isaiah-45:2,-isaiah-45:3-niv

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-4

Cyrus was a Mede, descended (as some say) from Astyages king of Media. The pagan writers are not agreed in their accounts of his origin. Some tell us that in his infancy he was an outcast, left exposed, and was saved from perishing by a herdsman's wife. However, it is agreed that, being a man of an active genius, he soon made himself very considerable, especially when Croesus king of Lydia made a descent upon his country, which he not only repulsed, but revenged, prosecuting the advantages he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight ,.... Or, "level the hilly places" F3 The Septuagint render the word by ορη , mountains; Gussetius by eminences, high places, such as stood in the way of passage into countries. The Vulgate Latin interprets it of glorious persons; and Abendana says it is right to understand it in this way; and applies it to Zerubbabel, and those that went up with him to Jerusalem, with the leave of Cyrus, who were good men, and honourable in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 45:2

The crooked places "The mountains" - For הדורים hodurim , crooked places, a word not easily accounted for in this place, the Septuagint read הררים hararim , τα ορη , the mountains. Two MSS. have הדרים hadarim , without the ו vau , which is hardly distinguishable from the reading of the Septuagint. The Divine protection that attended Cyrus, and rendered his expedition against Babylon easy and prosperous is finely expressed by God's going before him, and making the mountains... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-5

The unfelt hand on the human heart. Of this passage the most striking and inviting words are those in the fourth and fifth verses: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me;" "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." But while these sentences furnish the theme of consideration, the other part of the passage suggests three particular things in which the prophetic word was fulfilled. 1 . The opening of the gates of brass ( Isaiah 45:1 ), fulfilled during the capture of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-7

GOD 'S WILL CONCERNING HIM ANNOUNCED TO CYRUS . This direct address of God to a heathen king is without a parallel in Scripture. Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Abimelech, were warned through dreams. Nebuchadnezzar was even promised Divine aid ( Ezekiel 30:24 , Ezekiel 30:25 ). But no heathen monarch had previously been personally addressed by God, much less called "his anointed," and spoken to by his name ( Isaiah 45:4 ). Three motives are mentioned for this special favour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-8

Cyrus the anointed of Jehovah. I. THE REASON OF THE DIVINE FAVOR TO CYRUS . Cyrus is the only king out of Israel who bears the title of Jehovah's anointed. He is solemnly set apart as an instrument to perform an important public service in the cause of Jehovah. It does not necessarily imply the piety of Cyrus. For the purposes of Jehovah he is upheld, "grasped by the right hand," that he may subdue nations before him—from the Euxine to Egypt, from the Indian Ocean to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

I will … make the crooked places straight ; rather, I will make the rugged places level. No doubt intended generally, "I will smooth his way before him." The gates of brass … the bars of iron . According to Herodotus, the gates of Babylon were of solid bronze, and one hundred in number (1.179). Solid bronze gates have, however, nowhere been found, and would have been inconvenient from their enormous weight. It is probable that the "gates of brass," or "bronze," whereof we read, were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

The secret of assured success. These figures indicate the removal of all obstacles and hindrances out of the way of him who is called of God, entrusted with some particular work for God, and helped of God in the doing of that work. Historical illustration is found in the fact, as stated by the older writers, that in some unaccountable way the river-gates of Babylon were found open on the approach of Cyrus; or, as stated on the authority of the monuments, that the city capitulated, as a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:2

I will go before thee - To prepare the way for conquest, a proof that it is by the providence of God that the proud conquerors of the earth are enabled to triumph. The idea is, I will take away everything that would retard or oppose your victorious march.And make the crooked paths straight - (See the note at Isaiah 40:4). The Chaldee renders this, ‘My word shall go before thee, and I will prostrate the walls.’ Lowth renders it, ‘Make the mountains plain.’ Noyes, ‘Make the high places plain.’... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 45:2-3

Isaiah 45:2-3. I will go before thee To remove all obstructions, and prepare the way for thee. “The divine protection which attended Cyrus, and rendered his expedition against Babylon easy and prosperous, is finely expressed by this highly poetical image of God’s going before him, and making the mountains level.” I will break in pieces the gates of brass I will destroy all that oppose thee, and carry thee through the greatest difficulties. “Abydenus says that the wall of Babylon had... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 45:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 45:2-3

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