Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:14
As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
14. As the cattle that go down into the valley (R.V.). It is doubtful whether this clause does not continue Isa 63:13, adding a second image of the security with which Israel went down into the depths of the sea. It has certainly a more forcible sense in that connexion than if taken as an illustration of the words which follow. The only difficulty is that these words may seem too short to stand alone.
caused him to rest ] i.e. brought him (the nation) to the resting-place, the Promised Land (Exo 33:14; Deu 12:9; Jos 1:13 &c.). The ancient versions read, less suitably, “led him.”
so didst thou lead &c. ] Summarising the previous description and concluding the retrospect.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As a beast that goeth down into the valley – As a herd of cattle in the heat of the day descends into the shady glen in order to find rest. In the vale, streams of water usually flow. By those streams and fountains trees grow luxuriantly, and these furnish a cool and refreshing shade. The cattle, therefore, in the heat of the day, naturally descend from the hills, where there are no fountains and streams, and where they are exposed to an intense sun, to seek refreshment in the shade of the valley. The figure here is that of resting in safety after exposure; and there are few more poetic and beautiful images of comfort than that furnished by cattle lying quietly and safely in the cool shade of a well-watered vale. This image would be much more striking in the intense heat of an Oriental climate than it is with us. Harmer (Obs. i. 168ff) supposes that the allusion here is to the custom prevailing still among the Arabs, when attacked by enemies, of withdrawing with their herds and flocks to some sequestered vale in the deserts, where they find safety. The idea, according to him, is, that Israel lay thus safely encamped in the wilderness; that they, with their flocks and herds and riches, were suffered to remain unattacked by the king of Egypt; and that this was a state of grateful repose, like that which a herd feels after having been closely pursued by an enemy, when it finds a safe retreat in some quiet vale. But it seems to me that the idea first suggested is the most correct – as it is, undoubtedly the most poetical and beautiful of a herd of cattle leaving the hills, and seeking a cooling shade and quiet retreat in a well-watered vale. Such repose, such calm, gentle, undisturbed rest, God gave his people. Such he gives them now, amidst sultry suns and storms, as they pass through the world.
The Spirit of the Lord – (See the note at Isa 63:10).
So didst thou lead – That is, dividing the sea, delivering them from their foes, and leading them calmly and securely on to the land of rest. So now, amidst dangers seen and unseen, God leads his people on toward heaven. He removes the obstacles in their way; he subdues their foes; he makes them to lie down in green pastures, and leads them beside the still waters Psa 23:2; and he bears them forward to a world of perfect peace.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. The Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest – “The Spirit of JEHOVAH conducted them.”] For tenichennu, caused him to rest, the Septuagint have , conducted them; they read tanchem. The Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate read tanchennu, conducted him. Two MSS. have the word without the yod in the middle. See Clarke on Isa 63:13.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As a beast goeth down into the valley; a laden beast goeth warily and gently down the hill: or, as a beast goeth down to the valley for grass, that being a mountainous country: or
going down for going along; so the word is used Isa 38:8; noting the evenness of their passage; or alluding to their going down from the shore into that great channel (as the coming out of it is called a going up, Isa 63:11) now made through the sea, orderly, and composedly, not like the Gadarenes swine, through consternation, ready to break their necks for haste.
The Spirit of the Lord, i.e. the Lord himself,
caused him to rest; led them easily, that they should not be over-travelled, or fall down, or come to any injury through weariness; thus Jeremiah expresseth it, Jer 31:2, and thus God gave them rest from their enemies, drowning of them in the sea, and in their safe conduct, that they could not annoy or disturb them, leading them till he found them a place for resting; the word for leading and resting being much of a like notion, Zec 10:6; pointing at their several rests by the way, Num 10:33; or it may be read by way of interrogation, as all the foregoing words, and be the close of that inquiry, And where is the Spirit that caused them to rest? or he led them to Canaan, the place of their rest; so called Deu 12:9; Psa 95:11.
So didst thou lead: the prophet here by an apostrophe doth only repeat the words in the name of the Jews that he had spake before, Isa 63:12; q.d. As thou didst then, so mayst thou do again if thou pleasest.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. As a beast . . . restimagefrom a herd led “down” from the hills to a fertile andwell-watered “valley” (Ps23:2); so God’s Spirit “caused Israel to rest” in thepromised land after their weary wanderings.
to make . . . name(SoIsa 63:12; 2Sa 7:23).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As a beast goeth down into the valley,…. Softly and gently, especially when laden; which may have some respect to the descent of the Israelites into the sea, into which they entered without any fear and dread, and without any hurry and precipitation, though Pharaoh’s host was behind them; or rather, “as a beast goes along a valley”, or “plain” c; with ease, and without any interruption, so passed the Israelites through the sea. Thus the Targum renders it,
“as a beast goes, or is led, in a plain;”
so the word is used in Isa 38:8, and elsewhere:
the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest; or gently led him, that is, Israel; he walked on through the sea, with as much facility, and as little danger, as a beast walks on in a valley, or a horse in a plain. Some understand this of leading Israel through the wilderness, where often resting places were found for them, and at last they were brought to the land of rest, Canaan, and settled there:
so didst thou lead thy people; both through the sea, and through the wilderness, in a like easy, safe, and gentle manner:
to make thyself a glorious name; among the nations of the world, as he did by this amazing appearance of his for Israel; and it is hoped by those, whose words these are, he would do the like again, and get himself immortal glory.
c “sicut jumentum quod in campo, [vel] valle, [vel] planitie, graditur”, Gataker.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. As a beast into a plain. Here, instead of “desert,” he makes use of the word “plain;” and the same meaning is drawn from what he says, that “the people walked through the depths without stumbling, as horses are wont to do in the desert.” In a word, he informs them that the Red Sea was no obstacle to the people marching through the midst of the depths, as if they were walking on level ground. (178)
A glorious name. This is in the same sense that he called it a little before “an everlasting name.” The people now argue with God, that if he once wished to obtain “a glorious name,” he must not now throw away all care about it; otherwise the remembrance of the benefits which he formerly bestowed on the fathers will be entirely blotted out.
(178) “In these three verses the Prophet sets forth the care he had of his people, leading them as it were by his hand, that they might not fall and hurt themselves, dividing the Red Sea before them, and conducting them as safely through the dangerous passage, as a horse which treads on plain even ground is in no danger of falling, or as a beast heavy laden goes down a steep precipice warily, with a great deal of caution every step it takes; so the Lord led his people gently through the wilderness, and caused them at last to rest in the pleasant valleys of Canaan.” — White.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
14, 15. As a beast Collectively for a herd of cattle or flock of sheep.
Goeth down into the valley That is, to luxuriant feeding places, and for rest.
So didst thou lead thy people In a general way all through their history.
Look down from heaven Isa 57:15. A metaphor, as in the reference designating the infinite grandeur of Deity, not his locality.
Where is thy zeal Thy former zeal for thy people thy might once shown so often by their deliverances.
Sounding of thy bowels Organs of the chest, deemed the seat of compassionate emotions, which, when intense, caused a stirring and a sound. Isa 16:11. The whole importunate appeal for new blessings is made on the ground that God, in olden time, was full of compassion toward Israel, as just stated, Isa 63:13.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 63:14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
Ver. 14. As a beast goeth down into the valley, ] i.e., Gently and leisurely, a according to that known saying –
“ Ascendente tuo, vel descendente caballo,
Vox ait ista, Fave; vox ait illa, Cave. ”
The Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest.
To make thyself a glorious name,
a Leniter et commode.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
As a beast goeth down = as the cattle go down. Referring to the settlement of Israel in Canaan.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Spirit: Jos 22:4, Jos 23:1, Heb 4:8-11
to make: Isa 63:12, Num 14:21, 2Sa 7:23, 1Ch 29:13, Neh 9:5, Luk 2:14, Eph 1:6, Eph 1:12
Reciprocal: Neh 9:10 – didst Psa 66:6 – He turned Psa 107:7 – he led Psa 143:10 – thy spirit Jer 31:2 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The Lord had also given His people rest in Canaan, as cattle go down into a valley and there find rest and refreshing provisions. He had done all this for them to demonstrate His character to them and to the whole world.
God’s commitment to His people had led Him to discipline them for their sins, as well as to deliver them in their need. Consequently a change in Israel’s rebellious attitude toward God was the key to their experiencing His blessing again. He did not need to change; they did.