Isa 9:4-6 | JFB | STEP | 4. The occasion of the "joy," the deliverance not only of Ahaz and Judah from the Assyrian tribute ( ), and of Israel's ten tribes from the oppressor ( ), but of the Jewish Christian Church from its last great enemy. hast-- the past time for the future, in prophetic vision; it expresses the certainty of the event. yoke of his burden-- the yoke with which he was burdened. staff of ... shoulder-- the staff which strikes his shoulder [Maurer]; or the wood, like a yoke, on the neck of slaves, the badge of servitude [Rosenmuller]. day of Midian-- ( ). As Gideon with a handful of men conquered the hosts of Midian, so Messiah the "child" ( ) shall prove to be the "Prince of peace," and the small Israel under Him shall overcome the mighty hosts of Antichrist (compare ), containing the same contrast, and alluding also to "the Assyrian," the then enemy of the Church, as here in Isaiah, the type of the last great enemy. For further analogies between Gideon's victory and the Gospel, compare , with . As the "dividing of the spoil" ( ) was followed by that which was "not joy," the making of the idolatrous ephod ( ), so the gospel victory was soon followed by apostasy at the first, and shall be so again after the millennial overthrow of Antichrist ( , ), previous to Satan's last doom ( ).

‏ Isaiah 9:4-6

4. The occasion of the "joy," the deliverance not only of Ahaz and Judah from the Assyrian tribute (2Ki 16:8), and of Israel's ten tribes from the oppressor (2Ki 15:19), but of the Jewish Christian Church from its last great enemy.

hast--the past time for the future, in prophetic vision; it expresses the certainty of the event.

yoke of his burden--the yoke with which he was burdened.

staff of ... shoulder--the staff which strikes his shoulder [Maurer]; or the wood, like a yoke, on the neck of slaves, the badge of servitude [Rosenmuller].

day of Midian--(Jud 7:8-22). As Gideon with a handful of men conquered the hosts of Midian, so Messiah the "child" (Is 9:6) shall prove to be the "Prince of peace," and the small Israel under Him shall overcome the mighty hosts of Antichrist (compare Mi 5:2-5), containing the same contrast, and alluding also to "the Assyrian," the then enemy of the Church, as here in Isaiah, the type of the last great enemy. For further analogies between Gideon's victory and the Gospel, compare 2Co 4:7, with Jud 7:22. As the "dividing of the spoil" (Is 9:3) was followed by that which was "not joy," the making of the idolatrous ephod (Jud 8:24-27), so the gospel victory was soon followed by apostasy at the first, and shall be so again after the millennial overthrow of Antichrist (Re 20:3, 7-9), previous to Satan's last doom (Re 20:10).

5. every battle, &c.--rather, "every greave of (the warrior who is) armed with greaves in the din of battle, and the martial garment (or cloak, called by the Latins sagum) rolled in blood, shall be for burning, (and) fuel for fire" [Maurer]. All warlike accoutrements shall be destroyed, as no longer required in the new era of peace (Is 2:4; 11:6, 7; Psa 46:9; Eze 39:9; Mi 5:5, 10; Zec 9:9, 10). Compare Mal 4:1, as to the previous burning up of the wicked.

6. For--the ground of these great expectations,

unto us--for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare "unto you," Lu 2:11).

son ... given--(Psa 2:7). God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Joh 3:16; Ro 6:23).

government ... upon ... shoulder--The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Is 22:22). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staff" of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" (Is 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the "Heir of all things," who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14).

name ... called--His essential characteristics shall be.

Wonderful--(See on Is 8:18; Jud 13:18, Margin; 1Ti 3:16).

Counsellor--(Psa 16:7; Ro 11:33, 34; 1Co 1:24; Col 2:3).

mighty God--(Is 10:21; Psa 24:8; Tit 2:13) Horsley translates: "God the mighty man." "Unto us ... God" is equivalent to "Immanuel" (Is 7:14).

everlasting Father--This marks Him as "Wonderful," that He is "a child," yet the "everlasting Father" (Joh 10:30; 14:9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [Hengstenberg].

Prince of Peace--(See on Is 9:5; Ge 49:10; Shiloh, "The Tranquillizer"). Finally (Ho 2:18). Even already He is "our peace" (Lu 2:14; Ep 2:14).