Isa 48:20, Jer 50:8, 51:6, 45, 2Cor 6:17 | JFB | STEP | 20. Go ... forth ... end of the earth-- Primarily, a prophecy of their joyful deliverance from Babylon, and a direction that they should leave it when God opened the way. But the publication of it "to the ends of the earth" shows it has a more world-wide scope antitypically; shows that the mystical Babylon is ultimately meant. redeemed ... Jacob-- ( ; , ).

‏ Isaiah 48:20

20. Go ... forth ... end of the earth--Primarily, a prophecy of their joyful deliverance from Babylon, and a direction that they should leave it when God opened the way. But the publication of it "to the ends of the earth" shows it has a more world-wide scope antitypically; Re 18:4 shows that the mystical Babylon is ultimately meant.

redeemed ... Jacob--(Is 43:1; 44:22, 23).

‏ Jeremiah 50:8

8. (Jr 51:6, 45; Is 48:20; Zec 2:6, 7; Re 18:4). Immediately avail yourselves of the opportunity of escape.

be as ... he-goats before ... flocks--Let each try to be foremost in returning, animating the weak, as he-goats lead the flock; such were the companions of Ezra (Ezr 1:5, 6).

‏ Jeremiah 51:6

6. Warning to the Israelite captives to flee from Babylon, lest they should be involved in the punishment of her "iniquity." So as to spiritual Babylon and her captives (Re 18:4).

‏ Jeremiah 51:45

45-46. (See on Jr 51:6).

‏ 2 Corinthians 6:17

17. Quoted from Is 52:11, with the freedom of one inspired, who gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit.

be ye separate--"be separated" (Ho 4:17).

touch not the unclean thing--rather, "anything unclean" (2Co 7:1; Mi 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing.

receive you--The Greek implies, "to myself"; as persons heretofore out of doors, but now admitted within (2Co 5:1-10). With this accords the clause, "Come out from among them," namely, so as to be received to me. So Eze 20:41, "I will accept you"; and Zep 3:19, "gather her that was driven out." "The intercourse of believers with the world should resemble that of angels, who, when they have been sent a message from heaven, discharge their office with the utmost promptness, and joyfully fly back home to the presence of God" (1Co 7:31; 5:9, 10).