Isaiah 49:22-26 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Isaiah 49:22 to Isaiah 50:3. The Promises to Zion Elaborated and Confirmed. At a sign from Yahweh the nations shall with solicitous care bring back the exiles to Zion. Kings and queens shall tend them and do them abject homage (is it too abject for the prophet to have penned Isaiah 49:23 or Isaiah 49:26?). So shall His people's trust in their God be justified. But from such mighty ones can the captives be freed? Yes: for Yahweh will fight His people's battle, and cause their oppressors to slay one another; all men shall know that He is the deliverer. He has not finally divorced Israel that would have required a bill of divorcement. Nor has debt compelled Him to sell His children into slavery; He has banished them as a punishment, and so He can bring them back. Why so reluctant to respond? Do they doubt His power, the power of Him who can dry up the sea and veil the heavens in darkness?

Isaiah 49:22. bosom: the fold of the garment.

Isaiah 49:24. Read Vulg, and Syr. (mg.).

Isaiah 50:2. Apparently an appeal to a well-known tradition of Yahweh's exploits at the creation. Read perhaps, Their fish dry up (LXX), because there is no water, and their monsters on the parched land.

Isaiah 49:22-26

22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms,d and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers,e and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawfulf captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captivesg of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.