“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.”
Thee. Judea was no more laid waste by its ancient enemies. The persecution of Epiphanes did not continue long. Many have attacked the Church; but they cannot overcome her, nor will she cease to preach the truth, and to continue pure and holy.
“For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.”
Money. The Chaldeans acted impolitically in leaving the country without inhabitants, and Cyrus will derive no immediate advantage from your return. (Calmet) — The Jews had not injured the Chaldeans, nor mankind the devil. But both had offended God, who out of mercy paid their ransom. (Worthington)
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.”
Assyrian. Pharao, (Sa; Tirinus) or rather Nabuchodonosor, (Calmet) and the princes of Assyria, who acted tyrannically. (Haydock)
“Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.”
Long, by the Chaldeans, weak Jews, and strangers, who misconstrue my conduct towards my people, and represent it as the effect of injustice, or of weakness.
“Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”
Here. Jesus Christ appears, the Redeemer foretold so long before.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
Peace. He comes like a conqueror to save his people. It may also be applied to the prophets and apostles, (Calmet) as St. Paul explains it, Romans x. 15. (Menochius)
“Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.”
Watchmen, prophets. The angels sung at the birth of Christ, Luke ii. 14.
“The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
Arm. The Saviour, Luke i. 51.
“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.”
Lord, the Levites departing from Babylon, 1 Esdras i. 7., and Numbers iii. 6., and iv. 5., &c. (Calmet) — St. Paul proves hence that communication with infidels in spiritual things is always unlawful, 2 Corinthians vi. 17. (Worthington)
“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. deal: or, prosper”
Servant, Christ. In vain do the Jews attempt to apply this to any other. It is wonderful that Grotius should follow their steps, and understand Jeremias to be meant; though elsewhere he allows that the prophet speaks only of the Messias. (De Verit. v. 19.) — This author [Grotius] has been of great prejudice to religion. The Chaldean and many modern Jews have been compelled by evidence to apply this to the Messias. See Geir., &c. Jesus was pleased to assume the form of a servant, Philippians ii. 7.
“As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”
Of men, who have disfigured the countenance of our Saviour with buffets, &c. The Jews would not receive him under this abject form, though it had been foretold equally with his elevation. (Calmet)
“So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.”
Sprinkle with baptism, (Haydock) and his manifold graces. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “so many nations shall wonder at him.” (Haydock) — Mouth, out of reverence. How many great princes have submitted to his yoke? (Calmet) — Beheld. The Gentiles (Menochius) embrace the faith, at the sight of Christ’s miracles. (Calmet)