Chapter 60
60:1 Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
60:2 For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the peoples: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
60:3 And the Gentiles shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your rising.
60:4 Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered together, they are come to you: your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall suck from your side.
60:5 Then shall you see, and abound, and your heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to you, the strength of the Gentiles shall come to you.
60:6 The flood of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and showing forth praise to the Lord.
60:7 All the flocks of Cedar shall be gathered together unto you, the rams of Nabaioth shall minister to you: they shall be offered upon my acceptable altar, and I will glorify the house of my majesty.
60:8 Who are these, that fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows?
60:9 For, the islands wait for me, and the ships of the sea in the beginning: that I may bring your sons from afar: their silver, and their gold with them, to the name of the Lord your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
60:10 And the children of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath have I struck you, and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon you.
60:11 And your gates shall be open continually: they shall not be shut day nor night, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to you, and their kings may be brought.
60:12 For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve you, shall perish: and the Gentiles shall be wasted with desolation.
60:13 The glory of Libanus shall come to you, the fir tree, and the box tree, and the pine tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary: and I will glorify the place of my feet.
60:14 And the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you, and all that slandered you shall worship the steps of your feet, and shall call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
60:15 Because you were forsaken, and hated, and there was none that passed through you, I will make you to be into the pride of ages, a joy unto generation and generation:
60:16 And you shall suck the milk of the Gentiles, and you shall be nursed with the breasts of kings: and you shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver: and for wood brass, and for stones iron: and I will make your visitation peace, and your overseers justice.
60:18 Iniquity shall no more be heard in your land, wasting nor destruction in your borders, and salvation shall possess your walls, and praise your gates.
60:19 You shall no more have the sun for your light by day, neither shall the brightness of the moon enlighten you: but the Lord shall be unto you for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.
60:20 Your sun shall go down no more, and your moon shall not decrease: for the Lord shall be unto you for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.
60:21 And your people shall be all just, they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hand to glorify me.
60:22 The least shall become a thousand, and a little one a most strong nation: I the Lord will suddenly do this thing in its time.
1051 . Arise, be enlightened . Here he begins to set out the promise of salvation.
And first, as to prosperity;
second, as to joyfulness: the spirit of the Lord (ch. 61);
third, as to the honor of glory: for Zion’s sake (ch. 62).
1052 . Concerning the first, he does two things.
First, he sets out their consolation in general under the metaphor of light, setting out the dawn of light itself: arise , from your former misery; be enlightened , shine in the light of his consolation; the glory of the Lord , the benefits in which he appears glorious: walk in the way by its brightness, in the presence of the light thereof (Bar 4:2). Or Jerusalem , the Church; your light , the Son of God. And he sets out the judgment of discretion under the metaphor of perceiving by the light: for behold darkness , of tribulation; the peoples , of Babylon and their other enemies; but the Lord shall arise upon you , like the sun illuminating you: but over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of the darkness (Wis 17:20). Or darkness , of unbelief and sins, the people , the unbelievers; the Lord shall arise , like the sun of justice, or literally; his glory , his miracles.
And he sets out the effect of the light: and the Gentiles shall walk , to knowledge of and devotion to God, seeing the benefits given to you by God; in the brightness of your rising , like the sunrise, glowing like a star: when the holy city (2 Macc 3:1). Or in your light , in the faith of Christ: the nations shall walk in the light of it (Rev 21:24).
1053 . Second, he describes their consolation by parts:
and first he promises manifold prosperity;
second, observation of justice: I will make your visitation peace (Isa 60:17).
Concerning the first, he does two things:
first, he sets out the state of prosperity;
second, the manner of restitution, by which, namely, they will be restored to prosperity: who are these? (Isa 60:8).
Concerning the first, he does three things.
1054 . First, he promises prosperity as to the gathering together of sons, who were first dispersed by captivity into different regions: lift up your eyes round about ; from your side , from the regions neighboring your sides: arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold your children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun (Bar 5:5). Or this may refer to the gathering together of different nations under the unity of the Church: your sons , those who are stronger in faith; your daughters , those who are weaker; from your side , the side of Christ, opened on the cross, from which the sacraments of salvation flowed out; or shall suck milk , of simpler teaching.
1055 . Second, as to the servitude of the peoples: then shall you see ; when the multitude of the sea , namely, the traders of the sea, shall be converted to you , serving you in commerce; the strength , kings and princes, providing peace and tribute to you. Or, this refers to the conversion of the gentiles to the Church: then shall you abound in delights in the Almighty (Job 22:26).
1056 . Third, as to abundance of riches.
And first, as to merchandise, he sets out beasts of burden: the flood , that is, an abundance like a flood of water, of camels , on which merchandise was carried; which signifies, mystically, the rich, turned to faith, who carry the burden of riches and the hump of sin, above: they carry their riches upon the shoulders of beasts (Isa 30:6); dromedaries , an animal smaller than a camel, but swifter; which signifies nations converted swiftly to the faith; Madian and Epha , regions beyond the sea which abound in these animals. And he sets out precious merchandise: all they from Saba , a city at the farthest end of Ethiopia. This was also fulfilled in the time of Christ (Matt 2) the kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents (Ps 71[72]:10).
1057 . Second, as to clean animals, inasmuch as they were granted to be used for food: all the flocks of Cedar , the son of Ismael, from whom a land, which abounds in sheep, has its name; the rams of Nabaioth , another son of Ismael; shall minister to you , be granted for your use, sold to the people who are in you; and inasmuch as they were granted for the use of sacrifices: they shall be offered upon my acceptable altar , that is, in which I am pleased. By the altar is signified faith; by the rams, the leaders of the flock, the apostles and the prelates of the Churches; by the flocks, the simple people: I will fill this house with glory (Hag 2:8).
1058 . Note on the words, be enlightened, O Jerusalem (Isa 60:1), that the Church is enlightened by the light,
first, of sacred doctrine: the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light (Prov 6:23);
second, of spiritual understanding: God, who commanded the light to shine in the darkness, has shined in our hearts (2 Cor 4:6);
third, of grace: but if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (1 John 1:7);
fourth, of glory: in your light we shall see light (Ps 35:10[36:9]);
fifth, of joy: what manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven? (Tob 5:12);
sixth, of the divine substance: who only has immortality and inhabits light inaccessible (1 Tim 6:16).
1059 . Who are these? Here he shows the manner in which they will come into this prosperity.
And first, as to the restoration of the city;
second, as to the subjection of foreign peoples: and the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you (Isa 60:14);
third, as to the multiplication of riches: for brass I will bring gold (Isa 60:17).
Concerning the first, he sets out two things.
1060 . First, he sets out the restoration of the city as to the uniting of its inhabitants, setting out the manner of arriving under admiration: as clouds , because they come swiftly, without impediment, and as doves to their windows , that is, to their holes, for the same reason. Or this refers to the nations that were swiftly converted to the faith: who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? (Ps 54:7[55:6]).
And he sets out the help in coming, which they had from the gentiles: the islands , the various nations by the sea, and even far off, wait for me , as though subject to the choice of my will; the ships of the sea from the beginning of the place in which they were held captive, for perhaps some returned through the sea, or the Lord was able to lead them back thus. Or, mystically, the islands , the various nations; the ships , the churches; in the beginning , of faith, above: the islands shall wait for his law (Isa 42:4).
And he sets out the treasure of those who come, which they carried with themselves: their silver ; to the name , that is, to the glory and service of the name: he brought them out with silver and gold (Ps 104[105]:37). Mystically, silver , the eloquence; gold , the wisdom of converts to the faith.
1061 . Second, he sets out the restoration of the city as to the building of walls: and the children of strangers ;
and first, as to the structures of the city;
second, as to the structures of the temple: the glory of Libanus (Isa 60:13).
Concerning the first, he does two things.
First, he sets out the rebuilding of the city: and the children of strangers shall build up your walls , by supplying help; and their kings , Cyrus and Darius, by supplying materials, and freedom to build. Mystically: the gentiles build churches of God, and their kings serve the Church, above: kings shall see (Isa 49:7).
And he adds the reason, from divine mercy: in my wrath have I struck you , I took you captive; and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon you , liberating you. Mystically: I have struck , through the blinding of the Jews, or their tribulations; I have had mercy , through the conversion of the gentiles, or in peace restored to the Church, above: in a moment of indignation have I hid my face a little while (Isa 54:8).
1062 . Second, he shows the security of the rebuilt city: and your gates shall be open continually , because the fear of their enemies has ceased, and out of necessity for those who come to worship in Jerusalem; and this is so that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to you . Mystically: gates , ministers who lead others into the faith and the Church, prepared, in prosperity and adversity, to receive converts to the faith: the gates thereof shall not be shut (Rev 21:25).
And he assigns the reason: for the nation and the kingdom that will not serve you, shall perish . This does not seem to have been fulfilled literally, unless it is understood to have been those Jews who recognized his dominion, and therefore were venerated by the people of God; but mystically, the sense is plain: but the nation and kingdom (Jer 27:8).
1063 . The glory of Libanus . Here he sets out the rebuilding of the structures of the temple: the glory of Libanus , which is the fir tree, and the box tree, and the pine tree; to beautify the place , namely, the temple, of my feet , in which adoration is given to me, as is given to kings at their feet: the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet (Ezek 43:7). Mystically, by the place is signified the Church, by the various trees, the various faithful of those converted to the faith.
1064 . And the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you . Here he shows the manner of acquiring prosperity as to the subjection of peoples.
And first, he sets out the subjection itself: and the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you , which was fulfilled in the time of the Maccabees, who subjugated many of their neighboring enemies. Mystically, this signifies the sons of tyrants that once persecuted the Church, who now serve her: until I make your enemies your footstool (Ps 109[110]:1), above: after this you shall be called the city of the just (Isa 1:26).
1065 . Second, he sets out the reason for their subjection: because you were forsaken , it is just that you should be comforted after your distress; into the pride , height, of ages , through many ages. This also mystically befits the Church; after a storm you make a calm (Tob 3:22).
1066 . Third, he sets out the utility of their subjection: and you shall suck , that is, the fat of the earth shall be brought to you in merchandise and offerings; and you shall be nursed with the breasts , the defense and aid, of kings , of Tyre (Dan 4). Mystically, by milk is signified teaching for the simple, by the kings , the apostles, above: and kings shall be your nursing fathers (Isa 49:23).
1067 . For brass . Here he sets out the manner of restoration as to the restoration of riches: for much greater things will be offered to the temple by kings than what would be taken by Nabuchodonosor. Mystically: those who formerly were base are made precious in the Church, above: instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle tree (Isa 55:13).
1068 . And I will make your visitation peace . Here he promises the observance of justice.
And first, among the superiors;
second, among the subjects: and the days of your mourning shall be ended (Isa 60:20).
Concerning the first, he does two things.
First, he comforts them by the uprightness of the superiors, touching on their justice: visitation , visitors and correctors. Mystically, this concerns Christ and the apostles: I will give you pastors according to my own heart (Jer 3:15).
And he also sets out the effect of justice as to the absence of wickedness: iniquity shall no more be heard in your land , because for some time the laws will be well observed (2 Macc 3:1); or iniquity , of idolatry. Mystically, this refers to the state of future beatitude: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us (Ps 102[103]:12).
And as to the absence of misery: wasting , as to their fields; destruction , as to men thus crushed by their enemies; your gates , in which the people assembled for judgments. This also pertains mystically to the state of future beatitude, when, although the sun may be much brighter than it is now and the moon also, nevertheless, not for the saints, for they have no need of their brightness: and the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God has enlightened it: and the lamb is the lamp thereof (Rev 21:21).
1069 . He also sets out the eternity of its governor: your sun , which is God, shall go down no more : but you are always the selfsame, and your years shall not fail (Ps 101:28[102:27]).
1070 . And the days of your mourning shall be ended . This as to the state of their subjects.
And first, he sets out the ending of their sadness: and the days of your mourning , their captivity. Mystically, in future beatitude: God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of the saints (Rev 21:4), above: the Lord God shall wipe away tears (Isa 25:8).
Second, he sets out the observance of justice: and your people shall be all just ; to glorify me, above: every one that calls upon my name, I have created him for my glory (Isa 43:7). They shall inherit the land for ever , as long as they remain in justice; but mystically, this clearly refers to the blessed saints.
Third, the multiplication of their descendants: the least shall become a thousand , that is, from one man, so many shall be born successively, just as one nation came from Abraham. Mystically, one person from the Church will be put in charge as superior over a nation , Psalm: the saints shall judge nations . In its time , that is, the time of Christ, or at the time foreordained; suddenly , as though all this that has been said shall happen was not foreseen.
1071 . Note on the words, who are these, that fly as clouds, and as doves? (Isa 60:8), that the apostles are called clouds
first, because of the fertility of the earth, which comes from the rain: corn desires clouds (Job 37:11);
second, because of the diffusion of light: the clouds spread their light (Job 37:11);
third, because of the swiftness of their movement: which go round about (Job 37:12);
fourth, because they fulfill the divine will: whithersoever the will of him that governs them shall lead them (Job 37:12).
1072 . Likewise, they are called doves
first, because of their compunction of heart: mourning as doves (Nah 2:7);
second, because their simplicity of life: be therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves (Matt 10:16);
third, because of the height or swiftness of their contemplation: who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? (Ps 54:7[55:6]);
fourth, because of their purity of conscience: your eyes as doves (Song 5:12); your eyes are doves’ eyes (Song 4:1).