Isa 49:22, 60:9, 66:20 | JFB | STEP | 22. lift . . . hand —that is, beckon to (see on ). standard — ( ). bring . . . sons in . . . arms —The Gentiles shall aid in restoring Israel to its own land ( ). Children able to support themselves are carried on the shoulders in the East; but infants, in the arms, or astride on one haunch ( ). "Thy sons" must be distinct from "the Gentiles," who carry them; and therefore cannot primarily refer to converts among the Gentiles.

Isaiah 49:22

22. lift . . . hand—that is, beckon to (see on Isa 13:2).

standard— (Isa 11:12).

bring . . . sons in . . . arms—The Gentiles shall aid in restoring Israel to its own land (Isa 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 (Isa 60:12). "Thy sons" must be distinct from "the Gentiles," who carry them; and therefore cannot primarily refer to converts among the Gentiles.

Isaiah 60:9

9. (see on Isa 42:4).

Tarshish first—The ships of Tartessus (see on Isa 2:16; Isa 23:1, that is, vessels that trade to the most distant regions) will be among the foremost to bring back the scattered Israelites (Isa 66:20).

their silver—The nations among whom the Jews have been scattered shall help them with their money in returning (Isa 60:5-7, 11, 16), as was the case at the return from Babylon (Ezr 1:4; compare Ps 68:30, 31).

unto the name . . . to the Holy One—rather, because of the name—because of the Holy One (compare Isa 55:5) [LOWTH].

Isaiah 66:20

20. they—the Gentiles (Isa 66:19).

bring . . . your brethren—the Jews, back to the Holy Land (Isa 49:22). It cannot mean the mere entrance of the Jews into the Christian Church; for such an entrance would be by faith, not upon "horses, litters, and mules" [HOUBIGANT]. "Offering" is metaphorical, as in Ro 15:16.

horses—not much used by the Jews. The Gentiles are here represented as using their modes of conveyance to "bring" the Jews to Jerusalem.

chariots—as these are not found in Oriental caravans, translate, "vehicles," namely, borne, not drawn on wheels.

litters—covered sedans for the rich.

upon swift beasts—dromedaries: from Hebrew root, "to dance," from their bounding motion, often accelerated by music [BOCHART]. Panniers were thrown across the dromedaries' back for poorer women [HORSLEY].