Isa 11:1-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 11:1-16: 11:1-16 The kingdom of the Messiah, first introduced in 9:1-7 , is now considered in more detail. Isaiah challenged the Israelites about why they would trust in any of the nations when God had far better plans in mind. 11:1 stump ... shoot ... new Branch ... from the old root: This new growth refers to the continuity of David’s royal family line despite its virtual cessation during the Exile (see also 6:13 ; 39:7 ; Rev 22:16 ). The new growth from the old roots would not be like the former frail and unjust descendants of David (see Isa 4:2 ). Jesus, the Messiah, is the final fulfillment.

Summary for Isa 11:1-16: 11:1-16 ^a The kingdom of the Messiah, first introduced in 9:1-7 ^b, is now considered in more detail. Isaiah challenged the Israelites about why they would trust in any of the nations when God had far better plans in mind. 11:1 ^c stump ... shoot ... new Branch ... from the old root: This new growth refers to the continuity of David’s royal family line despite its virtual cessation during the Exile (see also 6:13 ^d; 39:7 ^e; Rev 22:16 ^f). The new growth from the old roots would not be like the former frail and unjust descendants of David (see Isa 4:2 ^g). Jesus, the Messiah, is the final fulfillment.
11:2 ^h The Spirit of the Lord will rest on the Messiah. The succession of David’s line is guaranteed by the Spirit. The Messiah’s coming would bring justice and righteousness (11:4 ⁱ), peace (11:8 ^j), and the extension of the Kingdom to the nations (11:10 ^k; see also 32:15-16 ^l).

• The promised Messiah would have great wisdom and understanding, like Solomon, as well as knowledge and the fear of the Lord (1 Kgs 3:28 ^m; 4:29 ⁿ; Prov 1:1-7 ^o; 2:6-7 ^p).

• The Spirit of counsel and might alludes to Isa 9:6 ^q. The Messiah will be full of wisdom and will have the power to execute his righteous rule.
11:3 ^r obeying the Lord: Literally the fear of the Lord, as in 11:2 ^s (see Prov 1:7 ^t).
11:4 ^u The poor and ... the exploited would receive the justice due to them, which the wicked leaders of Judah had previously withheld.

• the force of his word: Literally the scepter of his mouth (see Ps 2:9 ^v; Rev 19:15 ^w).
11:5 ^x By virtue of the righteous character of the Messiah, his reign will be characterized by justice, righteousness, and truth, in contrast to the conditions of Jerusalem described in 1:21 ^y.
11:6 ^z In that day means in the coming age of the Messiah. The prophecy that follows received partial fulfillment in Isaiah’s day or shortly thereafter. The final fulfillment is found in the coming of the Messiah to inaugurate and then fully establish the age to come.
11:9 ^aa Nothing will hurt or destroy: There will be no evildoers, corruption, or sin on God’s holy mountain (Zion).
11:10 ^ab the heir to David’s throne: Literally the root of Jesse (11:1 ^ac; Rev 5:5 ^ad; 22:16 ^ae).

• The Messiah will bring salvation to all the world (Isa 2:1-5 ^af). Members of other nations will even serve as priests and Levites (66:20-21 ^ag), but only if they repent and believe in the true God.
11:11 ^ah The first time the Lord reached out his hand was at the Exodus; the second time will occur in the future when the Messiah gathers Gentiles (11:10 ^ai) and his own people who live among the Gentile nations (11:11 ^aj). The Exodus remained the paradigm of hope for those in exile (see 11:16 ^ak; 35:8 ^al; 40:3 ^am; 43:19-20 ^an; 48:21 ^ao).

• The remnant of his people included Israelites who survived the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions and were sent into exile.
11:13 ^ap jealousy between Israel and Judah: The two kingdoms had become enemies during Judah’s war with the alliance of Syria and Israel (see 7:1-12 ^aq). In the future, they would cooperate in joint military expeditions.