Isa 26:1, Zec 9:8 | JFB | STEP | 1. strong city —Jerusalem, strong in Jehovah's protection: type of the new Jerusalem ( ), contrasted with the overthrow of the ungodly foe ( , &c.). salvation . . . walls — ( ). MAURER translates, "Jehovah makes His help serve as walls" ( , &c.). bulwarks —the trench with the antemural earthworks exterior to the wall.

Isaiah 26:1

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

salvation . . . walls— (Isa 60:18; Jer 3:23; Zec 2:5). MAURER translates, "Jehovah makes His help serve as walls" (Isa 33:20, 21, &c.).

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

Zechariah 9:8

8. encamp about— (Ps 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 (Isa 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.