‏ Isaiah 26:1

CHAPTER 26

Is 26:1-21. Connected with the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Chapters. Song of Praise of Israel after Being Restored to Their Own Land.

As the overthrow of the apostate faction is described in the twenty-fifth chapter, so the peace of the faithful is here described under the image of a well-fortified city.

1. strong city--Jerusalem, strong in Jehovah's protection: type of the new Jerusalem (Psa 48:1-3), contrasted with the overthrow of the ungodly foe (Is 26:4-7, 12-14; Re 22:2, 10-12, &c.).

salvation ... walls--(Is 60:18; Jr 3:23; Zec 2:5). Maurer translates, "Jehovah makes His help serve as walls" (Is 33:20, 21, &c.).

bulwarks--the trench with the antemural earthworks exterior to the wall.

‏ Zechariah 9:8

8. encamp about--(Psa 34:7).

mine house--namely, the Jewish people (Zec 3:7; Ho 8:1) [Maurer]. Or, the temple: reassuring the Jews engaged in building, who might otherwise fear their work would be undone by the conqueror [Moore]. The Jews were, in agreement with this prophecy, uninjured by Alexander, though he punished the Samaritans. Typical of their final deliverance from every foe.

passeth by ... returneth--Alexander, when advancing against Jerusalem, was arrested by a dream, so that neither in "passing by" to Egypt, nor in "returning," did he injure the Jews, but conferred on them great privileges.

no oppressor ... pass through ... any more--The prophet passes from the immediate future to the final deliverance to come (Is 60:18; Eze 28:24).

seen with mine eyes--namely, how Jerusalem has been oppressed by her foes [Rosenmuller] (Ex 3:7; 2:25). God is said now to have seen, because He now begins to bring the foe to judgment, and manifests to the world His sense of His people's wrongs.