Isaiah 2:1-4

The Mountain of the LORD

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Isaiah 2:1-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 2

This chapter contains a vision or prophecy of the enlargement of Christ's kingdom and interest, and of the glory of his church in the latter day, by the calling of the Gentiles, and the numerous conversions of them to it, and of the abolition of idolatry, and the destruction of the antichristian party. The inscription to it is in Isa 2:1 the prophecy itself follows; the date of it is the last days; the subject matter of it, the kingdom, interest, and church of Christ, signified by the mountain of the Lord's house; its glorious estate is expressed by its establishment on the mountains; by its exaltation above the hills; and by the great numbers that should flock to it, and should encourage one another to go up to it, in order to learn the ways of God, and walk in them; the means of which is the Gospel preached, that should go out of Jerusalem; the effect of that is peace among the nations: hence the house of Jacob is exhorted to walk in the light held forth by it, Isa 2:2-5 and then the reasons are given of God's rejecting and forsaking some that bear the Christian name, called the house of Jacob; namely, their Heathenish superstition, idolatry, covetousness, and confidence in their riches; who are sarcastically called upon to hide themselves in the rocks for fear of the Lord, Isa 2:6-10 when the judgments of God are denounced on the proud and lofty, comparable to cedars, oaks, mountains, hills, high towers, fenced walls, and ships of the ocean, at which time, Christ, and he alone, will be exalted, and idolatry utterly abolished; the consequence of which will be the utmost dread and terror to all idolaters, Isa 2:11-21 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to such to cease from the man of sin, and have him in no account, Isa 2:22.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Isaiah 1:1
  • 2. Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:2
  • 3. Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 25:6,10; Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 57:13; Isaiah 65:25; Isaiah 66:20; Jeremiah 31:23; Daniel 11:45; Joel 3:17; Micah 4:7
  • 4. Isaiah 65:9
  • 5. Zechariah 14:10
  • 6. S Psalms 102:15; Jeremiah 16:19
  • 7. Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 60:3-6,14; Isaiah 66:18; Jeremiah 3:17; Joel 3:2; Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 14:2
  • 8. Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 49:12,23; Isaiah 55:5
  • 9. S Deuteronomy 33:19; S Psalms 137:5
  • 10. S Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 33:22; Isaiah 51:4,7
  • 11. Luke 24:47; S John 4:22
  • 12. Psalms 7:6; S Psalms 9:19; Psalms 96:13; Psalms 98:9; Isaiah 1:27; Isaiah 3:13; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 42:4; Isaiah 51:4; Joel 3:14
  • 13. S Genesis 49:10
  • 14. Joel 3:10
  • 15. Psalms 46:9; Isaiah 9:5; Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 32:18; Isaiah 57:19; Isaiah 65:25; Jeremiah 30:10; Daniel 11:45; Hosea 2:18; Micah 4:3; Zechariah 9:10
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