The prophet speaks of Judah as the type of the Church, with Immanuel as her king.
tents - The word suggests that a considerable portion of the people were still nomads.
The city ... the palace - Or, each city ... each palace. The heap means an artificial mount to keep the city out of the reach of inundations, and to increase the strength of the fortifications.
Shall remain after the manner thereof - Rather, shall be inhabited according to its rights, i. e., suitably.
Them - i. e., the city and palace. Render the last words, become few become mean, i. e., despised, lightly esteemed.
Translate, And his glorious one shall spring from himself, and his ruler shall go forth from his midst ... who is this that hath pledged his heart, i. e., hath staked his life, to dealt near unto Me? i. e., “Messiah shall be revealed to them out of their own midst.” He can draw near unto God without fear of death, because being in the form of God, and Himself God, He can claim equality with God Philippians 2:6.
This is the effect of Messiah’s ministry. Men cannot become God’s people, until there has been revealed one of themselves, a man, who can approach unto God, as being also God, and so can bridge over the gulf which separates the finite from the Infinite.