Isaiah 40:1-11

Isaiah 40:1-1 Kings : . Prologue Announcing the End of the Exile.— If. The prophet sees in the triumphs of Cyrus the coming fall of Babylon’ s empire, and a revolution in the fortunes of the exiles. These are God’ s voice bidding the prophet and all who hear it encourage His people. Let them speak tenderly to Jerusalem ( i.e. the nation, not the city). Her forced service is completed, her punishment has been more than adequate to her offence.

Isaiah 40:3-Deuteronomy : . Rapt from earth, the prophet hears a heavenly being in Yahweh’ s court bidding other spiritual beings prepare in the wilderness a straight path for Yahweh, who shall march with His people back to their city. Let all hills and depressions be levelled.

Isaiah 40:3 . Render, “ Hark! One is calling, Prepare” ; so too in Isaiah 40:6.

Isaiah 40:5 . A gloss added after Isaiah 40:9-1 Kings : had been cut off from Isaiah 40:4 by the insertion of Isaiah 40:6-Ruth :, which originally stood after Isaiah 40:11 (see below).

Isaiah 40:9-1 Kings : . Zion’ s heralds of good news (render, “ O ye that tell” ), those who have received the commission of Isaiah 40:1, are bidden ascend the hills to watch for Yahweh’ s coming, and proclaim it as they see Him approach along the wondrous way through the desert. “ Look,” cries the prophet, “ He comes in might; His arm, long inactive, has displayed His power. Before Him goes the booty His arm has won, His delivered people. Gently He cares for them on the journey as a shepherd for his sheep.”

Isaiah 40:11 . Read, “ like a shepherd, and gather them with his arm; the lambs he shall carry in his bosom and the ewes shall he lead.”

Isaiah 40:6-Ruth : . The Message which the Prophet is to Deliver.

Isaiah 40:6-Ruth : breaks its present context and differs metrically from it. It forms an excellent introduction to, and should be inserted before, Isaiah 40:12-Obadiah :. Another heavenly voice floats to the prophet’ s ear, bidding him proclaim. He asks (read, “ I said,” mg.) what shall be his proclamation, and the answer comes, “ Man and his power are but transitory, whereas the word, the proclaimed purpose, of God endures for ever.” The thought is not so much that men are creatures of a day as that the great kingdoms are doomed when Yahweh intervenes.

Isaiah 40:6 . goodliness: read, “ glory” (LXX), or “ splendour.”