יששום. Some think that the preposition ב is omitted, and that יששו בם ═ יששום they shall be glad for them: this is not right; for what would be the meaning of ¹בם? I think that מ is here substituted for the paragogic נ, which is frequently found in verbs. Comp. ²פדיון ═ פִּדְיוֹם redemption (Num. 3:19).—The land of Edom alone shall be waste; but Palestine shall be the reverse. According to R. Moses Hakkohen this prophecy refers to the deliverance of Jerusalem.³

footnotes: ¹ The cause of the objection is the absence of any noun to which the pronoun them could refer. ² As to the interchange between מ and נ. ³ The difference between the two opinions is, that according to the first, this chapter describes the state of Israel in the time of Messiah; according to the second, the peace and happiness of Judah after the evacuation of Palestine by the Assyrian army, which appears to have taken place after the miraculous defeat of Sennacherib before Jerusalem.

It shall blossom. Palestine or Jerusalem shall blossom.

גילת לב ═ גילת Joy of the heart. The ת indicates the construct state of the noun. Unto it. Unto the Lebanon, according to some commentators.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ The other opinion is, that לָהּ refers to Palestine or Jerusalem, לבנון being used as a masculine noun; Comp. 29:17.

They shall see. The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall see.

Strengthen ye, etc. According to all the commentators except R. Moses Hakkohen, this prophecy refers to the Messianic period; he refers it to the return of the fugitives in the time of Hezekiah, after the death of the king of Assyria.

Confirm the feeble knees, that they be able to walk.

To them that are of a fearful heart. To those that do not believe that such a miracle could happen. With vengeance against Edom or Assyria.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Edom or Assyria, as we refer this prophecy to the Messianic period or to the time of Hezekiah.

Then, when they see this miracle or hear of it.

Then shall the lame man leap, in his return to Jerusalem.

And the tongue of the dumb shall sing. A figurative expression for they will find water everywhere; it is the reverse of the tongue of the suckling cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst (Lam. 4:4)

השרב The parched ground. Comp. שרב heat (49:10) and שרבא the Chaldæan translation of חרב heat (Gen. 31:40).

בנוה תנים רבצה That which had been covered with the dwelling of dragons.⁶ The desert.

footnotes: ⁶ A. V., In the habitation of dragons, where each lay.

חצר═חציר Court.⁷

footnotes: ⁷ A. V., Grass.

With reeds and rushes, that grow on the banks of rivers.

And an highway shall be there, etc. Although the rivers shall swell, still there will be a pathway, etc.⁸ מסלול An highway.

footnotes: ⁸ The abundance of water everywhere will be a blessing and comfort, not an obstacle stopping their way to their land and the holy city.

The way of holiness. So called because of the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem.⁹

footnotes: ⁹ That is, to the holy city, to the place which the Lord has chosen to put his name there.

The unclean shall not pass, etc. No heathen, that is unclean, will pass over it, although it is his own, out of fear: the redeemed alone shall walk on the highway; and furthermore, the wayfaring men, and fools, that are not acquainted with the way, shall not err therein, because it will be a highway.¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ A straight, continuous road, without any interruption.

No lion shall be there on that way.

Nor any ravenous beast, that could do harm, and frighten those that wish to return. But the redeemed shall walk there. Those that will return will be unmolested by enemies and wild beasts.

And the ransomed, etc. And those that return, will come to Zion with rejoicing and with everlasting joy upon their heads. The head is the principal seat of the soul.¹¹ According to others the joy will be like a cover over their heads; this explanation is also admissible.

footnotes: ¹¹ The divine promise of joy and happiness concerns the soul more than the body.

ששון ושמחה ישיגו Joy and gladness shall reach them. According to others: they shall obtain joy and gladness.