Isaiah 49

13. So Revelation 12:12 . God will have mercy on the afflicted, because of His compassion; on His afflicted, because of His covenant.

14. Zion--the literal Israel's complaint, as if God had forsaken her in the Babylonian captivity; also in their dispersion previous to their future restoration; thereby God's mercy shall be called forth ( Isaiah 63:15-19 , Psalms 77:9 Psalms 77:10 , 102:17 ).

15. ( Isaiah 44:21 , Psalms 103:13 , Matthew 7:11 ).

16. Alluding to the Jews' custom (perhaps drawn from Exodus 13:9 ) of puncturing on their hands a representation of their city and temple, in token of zeal for them [LOWTH], ( Solomon 8:6 ).

17. Thy children--Israel ( Isaiah 49:20 Isaiah 49:21 , Isaiah 43:6 ). JEROME reads, for "Thy children," "Thy builders"; they that destroyed thee shall hasten to build thee.
haste--to rebuild thy desolate capital.
shall go forth--Thy destroyers shall leave Judea to Israel in undisturbed possession.

18. As Zion is often compared to a bride ( Isaiah 54:5 ), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels," Isaiah 62:3 , Malachi 3:17 ). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant, as the context refers to their restoration; and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations ( Micah 5:7 , Romans 11:12 Romans 11:15 ).
as a bride--namely, binds on her ornaments.

19. land of thy destruction--thy land once the scene of destruction.
too narrow--( Isaiah 54:1 Isaiah 54:2 , Zechariah 10:10 ).

20. children . . . after . . . other--rather, "the children of thy widowhood," that is, the children of whom thou hast been bereft during their dispersion in other lands [MAURER].
again--rather, "yet."
give place--rather, "stand close to me," namely, in order that we may be the more able to dwell in in the narrow place [HORSLEY]. Compare as to Israel's spiritual children, and the extension of the gospel sphere, Romans 15:19 Romans 15:24 , 2 Corinthians 10:14-16 . But Isaiah 49:22 (compare Isaiah 66:20 ) shows that her literal children are primarily meant. GESENIUS translates, "Make room."

21. Who, &c.--Zion's joyful wonder at the unexpected restoration of the ten tribes. Secondarily, the accession of spiritual Israelites to the mother church of Jerusalem from the Gentiles is meant. This created surprise at first ( Acts 10:45 , 14:27 , Acts 15:3 Acts 15:4 ).
lost . . . am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro--rather, "bereaved of . . . have been barren, an exile and outcast" [HORSLEY]. She had been "put away" by Jehovah, her husband ( Isaiah 50:1 ); hence her wonder at the children begotten to her.

22. lift . . . hand--that is, beckon to
standard--( Isaiah 11:12 ).
bring . . . sons in . . . arms--The Gentiles shall aid in restoring Israel to its own land ( Isaiah 60:4 , 66:20 ). Children able to support themselves are carried on the shoulders in the East; but infants, in the arms, or astride on one haunch ( Isaiah 60:12 ). "Thy sons" must be distinct from "the Gentiles," who carry them; and therefore cannot primarily refer to converts among the Gentiles.

23. lick . . . dust--that is, kiss thy feet in token of humble submission.
for they . . . not . . . ashamed . . . wait for me--The restoration of Israel shall be in answer to their prayerful waiting on the Lord ( Isaiah 30:18 Isaiah 30:19 , Psalms 102:16 Psalms 102:17 , Zechariah 12:10 , 14:3 ).

24. the prey--Israel, long a prey to mighty Gentile nations, whose oppression of her shall reach its highest point under Antichrist ( Daniel 11:36 Daniel 11:37 Daniel 11:41 Daniel 11:45 ).
lawful captive--the Jews justly consigned for their sins ( Isaiah 50:1 ) as captives to the foe. Secondarily, Satan and Death are "the mighty" conquerors of man, upon whom his sin give them their "lawful" claim. Christ answers that claim for the sinners, and so the captive is set free ( Job 19:25 , 14:14 , Matthew 12:29 , Hosea 6:2 , where Isaiah 49:4 shows the primary reference is to Israel's restoration, to which the resurrection corresponds; Isaiah 26:19 , Ephesians 4:8 , Hebrews 2:14 Hebrews 2:15 ). Others not so well translate, "the captives taken from among the just Israelites."

25. ( Isaiah 53:12 , Psalms 68:18 , Colossians 2:15 ).
contend with him, &c.--( Isaiah 54:17 ).

26. feed . . . own flesh--a phrase for internal strifes ( Isaiah 9:20 ).
own blood--a just retribution for their having shed the blood of God's servants ( Revelation 16:6 ).
sweet wine--that is must, or new wine, the pure juice which flows from the heap of grapes before they are pressed; the ancients could preserve it for a long time, so as to retain its flavor. It was so mild that it required a large quantity to intoxicate; thus the idea here is that very much blood would be shed ( Revelation 14:10 Revelation 14:20 ).
all flesh shall, &c.--the effect on the world of God's judgments ( Isaiah 66:15 Isaiah 66:16 Isaiah 66:18 Isaiah 66:19 , Revelation 15:3 Revelation 15:4 ).