Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 45:14

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Isaiah 45:14

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Isaiah 45:14

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"Thus saith Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God." — Isaiah 45:14 (ASV)

Thus says the Lord ... —A new section opens. In Isaiah 43:3, Egypt, Ethiopia, Seba, had been given to Cyrus, as a reward, or ransom, for the deliverance of Israel. Here the prophet goes a step further, and contemplates them as coming, in the spirit of a voluntary surrender, as proselytes to the faith of Israel, in self-imposed bondage, offering to Israel, as one with God, the "supplication" which, elsewhere, is offered to Jehovah.

The promise reminds us of Psalm 68:31; Psalms 72:10, and yet more of Isaiah 19:23; Isaiah 9:5–7. A partial fulfilment may have been found in the command given by Cyrus, that these and other nations should assist in the work of rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 1:4). Egypt and Ethiopia send the products of their labour. The Sabeans (that is to say, the people of Meroe), strong, but not wealthy, come freely to offer their own labour.