Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Shoshanna Walker <rosewalk AT concentric.net>]

Isaiah 49: 1-5    As he prepares to prophesy regarding many 
countries, Isaiah stresses that G-d selected him for this purpose - 
even from the womb.

Verse 6 does not refer to Mashiach, because Mashiach does not bring 
salvation to "the ends of the earth".  Mashiach brings salvation to 
Israel, and AS A BY-PRODUCT, the rest of the world will know G-d and 
will worship G-d - as they were commanded  (7 Noahide laws).

"Light for the nations" is what Israel is called.

Most commentaries agree that Verse 7  begins a new prophecy:  When 
G-d redeems Israel, which has been 'despised...loathed...a servant," 
its disgrace will be ended and it will be honored by kings and 
rulers, who will recognize that redemption came about "because of 
Hashem".  Ibn Ezra says that the prophet is still speaking about 
himself and the contempt with which his prophecies have been treated.






HH: The entire section shows that the things this person does are far
too great for Isaiah, as great a prophet as Isaiah was:

Is. 49:1  Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention
of my name.
Is. 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his
hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his
quiver.
Is. 49:3 He said to me, ìYou are my servant, Israel, in whom I will
display my splendor.î
Is. 49:4 But I said, ìI have labored to no purpose; I have spent my
strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORDís
hand, and my reward is with my God.î
Is. 49:5 And now the LORD says ó he who formed me in the womb to be his
servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I
am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength ó
Is. 49:6 he says: ìIt is too small a thing for you to be my servant to
restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my
salvation to the ends of the earth.î
Is. 49:7 This is what the LORD says ó the Redeemer and Holy One of
Israel ó to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the
servant of rulers: ìKings will see you and rise up, princes will see and
bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel,
who has chosen you.î
Is. 49:8  This is what the LORD says: ìIn the time of my favor I will
answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you
and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
Is. 49:9 to say to the captives, ëCome out,í and to those in darkness,
ëBe free!í ìThey will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every
barren hill.
Is. 49:10 They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat
or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
Is. 49:11 I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will
be raised up.
Is. 49:12 See, they will come from afar ó some from the north, some from
the west, some from the region of Aswan.î

Yours,
Harold Holmyard
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