ (Isa 26:20, 21; 32:2).
covert—answering to "defense" (Isa 4:5). The Hebrew for defense in Isa 4:5, is "covering"; the lid of the ark or mercy seat was named from the same Hebrew word, caphar; the propitiatory; for it, being sprinkled with blood by the high priest once a year, on the day of atonement, covered the people typically from wrath. Jesus Christ is the true Mercy Seat, on whom the Shekinah rested, the propitiatory, or atonement, beneath whom the law is kept, as it was literally within the ark, and man is covered from the storm. The redeemed Israel shall also be, by union with Him, a tabernacle for God's glory, which, unlike that in the wilderness, shall not be taken down (Isa 38:20).