In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious. In contrast to those on whom vengeance falls, there is a manifestation of Jesus Christ to the "escaped of Israel" in His characteristic attributes, beauty and glory, typified in Aaron's garments (Exodus 28:2). Their sanctification is promised as the fruit of their being "written" in the book of life by sovereign love (Isaiah 4:3). The means of it are the "spirit of judgment" and that of "burning" (Isaiah 4:4). Their "defense" by the special presence of Jesus Christ is promised (Isaiah 4:5-6).
Branch - the sprout of Yahweh, Messiah, (Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12; Luke 1:78, margin) The parallel clause does not, as Maurer objects (translating the produce of the Lord-namely, of the Holy Land), oppose this; for "fruit of the earth" answers to "branch." He shall not be a dry, but a fruit-bearing branch (Isaiah 27:6; Ezekiel 34:23-27).
The fruit of the earth (shall be) excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. He is "of the earth" in His birth and death, while He is also "of the Lord" ( Yahweh (H3068)) (John 12:24). His name, "the Branch," chiefly regards His descent from David, when the family was low and reduced (Luke 2:4; Luke 2:7; Luke 2:24); a sprout, with more than David's glory, springing as from a decayed tree (Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2; Revelation 22:16).
Excellent - (Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 8:6)
Comely - (Song of Solomon 5:15-16; Ezekiel 16:14) escaped of Israel-the elect remnant (Romans 11:5):
(1) In the return from Babylon;
(2) In the escape from Jerusalem's destruction under Titus;
(3) In the still-future assault on Jerusalem, and deliverance of 'the third part'-events mutually analogous, like concentric circles, (Zechariah 12:2-10; Zechariah 13:8-9, etc; 14:2; Ezekiel 39:23-29; Joel 3:1.)