Ibn Ezra on Isaiah

Upon me. The first person refers to the prophet. The spirit. The prophecy. Comp. And took of the spirit, that was upon him (Num. 11:25). Because the Lord hath anointed me. The prophets are called anointed; comp. Touch not mine anointed (Ps. 105:15). R. Moses Hakkohen says that the protasis beginning Because the Lord is continued till ver. 9, and the apodosis commences I will greatly rejoice (ver. 10); but it is not at all necessary to make this explanation; because יען means the reason of, and the whole phrase can be rendered thus: The reason why God has anointed me is, that I shall bring good tidings, etc. פקחקח The opening of the prison. It is one word, with the reduplication of the second and third radical; it is similar in form to סחרחר panteth (Ps. 38:11), אדמדם red (Lev. 13:49), ירקרק green (Lev. ibid).

The acceptable year. The year of redemption. All that mourn for Zion, as is said in the next verse.

To appoint unto them that mourn for Zion that which the text is going to enumerate. Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. The mourner does not anoint with oil, as may be gathered from the story of the woman of Tekoa. (2 Sam. 14:2). כהה Weak. It is an adjective of the same root as the verb בהה (Lev. 13:6) which is rendered by some is become dark, but by me hath decreased, as it is contrasted with פׁשהֹ spread. אילי Trees. Comp. אילים oaks (1:29); the words which follow, the planting of the Lord, support this explanation.

עולם Of old. ראשנים Of former generations.

And strangers shall stand before you like servants. אבריכם Your ploughmen. אִבָּר is an adjective, meaning tilling the field.

כהני The priests. I said already that the meaning of כהן is, one that ministers; it is therefore qualified here by the genitive of our God. The other nations will resemble the Israelites, and the Israelites will be like the Aaronites; the Israelites will therefore receive the abundance of nations as their tithes. תתאמרו=תתימרו Shall ye boast yourselves. Comp. האמרת thou hast boasted (Deut. 26:17).

משנה Double. The verb you shall inherit is to be supplied. ותחת כלמה=ובלמה And for confusion. Therefore in their land, etc. This is the explanation of the word double in the first part of the verse.

For I, the Lord, love judgment, etc. I shall give them their reward, for I love righteousness; I hate robbing even in the burnt offering that is brought to me; therefore ונתתי פעלתם וגו׳ I will give them their reward, etc. As to פעלתם their reward comp. פעלת the wages (Lev. 19:13). By these words the expression I hate robbing is explained; as if God said, I shall not rob them; for if I gave them not their reward, I should rob them of their wages.

And their seed shall be known. This prediction does not imply that Israel will again be scattered among the nations, but that they will be known among the nations, who will come up to the holy land to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles (comp. Zec. 14:16), and among them that will bring the tribute.

I will greatly rejoice. These are the words which Israel will then proclaim. יעטני He hath covered me. It is past of עוטה ; יעט covering (Ps. 104:2) is of the same root, though of a different form. יכהן Serveth. It is a transitive verb, and פאר ornament is the object; it is attended to by the bridegroom; compare my remark on ישרתונך shall minister unto thee (60:7). And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels, with the chain round her neck.

כארץ תוציא Like the earth which bringeth forth. So the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth. Righteousness and praise will increase, as though they grew.