There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God. Jerusalem possessed no literal "river," but had spiritually the river of God's grace. The "waters of Shiloah (the Brook Siloah), that go softly," suggested the image (Isaiah 8:6). The "river" in Paradise parting and becoming "four heads" (Genesis 2:10) is the original ground of the imagery. The "river" is first mentioned as a whole; then follow its particular "streams," representing God's manifold ways of grace to His Church. Compare Psalms 36:8; Ezekiel 47:1; Zechariah 14:8; John 4:14; Revelation 22:1. "The city of God" is represented by Jerusalem, which had been threatened by the pagan world-power under Sennacherib.
The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. The city is here described as "the holy place" where are "the tabernacles of the Most, High," the temple (Psalms 65:4), the symbol of "the high and holy place" where God dwells above (Isaiah 57:15). 'Happy those who have passed out of the territory of the sea into that of the river' (Hengstenberg).