Isa 60:4 | KingComments | STEP | The nations will not only go up to Jerusalem as the center, but they will also bring back God’s people there from all the countries to which they are scattered ( ; ). Here it is about the lost ten tribes. These heathen will handle them with care. What the people of Israel will then experience will give them great, moving joy ( ). “Thrill and rejoice” is literally “tremble and open wide”. The enormous change in their situation will not only give them immense joy, but also a widening of their hearts to understand the infinite goodness of God. The national revival of Israel has been promised before ( ). We see this also in the vision of the valley with the dry bones ( ). There we see that not only the two tribes realm, but also the ten tribes realm will be restored. The nations will make an effort to provide God’s people with all the riches ( ). “A multitude of camels”, a symbol of a thriving economy, will be used to bring all that is valuable to Israel. They come “from Sheba”, the land from which a queen once came to visit Solomon, also with “camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones” ( ). Just as when Israel carried with them the riches of Egypt at their redemption ( ), in the future the ten tribes will return laden with the wealth of the nations ( ). The peoples living in the immediate vicinity of Israel will be the first to come to faith. The names mentioned here: Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar and Nebaioth, speak of the Arab countries that are still islamic countries today, but will also come to faith in Christ in the future. They will bring gold, frankincense and flocks in abundance to Israel. “Gold and frankincense” are also brought as tribute by wise men from the East as representatives of the nations to the Child Jesus when He is born ( ). Matthew also mentions myrrh, which is missing here. Myrrh is in place there, because it speaks of the suffering that the born King of the Jews will have to endure at His first coming. But there is no more suffering here, because at His second coming He reigns in glory. Gold speaks of His Divine glory, He is Immanuel ( ), God with us. Frankincense speaks of His glory as Man, He is the Man Jesus, Who saves His people from their sins ( ). Yet also in the realm of peace there will always be the remembrance of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross. This is what the great crowd of “flocks” and “rams” speaks of that are given to the people of God to bring an abundance of sacrifices on the altar of the new temple ( ). The fragrance of these sacrifices will surround and fill this house and shall “glorify” the “glorious house” of the LORD. These sacrifices will go up “with acceptance” on God’s altar and God shall give His house the greatest splendor and glory.

‏ Isaiah 60:4

Brought to Israel

The nations will not only go up to Jerusalem as the center, but they will also bring back God’s people there from all the countries to which they are scattered (Isa 60:4; Isa 49:22-23). Here it is about the lost ten tribes. These heathen will handle them with care. What the people of Israel will then experience will give them great, moving joy (Isa 60:5). “Thrill and rejoice” is literally “tremble and open wide”. The enormous change in their situation will not only give them immense joy, but also a widening of their hearts to understand the infinite goodness of God.

The national revival of Israel has been promised before (Isa 26:19). We see this also in the vision of the valley with the dry bones (Eze 37:1-14 ; 21-22). There we see that not only the two tribes realm, but also the ten tribes realm will be restored.

The nations will make an effort to provide God’s people with all the riches (Isa 60:5-6). “A multitude of camels”, a symbol of a thriving economy, will be used to bring all that is valuable to Israel. They come “from Sheba”, the land from which a queen once came to visit Solomon, also with “camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones” (1Kgs 10:1-2). Just as when Israel carried with them the riches of Egypt at their redemption (Exo 12:35-36), in the future the ten tribes will return laden with the wealth of the nations (Isa 60:5).

The peoples living in the immediate vicinity of Israel will be the first to come to faith. The names mentioned here: Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar and Nebaioth, speak of the Arab countries that are still islamic countries today, but will also come to faith in Christ in the future. They will bring gold, frankincense and flocks in abundance to Israel.

“Gold and frankincense” are also brought as tribute by wise men from the East as representatives of the nations to the Child Jesus when He is born (Mt 2:11). Matthew also mentions myrrh, which is missing here. Myrrh is in place there, because it speaks of the suffering that the born King of the Jews will have to endure at His first coming. But there is no more suffering here, because at His second coming He reigns in glory. Gold speaks of His Divine glory, He is Immanuel (Mt 1:23), God with us. Frankincense speaks of His glory as Man, He is the Man Jesus, Who saves His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

Yet also in the realm of peace there will always be the remembrance of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross. This is what the great crowd of “flocks” and “rams” speaks of that are given to the people of God to bring an abundance of sacrifices on the altar of the new temple (Isa 60:7). The fragrance of these sacrifices will surround and fill this house and shall “glorify” the “glorious house” of the LORD. These sacrifices will go up “with acceptance” on God’s altar and God shall give His house the greatest splendor and glory.