Isaías 11
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 11
MacArthur: Title, Author, Date, Background, Setting, Historical, Theological Themes, Interpretive Challenges, Outline by Chapter/Verse. Excellent overview. From Grace To You ministries - same intro as in MacArthur Study Bible (print) Beloved child of the Living God, let me encourage you to prayerfully read this chapter before you read any notes. And as you pray, be sure to confess your sins so that your fellowship with the Father might be full and unhindered and that He might give ear to your prayer that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened, so that you might know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. And then read through Isaiah 11 without interruption, trusting that the Spirit will indeed open the eyes of your heart to His incredible promises in this great prophecy, indeed one of the greatest in the entire Word of God. As you read, meditate on your glorious King and His soon coming Kingdom and let those truths marinate in your mind and stimulate in your heart a heightened desire for the Return of the King of kings. You might read through Isaiah 11 one more time, slowly as if it were a love letter from God written personally to you, for it is! And finally, if you are so inclined, you might take a moment and listen carefully to the words of Robin Mark's song One Day, for this song pictures that great coming day when the lion will lie down with the lamb and creation's groaning will cease. If this doesn't make you have a time of praise and worship, I don't know what will! Play Robin Mark's song… ONE DAY ISAIAH 11-12: ISRAEL & JUDAH'S FUTURE & HOPE Jehovah, the faithful, covenant keeping God, speaking to Judah in the midst of despair and hopelessness in view of her defeat and exile to Babylon declared… For I know the plans that I have for you… plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Isaiah 11 and 12 unveil an outline for God's plans for Israel in the future which continues similar themes from Isaiah 2:2-5 and Isaiah 4:2-6, all of which remind God's Chosen People that He has planned for a future and a hope. While Isaiah 2:2, 3 predicted a day when the nations will come to Jerusalem to receive God’s instruction, though the Messiah is not mentioned. Isaiah 11 fills in the details describing the Messiah, the Coming King, His glorious Kingdom and the constituents He gathers into His Kingdom. A C Gaebelein's outline… THE COMING KING AND HIS KINGDOM Isaiah 11:1-5 - The King: Who He is. Isaiah 11:6-10 - The Peace and Blessing He brings. Isaiah 11:11-16 - The Gathering of Scattered Israel. It is a great vision of the future which this chapter unfolds. The critics deny that the blessed Person mentioned in the opening verses is our Lord Jesus. They think Hezekiah or Josiah is meant. 2Th 2:8 shows that it is our Lord. Link Isaiah 11:1-5 with Isaiah 9:6, 7. Again His coming in humiliation and His coming in exaltation are here interwoven. We behold His reign in righteousness. Isaiah 11:6-10 need not to be spiritualized, as it is so often done. Romans tells us (Ro 8:18-23) that a literal groaning creation, travailing together in pain until now, will be delivered of its groans and curses. The hour of deliverance strikes with the “manifestation of the Sons of God.” However, this manifestation does not take place till the Lord is manifested the Second Time. In the coming Kingdom to be established on earth and ruled over by the King from above, creation will be put back into its original condition. Israel’s regathering will be from a worldwide dispersion. It will be “the second time.” It does not and cannot mean the return from Babylon, but the return from their present exile of almost 2,000 years. Messianic Jewish writer Arnold Fruchtenbaum feels that… CHAPTERS 7–12 of Isaiah constitute a single unit, sometimes referred to as “The Book of Immanuel” because the name “Immanuel” appears three times in the Hebrew text (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8,10) (Ed: Isa 8:10 = "God with us" transliterated "immanu'el"). (Messianic Christology: A study of Old Testament prophecy concerning the first coming of the Messiah. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries) David McKenna summarizes chapters 11 and 12 writing that… God lets the children of Judah know that, despite their sin and punishment, they are still the chosen people for bringing the redemptive hope of new life to the deadness of a world rotted by sin and felled by divine wrath. Only the most calloused critic would try to deny that this oracle announces the coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In an earlier passage, we were introduced to Him as the Prince of Five Names (Isa 9:6) with an emphasis upon His attributes of wisdom, power, love, and peace. Now, Isaiah extends those virtues into the promises for His character (Isa 11:2–3), His governance (Isa 11:3–5), and His kingdom (Isa 11:10–16). What more can we ask? To foresee the promises of God for the coming of the Christ is to break out into song. As his final oracle for Judah, Isaiah gives us the song to sing in that day when God’s promises are fulfilled (Isa 12:1–6). (The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 17 Isaiah 1-39) One of the older commentaries by Jamieson, et al, which interprets the Scripture more literally and thus tends not to interpret OT descriptions of Israel as directed primarily to the Church has an excellent introduction to this great chapter From the local and temporary national deliverance the prophet passes by the law of suggestion in an easy transition to the end of all prophecy—the everlasting deliverance under Messiah’s reign, not merely His first coming, but chiefly His second coming. The language and illustrations are still drawn from the temporary national subject, with which he began, but the glories described pertain to Messiah’s reign. TWO "TREES" CONTRASTING DESTINIES: ASSYRIA IN ISAIAH 10 JUDAH IN ISAIAH 11-12 KJV - And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: YLT - And a rod hath come out from the stock of Jesse, And a branch from his roots is fruitful. ESV - There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. NLT - Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. NIV - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Then (expression of time) - When is "then"? (Always interrogate with the 5W/H'S) Then marks sequence of events. Notice that this verse follows another "tree metaphor" (Isaiah 10:33, 34) in which Isaiah had described the destruction of the proud Assyria army who had come as far as the outskirts of the Holy City, Jerusalem. (cp Isa 37:24,36, 37, 38; cf. 2Ki 19:35, 36, 37; 2Chr 32:21). Now Isaiah describes a small shoot who will spring forth in what is clearly one of the greatest Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, Whose humility is in stark contrast to the pride of the Assyrians. Related Topic: See chart on the Messianic Line from Abraham to Jesus Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse - This is one of the greatest Messianic prophecies. The stem, stock or stump of Jesse is a metaphor for the remnant of Jesse's family (and the line of David) who were genuine believers in the Messiah (Note: Salvation in the OT was always by grace through faith just as in the NT - cp Ge 15:6 with Ro 4:3, Ro 4:16) and from whom would arise a Shoot or a Rod (KJV), Who in context is a metaphorical description of the Messiah, also described as the Branch. and later as the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10). Isaiah continues the arbor (tree) imagery as he turns from the description of one felled tree (Assyrian) to another felled tree (Judah). The first tree fell with finality, whereas the second tree has signs of life in the root. Whereas the tree of Assyria was lopped off and would never grow again, God promised Judah that even though she would be punished (eventually with exile into Babylon in 586BC), "regrowth" of the nation would occur because God had assured there would be a believing remnant. Isaiah had previously alluded to the believing remnant, although not yet clearly associating it with the Messiah until here in Isaiah 11:1. In the opening chapter Isaiah wrote that… Unless the LORD of hosts had left us (Isaiah personalizes this passage, so "us" = Jews) a few survivors (the believing remnant which Paul quotes in Ro 9:29-note to explain that God still had a plan for the Jews, but ultimately it would only be those Jews who believed in Messiah, cp Ro 11:25, 26, 27-note), we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9) Comment: The point in using the historical analogy (simile) of Sodom and Gomorrah which were completely and utterly annihilated is to emphasize that there would not have been one believer in Israel had not God Himself intervened to preserve a holy seed (see Isa 6:13 below), a believing remnant. (See also Tony Garland's discussion A Remnant Will be Saved) Isaiah next alluded to the believing remnant in Isaiah 6 writing… Yet there will be a tenth portion in it (Again a manifestation of the mercy of the LORD to not give even the remnant what they deserved), and it will again be subject to burning, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump. (Isaiah 6:13). Comment: The tenth portion is a picture of the believing remnant which is further described as the holy seed, which is pictured as a stump. In this verse God says that Judah will not be completely destroyed. In His great faithfulness to His covenant promises to Abraham and to David (For more on the Davidic Covenant, see 2Sa 7:8-17, 19; 23:5; 1Ki 11:36; 15:4; 2Ki 8:19; 1Chr 17:9-16, 27; 22:10; 2Chr 6:15-17; 7:18; 13:5; 21:7; Ps 2:6-8; 89:3, 4; Ps 89:19-51; 132:10, 11, 12; Isa 9:7; 11:1; 37:35; 55:3; Jer 22:30; 23:5, 6; 30:9; 33:14-17, 19-26; 36:30; Ezek 37:24-25; Hos. 3:4-5; Amos 9:11, 12; Luke 1:32, 33, 69, 70; Acts 2:29-32; 13:22-23, 32-37; 15:16-17; Ro 9:4) that there would be a seed from whom would come the Messiah, God promises that just as a tree may sprout again from a stump, so there will be a believing remnant of the nation who will survive and preserve the seed or lineage of the Messiah. To reiterate, though most of God's people would reject God, the tenth, the stump, the holy seed would be a remnant in Israel who would hear and believe God's promise of a Messiah (first prophesied in Genesis 3:15) Who would be their Redeemer (cp Isa 54:8, 59:20 quoted in Ro 11:26-note). In other words just as a tree may sprout again from a stump, so there would be a faithful remnant of Judah who would survive. In Isaiah 6:13, the holy (set apart by God and for God) seed refers specifically to the believing remnant of the tribe of Judah of the family of Jesse from whom the seed of the Messiah would come just as Paul explained in Galatians. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham (the believer Gal 3:9) and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. (Gal 3:16, cp Ge 13:16, 15:5, 22:17 where "descendents" = seed [Hebrew = masculine, singular in all the preceding passages]). For He (Messiah) grew up before Him (God the Father) like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground. He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, (Isaiah 53:2). Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse (Messiah), Who will stand as a signal for the peoples and His resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10) I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star. (Rev 22:16-note) Shoot (Rod - KJV) (02415) (choter/hoter) describes a young growth or sprout -- a sending out of new growth or a twig of new growth that sprouts from a stump and is used figuratively by Isaiah to describe the Messiah as from the lineage of Jesse, the "stump". The only other OT use of choter in Pr 14:3 describes a rod of discipline. Stump (01503) (geza from a root meaning to cut) refers to the root stock or stub of a tree, that part which remains above ground and attached to the root after a tree is cut. Geza is used 3 times in the OT - Job 14:8; Isa 11:1; 40:24. In the present context geza is a metaphor (see terms of comparison) describing David's father Jesse. Using the stump metaphor, Isaiah is emphasizing that Judah has sunk so low that the Davidic line will be cut down and yet it will not be completely destroyed, but one day would spring forth in the Person of the Messiah. Unfortunately, Israel did not accept Messiah as their King at His First Coming but they will recognize Him as their King at His Second Coming (Zech 12:10, cp Rev 1:7) and He will take His seat on the throne of David as David's prophesied heir apparent. When did the Davidic line become a "stump?" In other words, when was the tree of Judah cut down? In 586BC Babylon led by Nebuchadnezzar defeated Judah, destroying Jerusalem and God's Holy Temple. The tree of Judah and the throne of David had fallen and Judah was taken into exile. Judah's defeat marked an end to the rule of kings in the line of David in Israel and yet it was a temporary hiatus for Isaiah 11 (and Isaiah 9:7) predicted a King would come from the line of David and would rule over the land of Israel. This King would eventually come from the "stump" or believing remnant of the tribe of Judah, the line of Jesse, the family of David, and would spring forth as new growth (a "Shoot") which was ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 prophesied of His first coming (His incarnation) and Isaiah 11 prophesied primarily of His Second Coming (as did Isaiah 9:7). Jesse - The father of David from the tribe of Judah. And the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:17) Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1Sa 17:58) And to Jesse was born David the king. And to David was born Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah… The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Mt 1:6, 1) "And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.' "From the offspring of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus (Acts 13:22, 23) Paul quotes Isaiah in Romans… And again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE." (Ro 15:12) Comment: Paul is quoting from Isaiah 11:10 in this passage. Jon Courson commenting on the last verses of Isaiah 10 (Isa 10:25-34) writes that… The cities listed were on the path that the Assyrians took to carry the ten northern tribes into captivity. But because it’s in this section talking about “that day,” it is also a map of the route Antichrist will take to enter Israel for the battle of Armageddon. In that day, the nations will be cut down. The people in rebellion against the Lord will be destroyed. It’s a dreadfully dark and depressing picture. But the first word of the next chapter is “Then.” Therefore, there’s more to the story… (Jon Courson's application commentary: Volume two: Psalms-Malachi. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson) Oswalt observes that… The forestry imagery that has played such a prominent role in these early chapters continues here. The prophet sees the forest of Israel’s pride having been thoroughly cut down and burned, as prophesied in chapter 6. In its place grew up the mighty forest of Assyria. But now that forest too has been cut down (as Isaiah 10 predicted). In this field of burned-out stumps, as suggested in Isa 6:13, a green “shoot” is springing up from one of the stumps. It is a “branch” coming from the original “root.” (Oswalt, J. The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) W A Criswell has an interesting note related to the description a branch from its roots writing that… The contrast (Isaiah 10:33, 34) is between a cedar and an oak. When a cedar is cut down, belonging as it does to the genus of the pine family, there are no shoots; there are no suckers; there are no outgrowths. When a cedar is cut down, like all the pine family, there’s nothing left but the stump and it rots and decays in the ground. The prophet Isaiah says the great, vast, merciless empire of Assyria will be like that. God Himself shall fell the giant cedar and, when it is cut down, it shall be forever destroyed. So completely did the Assyrian empire vanish from the earth that in centuries after, the army of Alexander the Great marched over its great capital city of Nineveh unaware, absolutely unknowing, that a great empire and a great civilization lay buried beneath his feet. God said, “Assyria shall be destroyed like a mighty cedar that is cut down and there will be no shoot.” There will be no rod that will come out of the stump that remains. Then the prophet by inspiration contrastingly speaks of Israel as an oak tree (cp Isa 6:13). And when an oak is cut down, here from the roots and there from the stump will you see rods, shoots springing up. It still has life in its roots and in the stem, the stump. And out of the destruction of Israel, and out of the final, ultimate captivity of Judah, there shall yet be God’s life remaining. And then the marvelous prophecy: “Out of that stump there will grow a branch.” Matthew refers to this, a netzer, a Nazarene; and He will be the Lord God of righteousness. The New Testament often alludes to this verse. In Rev 22:16, the Lord speaks of Himself as the "root and the offspring of David", referring to this (Isaiah 11:1, cp Rev 5:5 Zec 6:12 Mt 22:42,45 Ro 1:3,4, 2Ti 2:8). Out of the root of David, the offspring of David, the Messiah shall rise. And then follows the description of the incomparably glorious kingdom. (Criswell, W A. Believer's Study Bible: New King James Version. 1991. Thomas Nelson) Harry
Isaías 11
MacArthur comments that… The belt, which gathered the loose garments together, is figurative for the Messiah’s readiness for conflict. Righteousness and faithfulness are His preparation. Cf. Eph. 6:14. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word) Isaiah 11:6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.: Isa 65:25 Eze 34:25 Ho 2:18 Ac 9:13-20 Ro 14:17 1Co 6:9-11 2Co 5:14-21 Ga 3:26,27 Eph 4:22-32 Col 3:3-8 Titus 3:3-5 Philemon 1:9-16 Rev 5:9,10 MESSIAH'S RULE OVER EARTH: PEACE & GLORY Related resources written by Dr John Walvoord - The Millennium — Part I: The Righteous Government of the Millennium The Millennium — Part II: Spiritual Life in the Millennium The Millennium — Part III: Social and Economic Aspects of the Millennium The Millennium — Part IV: The Heavenly Jerusalem This wonderful verse describes the reversal of the curse (Ge 3:17, 18, 19) and the Prince of peace's (Isaiah 9:6) reign of peace between animals and men in the future kingdom. For the first time in the history of the world, universal peace will prevail (Isaiah 2:4; 32:17, 18 60:18; Hos 2:18; Mic 4:2, 3, 4; 5:4; Zech 9:10). The Aramaic Targum (written explanations of Hebrew Scriptures in Western Aramaic for those Jews who had ceased to understand Hebrew) states that Isaiah 11:6 occurs "In the days of the Messiah of Israel." The wolf… with the lamb… the leopard… with the young goat… the calf… the young lion… the fatling together - Three carnivorous predators will supernaturally coexist with their natural prey in perfect harmony! This is the "new age", the utopia, the brave new world, the sinful world has longed for and tried to bring about, all to no avail. How sad that those who have longed for such a "pacific" planet, will not be allowed to see and experience it because of their rejection of the gracious offer of eternal life by the Prince of peace! Paul described the effects of Adam's sin on the creation, effects that will be reversed and the earth "redeemed" and "regenerated" when the Second Adam, Christ Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth… For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (When Messiah returns to defeat evil and establish peace on earth and good will among men!). For the creation was subjected to futility (When Adam sinned), not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (absolute assurance that God will do good in the future) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption (the earth is in a continual state of slow disintegration and decay as a result of sin and God's subjecting creation to futility - all man's efforts as commendable as they are cannot prevent this gradual natural "devolution" - Isaiah's prophecy gives us the sure hope that the curse of Ge 3:17, 18, 19 will be reversed by the regeneration at the return of the Righteous Redeemer! Maranatha!) into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Those who have received Jesus as Redeemer - Jn 1:11, 12, 13). For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (Ro 8:18-22) Jamieson (one of the better older commentaries for literal interpretation) has an excellent comment… Each animal is coupled with that one which is its natural prey. A fit state of things under the “Prince of Peace” (Is 65:25; Ezek 34:25; Ho 2:18). These may be figures for men of corresponding animal-like characters (Ezek 22:27; 38:13; Jer 5:6; 13:23; Mt 7:15; Lk 10:3). Still a literal change in the relations of animals to man and each other, restoring the state in Eden, is a more likely interpretation. Compare Ge 2:19, 20, with Ps 8:6–8, which describes the restoration to man, in the person of “the Son of man,” of the lost dominion over the animal kingdom of which he had been designed to be the merciful vicegerent under God, for the good of his animal subjects (Ro 8:19–22). The New Bible Commentary… In this idyllic scene the title Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) is perfectly unfolded. The reign of Christ already produces this kind of transformation in the sphere of human character, and will ultimately change the whole creation (cf. Ro 8:19-25). Whether this will be realized literally as depicted here is another matter; it seems better to view this as an earthly expression of the new heavens and…new earth (Isaiah 65:17, 25) in which variety will not be enmity, and the weak will be the complement, no longer the prey, of the strong. (New Bible Commentary) Comment: "Whether this will be realized literally as depicted here is another matter". This is a most interesting statement which even acknowledges that that the passage can be interpreted literally and yet the author instead chooses to favor a non-literal interpretation. This interpretation is not surprising in light of the New Bible Commentary comment on one thousand years in Revelation 20 which states that "For John the ‘thousand years’ probably indicated the character of the kingdom of Christ rather than its length." (Bolding mine) To favor an actual number as indicating "character" rather than "length" seems to be stretching the text somewhat but this is what one is forced to do if one has difficulty accepting a literal Millennial Kingdom. Harry
Isaías 11
MacArthur summarizes the important doctrine of the remnant of Israel noting that they are… A small nucleus of God’s (chosen) people (Ed: most of whom rejected His choosing them as His treasured possession and thus were not believers in Messiah), preserved by His sovereign grace, form this righteous remnant in the midst of national apostasy (Israel). There were always the obedient few (Jews) who preserved, obeyed, and passed on God’s law (Ed: They were not saved by that Law but like Abraham they were saved by grace through faith - Ge 15:6). There will always be a remnant (of believing Jews) because God will never forsake the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Mic 2:12,13; Ro 9:27; 11:5) (Ed: See also Abrahamic versus Mosaic and Abrahamic vs Old vs New) (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word) Isaiah 11:12 And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.: Lift up: Isa 11:10 18:3 59:19 62:10 Rev 5:9 assemble: Isa 27:13 43:6 49:11,12 56:8 Dt 32:26 Ps 68:22 147:2 Zep 3:10 Jn 7:35 Jas 1:1 PREDICTION OF ISRAEL'S FUTURE REUNION AND RETURN He will lift up… assemble… will gather - The Messiah (some say this is better viewed as a reference to God and the "standard" is the Messiah) will accomplish these tasks with His sovereign, supreme, supernatural strength. Wiersbe…In a limited sense, this promise was fulfilled after the Assyrian conquest and when the Jews left Babylonian Captivity; but the ultimate fulfillment will be at the end of the age when Messiah re-gathers His people (Isaiah 27:12, 13; 49:22, 23; 56:7, 8; Mt 24:31; Ro 11:25-29). The centuries-long division between Israel and Judah will come to an end, and even the Gentiles will walk on “the highway” that leads to Jerusalem. (Be Comforted) And He will lift up a standard for the nations - This passage teaches that although Israel plays a major role in the Millennium, God is by no means finished with the Gentiles. Walvoord explains that…The lesser role of Gentiles in the millennium is the subject of many Old Testament Scriptures such as the following: Isaiah 2:4; 11:12 ; 16:1-5 ; 18:1-7 ; 19:16-25 ; 23:18 ; 42:1 ; 45:14 ; 49:6, 22 ; 59:6-8 ; 60:1-14 ; 61:8-9 ; 62:2 ; 66:18-19 ; Jeremiah 3:17; 16:19-21 ; 49:6 ; 49:39 ; Ezekiel 38:23; Amos 9:12; Micah 7:16-17; Zeph 2:11; 3:9 ; Zechariah 8:20-22; 9:10 ; 10:11-12 ; 14:16-19 (cf., Pentecost, ibid., p. 652). Outstanding in these Scriptures is the fact that, first, the Gentiles will share many of the spiritual and economic blessings of the millennial reign of Christ. Second, they will, however, occupy a subordinate role to Israel (Isa 14:1, 2; 49:22-23; 61:5-9 ). Third… only Gentiles who are declared righteous by the King will be allowed entrance into the millennial kingdom at its beginning (Ed: This will occur at the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats - Mt 25:31-40). (The Righteous Government of the Millennium) Standard (05251) (nec/nes) means a banner, an ensign, a standard. Nec/nes referred to a rallying point or standard which drew people together for some common action for or for the communication of important information. The nations - The Gentiles. As a general rule when one encounters the name "nations" in the Old Testament it is a reference to the Gentiles. The same generalization applies to the term "peoples". And so as I mark my Bible (see marking key words), I put a brown box around all three of these terms ("nations, peoples, Gentiles" -- being sure to check the context) as descriptive of the Gentiles as opposed to the Jews. Note that the Bible presents only two main "ethnic" groups - Jews and Gentiles. As an aside, theologically there are also only two families - Saved (Family of God as Father - Jn 1:11, 12, 13, 1Jn 3:1,2-note, 2Cor 6:18, Gal 3:26) and Unsaved (Family of Satan as father, cp Jn 8:44, 1Jn 3:8, 9, 10, Acts 13:10, Mt 13:38). Assemble (0622) ('acaph) means to gather for any purpose by bringing objects to a common point. The banished ones of Israel - In other words "the exiles." Banished (01760) (dachah) is from a root meaning to pursue and cast down with intent to harm. The verb means to push back, drive away. Gather (06908) (qabats/qabas) means to bring together, to collect. Dispersed (05310) (naphats/napas) means to shatter or break and in this context conveys the meaning of to scatter. The Lxx translates naphats with the Greek verb diaspeiro (cf diaspora) which means to scatter abroad or spread about. Ge 9:19+; 1 Sam 13:11; Isa 11:12; 33:3. Israel… and… Judah - Here we see Messiah's supernatural reversal of Jehovah's past judicial division of the nation into Israel and Judah in 931BC (See (1Ki 12:16-20).). Because of her sins against God, the nation deserved to be divided but not to be re-united which reflects God's amazing grace and lovingkindness. The so-called "Ten Lost Tribes " (the Northern Kingdom of Israel taken into exile by Assyria in 722BC) are not lost to the omniscient God! The four corners of the earth (same phrase in Rev 20:8-note) - Another way of describing the assembling and gathering as worldwide. The faithful Jewish remnant will return to their LORD and their Land from their dispersion throughout the world.