Biblion Bible Commentary
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How Beautiful on the Mountains
Isaiah 52:1-12
1 Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city, for from now on the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you. · WEB
A city told to get dressed, a runner coming over the ridge, and an exodus with no hurry in it.
Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem Isaiah 52:1.
The third awake in two chapters, and this one is answered. The woman lying in the street is told to get up and dress.
Shake yourself from the dust! Arise, sit up, Jerusalem! Release yourself from the bonds of your neck Isaiah 52:2.
The sequence is exact and unhurried: shake off the dust, get up, sit — the stages by which someone who has been face down gets vertical.
You were sold for nothing; and you will be redeemed without money Isaiah 52:3.
The transaction of chapter fifty Isaiah 50:1, completed. Nothing was received when they were sold and nothing is paid to get them back, which means no third party has any claim in the matter.
My name is blasphemed continually all day long Isaiah 52:5.
The reason given for acting is what the captors are saying. Paul quotes the line against Jews whose conduct discredits the law Romans 2:24.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7.
The most famous verse in the chapter, and the image is precise. A messenger running from a battlefield appears first as a figure on the skyline, and the watchers cannot yet hear him — so what they look at is his feet, moving, which tell them he is bringing news worth running with.
Paul quotes it of preachers Romans 10:15, and the four participles are all about announcing rather than achieving.
Your watchmen lift up their voice. Together they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when Yahweh returns to Zion Isaiah 52:8.
The sentries who spotted the runner are now singing in unison — men whose whole job is to be alert and silent.
Yahweh has made his holy arm bare in the eyes of all the nations Isaiah 52:10.
The gesture is a workman pushing back his sleeve.
Depart! Depart! Go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Isaiah 52:11.
A second exodus, and Paul quotes the line to a church about separation 2 Corinthians 6:17.
For you shall not go out in haste, neither shall you go by flight; for Yahweh will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard Isaiah 52:12.
The difference from the first exodus, stated as a contrast. That departure was eaten standing, with sandals on, in a hurry Exodus 12:11. This one has an escort at the front and at the back, and nobody needs to run.
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