Isaiah 26

11. lifted up--to punish the foes of God's people. They who will not see shall be made to "see" to their cost ( Isaiah 5:12 ).
their envy at the people--that is, "Thy people." LOWTH translates, "They shall see with confusion Thy zeal for Thy people."
fire of . . . enemies--that is, the fire to which Thine enemies are doomed ( Isaiah 9:18 ).

12. peace--God's favor, including all blessings, temporal and spiritual, opposed to their previous trials ( Psalms 138:8 ).

13. other lords--temporal; heathen kings ( 2 Chronicles 12:8 , 2 Chronicles 28:5 2 Chronicles 28:6 ), Nebuchadnezzar, &c. Spiritual also, idols and lusts ( Romans 6:16-18 ).
by thee only--It is due to Thee alone, that we again worship Thee as our Lord [MAURER]. "(We are) Thine only, we will celebrate Thy name" [HORSLEY]. The sanctifying effect of affliction ( Psalms 71:16 , Psalms 119:67 Psalms 119:71 ).

14. They--The "other lords" or tyrants ( Isaiah 26:13 ).
shall not live--namely, again.
deceased--Hebrew, "Rephaim"; powerless, in the land of shades ( Isaiah 14:9 Isaiah 14:10 ).
therefore--that is, inasmuch as. Compare "therefore" ( Genesis 18:5 , 19:8 ).

15. hast--prophetical preterite ( Isaiah 9:3 ).
hast removed . . . far . . . ends of . . . earth--rather, "Thou hast extended far all the borders of the land" [VITRINGA].

16. visited--sought.
poured out--( Psalms 62:8 ), as a vessel emptying out all its contents.
prayer--literally, "a whispered prayer," Margin, "a secret sighing" to God for help (compare Jeremiah 13:17 , Deuteronomy 8:16 ).

17. An image of anguish accompanied with expectation, to be followed by joy that will cause the anguish utterly to be forgotten. Zion, looking for deliverance, seemingly in vain, but really about to be gloriously saved ( Micah 4:9 Micah 4:10-13 , 5:1-3 , John 16:21 John 16:22 ).

18. brought forth wind--MICHAELIS explains this of the disease empneumatosis. Rather, "wind" is a figure for that which proves an abortive effort. The "we" is in antithesis to "Thy," "my" ( Isaiah 26:19 ), what we vainly attempt, God will accomplish.
not wrought . . . deliverance in . . . earth--literally, "the land (Judea) is not made security," that is, is not become a place of security from our enemies.
neither . . . world fallen--The "world" at large, is in antithesis to "the earth," that is, Judea. The world at enmity with the city of God has not been subdued. But MAURER explains "fallen," according to Arabic idiom, of the birth of a child, which is said to fall when being born; "inhabitants of the world (Israel, Isaiah 24:4 ; not the world in general) are not yet born"; that is, the country as yet lies desolate, and is not yet populated.

19. In antithesis to Isaiah 26:14 , "They (Israel's foes) shall not live"; "Thy (Jehovah's) dead men (the Jews) shall live," that is, primarily, be restored, spiritually ( Isaiah 54:1-3 ), civilly and nationally ( Isaiah 26:15 ); whereas Thy foes shall not; ultimately, and in the fullest scope of the prophecy, restored to life literally ( Ezekiel 37:1-14 , Daniel 12:2 ).
together with my dead body--rather, "my dead body," or "bodies" (the Jewish nation personified, which had been spiritually and civilly dead; or the nation, as a parent, speaking of the bodies of her children and "my dead" are one and the same [HORSLEY]. However, as Jesus is the antitype to Israel ( Matthew 2:15 ), English Version gives a true sense, and one ultimately contemplated in the prophecy: Christ's dead body being raised again is the source of Jehovah's people (all, and especially believers, the spiritual Israelites) also being raised ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 ).
Awake--( Ephesians 5:14 ), spiritually.
in dust--prostate and dead, spiritually and nationally; also literally ( Isaiah 25:12 , 47:1 ).
dew--which falls copiously in the East and supplies somewhat the lack of rain ( Hosea 14:5 ).
cast out . . . dead--that is, shall bring them forth to life again.

20. enter . . . chambers--When God is about to take vengeance on the ungodly, the saints shall be shut in by Him in a place of safety, as Noah and his family were in the days of the flood ( Genesis 7:16 ), and as Israel was commanded not to go out of doors on the night of the slaying of the Egyptian first-born ( Exodus 12:22 Exodus 12:23 , Psalms 31:20 , 83:3 ). The saints are calmly and confidently to await the issue ( Exodus 14:13 Exodus 14:14 ).

21. ( Micah 1:3 , Jude 1:14 ).
disclose . . . blood--( Genesis 4:10 Genesis 4:11 , Job 16:18 , Ezekiel 24:7 Ezekiel 24:8 ). All the innocent blood shed, and all other wrongs done, so long seemingly with impunity, shall then be avenged ( Revelation 16:6 ).