Isaiah 63:14

14 The Spirit of the LORD pastored them as a beast that goes down into the valley; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

Isaiah 63:14 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 63:14

As a beast goeth down into the valley
Softly and gently, especially when laden; which may have some respect to the descent of the Israelites into the sea, into which they entered without any fear and dread, and without any hurry and precipitation, though Pharaoh's host was behind them; or rather, "as a beast goes along a valley", or "plain" ^F3; with ease, and without any interruption, so passed the Israelites through the sea. Thus the Targum renders it,

``as a beast goes, or is led, in a plain;''

so the word is used in ( Isaiah 38:8 ) , and elsewhere: the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest;
or gently led him, that is, Israel; he walked on through the sea, with as much facility, and as little danger, as a beast walks on in a valley, or a horse in a plain. Some understand this of leading Israel through the wilderness, where often resting places were found for them, and at last they were brought to the land of rest, Canaan, and settled there: so didst thou lead thy people;
both through the sea, and through the wilderness, in a like easy, safe, and gentle manner: to make thyself a glorious name;
among the nations of the world, as he did by this amazing appearance of his for Israel; and it is hoped by those, whose words these are, he would do the like again, and get himself immortal glory.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (drt heqbb hmhbk) "sicut jumentum quod in campo, [vel] valle, [vel] planitie, graditur", Gataker.

Isaiah 63:14 In-Context

12 He that led them by the right hand of Moses with the arm of his glory, he who divided the water before them, thus making himself an everlasting name.

13 He that led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, they never stumbled.

14 The Spirit of the LORD pastored them as a beast that goes down into the valley; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory; where is thy zeal and thy strength, the feeling of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel not acknowledge us; thou, O LORD, art our father; our everlasting Redeemer is thy name.