Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 51:18

[There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up.

There is none to guide her – The image here is taken from the condition of one who is under the influence of an intoxicating draught, and who needs some one to sustain and guide him. The idea is, than among all the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the time of the calamity, there was none who could restore to order the agitated and distracted affairs of the nation. All its wisdom was destroyed; its counsels perplexed; its power overcome.

All the sons whom she hath brought forth – All the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

When thou wast drunk with this cup, and not able to go, neither thy princes, nor prophets, nor priests were able or willing to lead and support thee.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

18. Following up the image inIsa 51:17, intoxicated andconfused by the cup of God’s anger, she has none to guide her in herhelpless state; she has not yet awakened out of the sleep caused bythat draught. This cannot apply to the Babylonish captivity; for init they had Ezekiel and Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, as “guides,”and soon awoke out of that sleep; but it applies to the Jews now, andwill be still more applicable in their coming oppression byAntichrist.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth,…. Still alluding to drunken persons staggering in the streets, that can scarcely stand on their feet, and do not know their way, and yet have none to hold them up and guide them, not even of their friends and relations:

neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up; to hold her up from falling, of which there is danger by reeling to and fro, through the intoxicating liquor; and this, either for want of sons, these being dead, or through want of filial affection in them. This was true of Jerusalem, literally understood, at the time of her last destruction by the Romans, when she had no king, priest, nor prophet, to counsel and direct, defend and protect her; and will be the case of the church of God at the slaying of the witnesses, when their own friends will be shy of them, and refuse or neglect to do any kind offices, or show any respect unto them, signified by not suffering their dead bodies to be put into graves, Re 11:9.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

18. There is no one to guide her. He describes the sorest calamity of the Church; for the heaviest and sorest of all undoubtedly is, that she receives no sympathy or consolation from her own children. This accumulated misery is described by him, in order that, though her condition be desperate, she may still expect consolation from God, who will never disappoint his servants, though they be sunk to the depth of hell. Although the Church has been forsaken by men, and even by those whom she nourished in her bosom and carried in her arms, yet she shall receive assistance from God. No affliction more severe can befall a mother than to be deserted by her children, who ought in their turn to have treated her with kindness. Such ingratitude and want of natural affection is certainly much liarder to bear than the violent and unbridled cruelty of enemies; for why does she give birth to children, and why does she bring them up, but in expectation of being supported by them in return? Since her children do not perform their duty, what remains but that she shall think that to have born and reared them has been of no advantage to her? Although therefore the Church has performed the duty of a mother, and has brought up her children to the age of maturity, yet the Prophet declares that she must not expect any assistance or consolation from ungrateful persons.

Yet his discourse conveys something more, and pronounces those children who have rendered no assistance to their mother to be bastards and reprobates, with the view of inducing her to bear the loss of them more patiently. It was sad and distressing for the Church to be deprived of all her offspring, and to be reduced to childlessness; though this has sometimes happened. But the Prophet reminds the mother that the children do not deserve that she should mourn for them, and that, on the contrary, she ought to desire additional offspring, as it is said by the Psalmist,

“

The people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.” (Psa 103:18.)

What is here described by the Prophet is entirely applicable to our own age; for many boast of being the children of the Church; but where is the man that cares about his mother’s distresses? Who is grieved for her ruin? Who is moved so deeply as to put his shoulders to her support? How many betray her, and, under presence of this title, persecute her more cruelly than open and avowed enemies? Accordingly, after all her calamities this is added as the copestone of her miseries. Moreover, they who wish to be regarded as holding the first rank in the Church, and who not only boast of being children, but vaunt of being called fathers, treacherously desert her when she implores their aid. We need not wonder, therefore, if God shall drive them out, in order to make way for the increase of his Church by lawful and dutiful children. (34)

(34) “ Afin de donner puis apres a son Eglise des enfans legitimes qui luy assistent.” “In order afterwards to give to his Church lawful children to assist her.”

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

18-20. There is none to guide her There is none like Messiah to guide and lead. The sons of Jerusalem namely, the priests and prophets have lost character, hence ability spiritually to guide. Two things, or two classes of evils, have happened to her: destruction ( waste) and desolation famine and the sword. The state suffers the first, the people the second. Where are the pitying ones to give thee aid? Or, by whom shall I, Messiah, render thee aid? See Lam 2:13. The twentieth verse is a little difficult of interpretation. This whole passage is in the tone of sore lamentation. The twentieth verse, especially, dramatically exhibits people after nightfall flung out of the city (Babylon, we will suppose) for safety. But the gates become shut, and they are caught just as the hunter captures wild antelopes (such is the meaning) in a net which he fixes in the field, and into which he drives his prey. All this is the judgment of God upon Jerusalem.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isa 51:18 [There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up.

Ver. 18. There is none to guide her. ] This was a point next the worst, as we say. She was without prudent and pious magistrates and ministers, or other friends to advise her; and so she was – twice miserable. Christ hath promised all his, “I will not leave you destitute,” or orphans.

Among all her sons. ] Who should see to their aged parents and sublevate them, as pious Aeneas did, and as Scipio, who therehence had his name; but Zion’s sons were themselves in a dreadful plight, Isa 51:20 and in an ill case to relieve their mother.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

none: Isa 3:4-8, Isa 49:21, Psa 88:18, Psa 142:4, Mat 9:36, Mat 15:14

that taketh: Isa 41:13, Isa 45:1, Job 8:20, *marg. Jer 31:32, Mar 8:23, Act 9:8, Act 13:11, Heb 8:9

Reciprocal: Isa 47:9 – these two Isa 49:17 – children Lam 1:2 – none Lam 4:2 – sons Amo 5:2 – none

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isa 51:18-20. There is none to guide her, &c. When thou wast drunk with this cup, and couldest not direct or support thy steps, neither thy princes, nor prophets, nor priests, were able or willing to lead or uphold thee. These two things are come upon thee Those here following, which, although they be expressed in four words, yet may be fitly reduced to two things, namely, desolation by famine, and destruction by the sword. Who shall be sorry for thee Who is there left to take pity on thee, since thy children are all in as miserable a condition as thyself? See Isa 51:18; Isa 51:20. By whom shall I comfort thee What human means of comfort is there left for thee?

Thy sons have fainted They are so far from being able to comfort thee, as was said Isa 51:18, that they themselves faint away for want of comfort, and through famine. They lie at the head of all the streets Dead by famine, or the sword of the enemy; as a wild bull in a net Those of them who are not slain are struggling for life. They are full of the fury of the Lord The bold image of the cup of Gods wrath, says Bishop Lowth, often employed by the sacred writers, is nowhere handled with greater force and sublimity than in this passage. Jerusalem is represented in person, as staggering under the effects of it, destitute of that assistance which she might expect from her children, not one of them being able to support or lead her. They, abject and amazed, lie at the head of every street, overwhelmed with the greatness of their distress; like the oryx entangled in a net, in vain struggling to rend it and extricate himself. This is poetry of the first order, sublimity of the highest proof.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

She was unable to stand up and walk on her own, so devastating had been the effects of the Lord’s judgment against her. Moreover, she had no children (inhabitants) to help her go home.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)