Every dwelling place "the station"] The Hebrew text has, every station: but four MSS. (one ancient) omit lk col, all; very rightly, as it should seem: for the station was Mount Zion itself, and no other. See Exod. xv. 17. And the Septuagint, Arabic, and MSS., add the same word lk col, before harqm mikraeha, probably right: the word has only changed its place by mistake. hyarqm mikrayeh, "the place where they were gathered together in their holy assemblies," says Sal ben Melech. But twenty-five of Kennicott's MSS., and twenty-two of De Rossi's fifty-three editions, besides the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, have the word in the plural number.

A cloud and smoke by day] This is a manifest allusion to the pillar of a cloud and of fire which attended the Israelites in their passage out of Egypt, and to the glory that rested on the tabernacle, Exod. xiii. 21; xl. 38.

The prophet Zechariah, chap. ii. 5, applies the same image to the same purpose:- "And I will be unto her a wall of fire round about; And a glory will I be in the midst of her." That is, the visible presence of God shall protect her. Which explains the conclusion of this verse of Isaiah; where the makkaph between lk col, and dwbk cabod, connecting the two words in construction, which ought not to be connected, has thrown an obscurity upon the sentence, and misled most of the translators.

For upon all the glory shall be a defense.] Whatever God creates, he must uphold, or it will fail, Every degree of grace brings with it a degree of power to maintain itself in the soul.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Is. 4:1 This first verse belongs to the third chapter. When the troubles should come upon the land, as the unmarried state was deeme reproachful among the Jews, these women would act contrary to commo usage, and seek husbands for themselves.

Is. 4:2-6 Not only the setting forth Christ's kingdom in the times of the apostles, but its enlargement by gathering the dispersed Jews int the church, is foretold. Christ is called the Branch of the Lord, being planted by his power, and flourishing to his praise. The gospel is the fruit of the Branch of the Lord; all the graces and comforts of the gospel spring from Christ. It is called the fruit of the earth, becaus it sprang up in this world, and was suited for the present state. I will be good evidence that we are distinguished from those merel called Israel, if we are brought to see all beauty in Christ, an holiness. As a type of this blessed day, Jerusalem should agai flourish as a branch, and be blessed with the fruits of the earth. God will keep for himself a holy seed. When most of those that have a plac and a name in Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be cut off by their unbelief, some shall be left. Those only that are holy shall be left when the Son of man shall gather out of his kingdom every thing whic offends. By the judgment of God's providence, sinners were destroye and consumed; but by the Spirit of grace they are reformed an converted. The Spirit herein acts as a Spirit of judgment, enlightenin the mind, convincing the conscience; also as a Spirit of burning quickening and strengthening the affections, and making men zealousl affected in a good work. An ardent love to Christ and souls, and zea against sin, will carry men on with resolution in endeavours to tur away ungodliness from Jacob. Every affliction serves believers as furnace, to purify them from dross; and the convincing, enlightening and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit, gradually root out their lusts, and render them holy as He is holy. God will protect his church and all that belong to it. Gospel truths and ordinances are the glor of the church. Grace in the soul is the glory of it; and those tha have it are kept by the power of God. But only those who are weary wil seek rest; only those who are convinced that a storm is approaching will look for shelter. Affected with a deep sense of the Divin displeasure, to which we are exposed by sin, let us at once have recourse to Jesus Christ, and thankfully accept the refuge he affords __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew