Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 41:2

"Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow." — Isaiah 41:2 (ASV)

Who raised up ... —More accurately, Who has raised up from the East the man whom Righteousness calls (or, whom He calls in righteousness) to tread in His steps. (Compare to Isaiah 45:2.) The man so raised up to rule over the “islands” and “peoples” is none other than Koresh (Cyrus), the future restorer of Israel.

The thought of Cyrus as working out the righteousness of God is dominant in these chapters (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 45:13). In the rapidity of his conquest, the prophet urges men to see the proof that he is doing God’s work. So Jeremiah speaks of Nebuchadnezzar as the servant of Jehovah (Jeremiah 27:6). One may notice, if only to reject, the exposition of the Targum, followed by some commentators, which refers the verse to the call of Abraham and the victory of Genesis 14:0.

He gave them. —Better, He gives them, the future seen as present. The Septuagint and some modern critics follow a reading which gives, he makes them as dust, their sword as stubble.