Isaiah 45:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

ISAIAH CHAPTER 45 Cyrus's work and strength foretold, Isaiah 45:1-4. God hath all power, Isaiah 45:5-12; will assist Cyrus, Isaiah 45:13,14. The mystery of Providence, Isaiah 45:15. Idols and their worshippers shall be destroyed, and God alone exalted, 16 21. The Gentiles come in to Christ, Isaiah 45:22-25. His anointed, i.e. his king, whom God hath designed, and separated, and fitted, in all respects, for his work and service; in which and such-like respects divers persons are said to be anointed, who never had any material oil poured upon them, as the king of Tyrus, Ezekiel 28:14, and Christ, Isaiah 61:1, and Zerubbabel, Malachi 4:14, and Christians, 2 Cop. 1:21 1 John 2:27. And they are thus called by way of allusion to the practice of the Jews, whose kings were frequently anointed, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16:13, &c. I have holden, or strengthened; whom I will powerfully assist, teaching his hands to war, as the phrase is, Psalms 18:34, supporting and directing his right hand to strike home. Nations; the Babylonians, and those other nations which were confederate with them, and fought for them, as may be gathered from Jeremiah 51:9. I will loose the loins of kings; I will weaken them, for a man's strength consists much in his loins, and receiveth some advantage by the girding of his loins: or, I will take away their girdle, which was about their loins, to wit, their power and authority, whereof that was an ensign, of which see on Job 12:18 Isaiah 22:21. To open before him the two-leaved gates; the great and magnificent gates of their cities and palaces, which shall be opened to him as conqueror.