Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 60:17

"For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness." — Isaiah 60:17 (ASV)

For brass I will bring gold - This commences the description of the happy times when the Gentiles would be led to embrace the true religion, and when the wealth of the world would be consecrated to the service of the true God. The idea is that all things would be changed for the better. The golden age would come. A change from the calamities to which the prophet had referred would take place, a change as great as if, in all purposes of life, gold were used where brass is commonly used, silver where iron is commonly used, brass where wood is used, and iron where stones are used.

Calvin supposes, not improbably, that an allusion is made here to the temple, and that, in describing the future glory of the church, the prophet says the change would be as glorious as if, in all places where brass, iron, wood, and stone had been used, gold, silver, brass, and iron would be respectively used in their places.

The Chaldee renders this, ‘Instead of the brass which they took away from you, O Jerusalem, I will bring gold; and instead of the iron I will bring silver; and instead of the wood, brass; and instead of the stones, iron.’ Jarchi, Kimchi, and Grotius accord with this interpretation. But it is probably designed as a poetical description of the glory of the future age, and of the great changes that would take place in human society under the influence of the gospel.

No one can doubt that the gospel produces these changes, and that the changes in society caused by the gospel are as beautiful and striking as though gold and silver were substituted for brass and iron, and brass and iron for wood and stone. Such changes will yet take place everywhere on the earth; and the world will indeed be beautified, enriched, and adorned by the prevalence of the true religion.

I will also make your officers peace - Your officers will be appointed to promote peace and will secure it. The sense is that wars would be ended, and that universal concord and harmony would prevail in the church under the guidance of those appointed to administer its affairs (Isaiah 9:6). The word ‘officers’ here denotes those who would be appointed to superintend the affairs of the church (from פקד pâqad, meaning to visit, review, superintend, oversee), and refers here to all who would be appointed to rule in the church. The word itself may be applicable either to civil magistrates or to the ministers of religion. The Septuagint renders it, Ἄρχοντα Archontas - ‘Rulers,’ and they translate the passage, ‘I will give your rulers in peace’ (ἐν εἰρήνη en eirēnē).

And your exactors - Those who would exact, or collect tribute or taxes. The word from which the noun used here is derived (נגשׂ nâgas') means “to urge, impel, drive”—hence the noun ‘taskmaster’ (ἐργοδιώκτης ergodiōktēs, Exodus 3:7; Job 3:18); then to urge a debtor, to exact a debt; then to rule or have dominion; to appoint and exact taxes, etc. Here it refers to magistrates, and it means that they would be mild and equal in their exactions.

Righteousness - They will not lay unequal or oppressive burdens; they will not oppress in the collection of taxes. The idea is that righteousness would prevail in every department of the church and the state.