‏ Isaiah 2:2-3

     2. Same as Mic 4:1. As Micah prophesied in Jotham's reign, and Isaiah in Uzziah's, Micah rests on Isaiah, whom he confirms: not vice versa. HENGSTENBERG on slight grounds makes Mic 4:1 the original.

      last days—that is, Messiah's: especially the days yet to come, to which all prophecy hastens, when "the house of the God of Jacob," namely, at Jerusalem, shall be the center to which the converted nations shall flock together (Mt 13:32; Lu 2:31, 32; Ac 1:6, 7); where "the kingdom" of Israel is regarded as certain and the time alone uncertain (Ps 68:15, 16; 72:8, 11).

      mountain of the Lord's house . . . in the top, &c.—the temple on Mount Moriah: type of the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem, and, like an object set on the highest hill, made so conspicuous that all nations are attracted to it.

      flow—as a broad stream (Isa 66:12).

     3. If the curse foretold against Israel has been literally fulfilled, so shall the promised blessing be literal. We Gentiles must not, while giving them the curse, deny them their peculiar blessing by spiritualizing it. The Holy Ghost shall be poured out for a general conversion then (Jer 50:5; Zec 8:21, 23; Joe 2:28).

      from Jerusalem— (Lu 24:47) an earnest of the future relations of Jerusalem to Christendom (Ro 11:12, 15).

‏ Isaiah 25:6-7

     6. in this mountain—Zion: Messiah's kingdom was to begin, and is to have its central seat hereafter, at Jerusalem, as the common country of "all nations" (Isa 2:2, &c.).

      all people— (Isa 56:7; Da 7:14; Lu 2:10).

      feast—image of felicity (Ps 22:26, 27; Mt 8:11; Lu 14:15; Re 19:9; compare Ps 36:8; 87:1-7).

      fat things—delicacies; the rich mercies of God in Christ (Isa 55:2; Jer 31:14; Job 36:16).

      wines on the lees—wine which has been long kept on the lees; that is, the oldest and most generous wine (Jer 48:11).

      marrow—the choicest dainties (Ps 63:5).

      well refined—cleared of all dregs.

     7. face of . . . covering—image from mourning, in which it was usual to cover the face with a veil (2Sa 15:30). "Face of covering," that is, the covering itself; as in Job 41:13, "the face of his garment," the garment itself. The covering or veil is the mist of ignorance as to a future state, and the way to eternal life, which enveloped the nations (Eph 4:18) and the unbelieving Jew (2Co 3:15). The Jew, however, is first to be converted before the conversion of "all nations"; for it is "in this mountain," namely, Zion, that the latter are to have the veil taken off (Ps 102:13, 15, 16, 21, 22; Ro 11:12).

‏ Isaiah 25:10

     10. rest—as its permanent protector; on "hand" in this sense; compare Ezr 7:6, 28.

      Moab—while Israel is being protected, the foe is destroyed; Moab is the representative of all the foes of God's people.

      under him—Rather, "in his own place" or "country" (Ex 10:23; 16:29).

      for the dunghill—Rather, "in the water of the dung heap," in which straw was trodden to make it manure (Ps 83:10). HORSLEY translates either, "in the waters of Madmenah," namely, for the making of bricks; or as the Septuagint, "as the threshing-floor is trampled by the corn-drag" (see Margin; Mic 4:11-13).

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