Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
-The Almighty, who has founded heaven and earth, can, and will restore His people.
Verse 12. I (am) the first, I also (am) the last - (Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6.)
Verse 13. My right hand hath spanned the heavens - hath measured them out (Isaiah 40:12). (When) I call unto them, they stand up together - (Isaiah 40:26; Jeremiah 33:25.) But it is not their creation so much which is meant, as that, like ministers of God, the heavens and the earth are prepared at His command to execute His decrees (Psalms 119:91) (Rosenmuller).
Verse 14. Which among them hath declared these things? - which among the gods and astrologers of the Chaldees? (Isaiah 41:22; Isaiah 43:9; Isaiah 44:7.)
The Lord hath loved him; he will do his pleasure on Babylon - i:e., 'He whom the Lord hath loved will do,' etc. (Lowth); namely, Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 45:13; Isaiah 46:11). However, Yahweh's language of love is too strong to apply to Cyrus, except as a type of Messiah, to whom alone it fully applies (Revelation 5:2-5).
His pleasure - not Cyrus' own, but Yahweh's.
Verse 15. I have brought - led him on his way.
He shall make his way prosperous - change from the first to the third person. Yahweh shall make his (Cyrus's) way prosperous.