that day--the calamitous period described in previous chapter.
seven--indefinite number among the Jews. So many men would be slain,
that there would be very many more women than men; for example, seven
women, contrary to their natural bashfulness, would sue to (equivalent
to "take hold of," @Isa 3:6) one man to marry them.
eat . . . own bread--foregoing the privileges, which the law
(@Ex 21:10) gives to wives, when a man has more than one.
reproach--of being unwedded and childless; especially felt among the
Jews, who were looking for "the seed of the woman," Jesus Christ,
described in @Isa 4:2 Isa 54:1,4 Lu 1:25.
2. In contrast to those on whom vengeance falls, there is a
manifestation of Jesus Christ to the "escaped of Israel" in His
characteristic attributes, beauty and glory, typified in Aaron's
garments (@Ex 28:2). Their sanctification is promised as the
fruit of their being "written" in the book of life by sovereign love
(@Isa 4:3); the means of it are the "spirit of judgment" and that of
"burning" (@Isa 4:4). Their "defense" by the special presence of
Jesus Christ is promised (@Isa 4:5,6).
branch--the sprout of JEHOVAH. Messiah
(@Jer 23:5 33:15 Zec 3:8 6:12 Lu 1:78, Margin). The parallel
clause does not, as MAURER
objects, oppose this; for "fruit of the
earth" answers to "branch"; He shall not be a dry, but a
fruit-bearing branch (@Isa 27:6 Eze 34:23-27). He is "of the
earth" in His birth and death, while He is also "of the Lord"
(Jehovah) (@Joh 12:24). His name, "the Branch," chiefly regards
His descent from David, when the family was low and reduced (@Lu 2:4,7,24); a sprout with more than David's glory, springing as
from a decayed tree (@Isa 11:1 53:2 Re 22:16).
excellent--(@Heb 1:4 8:6).
comely--(@So 5:15,16 Eze 16:14).
escaped of Israel--the elect remnant (@Ro 11:5); (1) in the
return from Babylon; (2) in the escape from Jerusalem's destruction
under Titus; (3) in the still future assault on Jerusalem, and
deliverance of "the third part"; events mutually analogous, like
concentric circles (@Zec 12:2-10 13:8,9, &c.
@Zec 14:2 Eze 39:23-29 Joe 3:1-21).
3. left in Zion--equivalent to the "escaped of Israel" (@Isa 4:2).
shall be called--shall be (@Isa 9:6).
holy--(@Isa 52:1 60:21 Re 21:27).
written--in the book of life, antitypically
(@Php 4:3 Re 3:5 17:8). Primarily, in the register kept of
Israel's families and tribes.
living--not "blotted out" from the registry, as dead; but
written there as among the "escaped of Israel" (@Da 12:1 Eze 13:9).
To the elect of Israel, rather than the saved in general, the
special reference is here (@Joe 3:17).
4. When--that is, After.
washed--(@Zec 13:1).
filth--moral (@Isa 1:21-25).
daughters of Zion--same as in @Isa 3:16.
purged--purified by judgments; destroying the ungodly, correcting
and refining the godly.
blood--(@Isa 1:15).
spirit--Whatever God does in the universe, He does by His
Spirit, "without the hand" of man (@Job 34:20 Ps 104:30). Here
He is represented using His power as Judge.
burning--(@Mt 3:11,12). The same Holy Ghost, who sanctifies
believers by the fire of affliction (@Mal 3:2,3), dooms unbelievers
to the fire of perdition (@1Co 3:13-15).
5. create--The "new creation" needs as much God's creative
omnipotence, as the material creation (@2Co 4:6 Eph 2:10). So it
shall be in the case of the Holy Jerusalem to come (@Isa 65:17,18).
upon--The pillar of cloud stood over the tabernacle, as symbol of
God's favor and presence (@Ex 13:21,22 Ps 91:1). Both on
individual families ("every dwelling") and on the general sacred
"assemblies" (@Le 23:2). The "cloud" became a "fire" by night in
order to be seen by the Lord's people.
upon all the glory--"upon the glorious whole"; namely, the Lord's
people and sanctuary [MAURER].
May it not mean, "Upon whatever the glory
(the Shekinah spoken of in the previous clause) shall rest, there
shall be a defense." The symbol of His presence shall ensure also
safety. So it was to Israel against the Egyptians at the Red Sea
(@Ex 14:19,20). So it shall be to literal Jerusalem hereafter
(@Zec 2:5). Also to the Church, the spiritual "Zion"
(@Isa 32:18 33:15-17 Heb 12:22).
tabernacle--Christ's body (@Joh 1:14). "The Word 'tabernacled'
(Greek for 'dwelt') among us" (@Joh 2:21 Heb 8:2). It is a
"shadow from the heat" and "refuge from the storm" of divine wrath
against man's sins (@Isa 25:4). Heat and storms are violent in the
East; so that a portable tent is a needful part of a traveller's outfit.
Such shall be God's wrath hereafter, from which the "escaped of Israel"
shall be sheltered by Jesus Christ (@Isa 26:20,21 32:2).
covert--answering to "defense" (@Isa 4:5). The Hebrew for
defense in @Isa 4:5, is "covering"; the lid of the ark or mercy
seat was named from the same Hebrew word, caphar; the
propitiatory; for it, being sprinkled with blood by the high priest
once a year, on the day of atonement, covered the people typically
from wrath. Jesus Christ is the true Mercy Seat, on whom the Shekinah
rested, the propitiatory, or atonement, beneath whom the law is
kept, as it was literally within the ark, and man is covered from
the storm. The redeemed Israel shall also be, by union with Him, a
tabernacle for God's glory, which, unlike that in the wilderness, shall
not be taken down (@Isa 38:20).