Isaiah 4
CHAPTER 4
that day--the calamitous period described in previous chapter.
seven--indefinite number among the Jews. So many men would be slain, that there would be very many more women than men; for example, seven women, contrary to their natural bashfulness, would sue to (equivalent to "take hold of," Isaiah 3:6 ) one man to marry them.
eat . . . own bread--foregoing the privileges, which the law ( Exodus 21:10 ) gives to wives, when a man has more than one.
reproach--of being unwedded and childless; especially felt among the Jews, who were looking for "the seed of the woman," Jesus Christ, described in Isaiah 4:2 , Isaiah 54:1 Isaiah 54:4 , Luke 1:25 .
2. 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 Isaiah 4:6 ).
branch--the sprout of JEHOVAH. Messiah ( Jeremiah 23:5 , 33:15 , Zechariah 3:8 , 6:12 , Luke 1:78 , Margin). The parallel clause does not, as MAURER objects, 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 ). He is "of the earth" in His birth and death, while He is also "of the Lord" (Jehovah) ( 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 , 53:2 , Revelation 22:16 ).
excellent--( Hebrews 1:4 , 8:6 ).
comely--( Song of Solomon 5:15 Song of Solomon 5:16 , 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 Zechariah 13:9 , &c. Zechariah 14:2 , Ezekiel 39:23-29 , Joel 3:1-21 ).