Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle tree: and the Lord shall be named for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away.

“Of the abatement of this heat it is said to her by Isaiah, by promise of the Lord, "Instead of the ground willow shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle tree." For 'instead of the ground willow there comes up in her the fir-tree,' when in the heart of the Saints, instead of the sunkenness of earthly thought, the elevation of heavenly contemplation rises up. Now the nettle is altogether of a fiery nature. But the myrtle is said to be of cooling virtue, and therefore 'instead of the nettle there comes up the myrtle tree,' when the minds of the righteous are brought from the irritation and heat of bad habits to coolness and quietness of the thoughts, while they now no longer seek earthly things, while they extinguish the flames of the flesh by heavenly aspirations.”

“הנעצוץ The thorn. Comp. הנעצוצים the thorns (7:19). The fir is undoubtedly better than the thorn. סרפד The brier. A kind of thorn. And it shall be to the Lord for a name, etc. He will perform wonders, in providing the wilderness with rivers, when Israel will return to Zion, and this will be to the Lord An everlasting sign, a miracle that will remain for ever.”

“This is the inheritance. Here he applies the third remedy, promising an abundance of things against the former want. And it is divided into two parts: in the first he sets down the promise; in the second he shows the firmness of the promise, and how it comes down. Concerning the first he does three things. First he shows the condition of those to whom it is promised: this is the inheritance; that is, these things that follow are owed to the servants of the Lord, who are his sons, as by hereditary right, and by justice, as a just reward. Ps. 15: my inheritance. Second he sets forth the promise, promising a future abundance in necessary things: all you who thirst, that is, you from among the Jews, who before were thirsting on account of want, buy, without price, eat, bread, and other necessary things. John 7: if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink (...) and from his belly there shall flow living waters. And in delights: come, buy, as if to say, as though you were buying, receive; or without silver, that is, for less than the just price. Song 5: I have drunk my wine with my milk. And recalling the former want: why do you weigh out? As if to say: why until now did you give silver, and were not able to buy bread with it? Haggai 1: you have sown much, and brought in little. But these things are expounded mystically of the water of divine wisdom, which is given freely to those who thirst, according to the Gloss. Third he enjoins the preparation for obtaining the said promise: hear, you who hear; and first he rouses attention; second he sets down the exhortation, seek the Lord. Now he rouses attention by a threefold promise. First, promising to those who attend a copious enjoyment of good things: eat, that is, I will refresh you with diverse good things, if you hear me, in fatness, as to abundance. Above, ch.1: if you be willing, and will hear me, you shall eat the good things of the land. Jer. 31: the soul of the priests. Second, promising escape from death: incline. Ps. 118: my soul shall live; again Ps. 118: I will never forget your justifications, for by them you have given me life. Third, promising power. And first he sets down a comparison: and I will strike: that is, just as I made true promises to David, that his seed should remain forever, so I will also do with you. Second he explains it, showing what David did: behold, a witness, Ps. 17: a people whom I have not known has served me; at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed me. And what he will do for them: behold, you shall call nations, to fulfill your command, not by your own strength, but on account of the Lord. Above, ch.49: they shall worship, on account of the Lord your God, who has chosen you. Seek the Lord. Here he enjoins on them the preparation for obtaining the said promise: and first he gives the divine counsel of seeking: seek the Lord while he may be found, before adversity or death comes. Ps. 104: seek the Lord, etc. Prov. 1: they shall rise in the morning, etc. Second he teaches the manner of seeking: let the wicked man forsake, he who sins against God; the unjust man, he who sins against his neighbor. Above, ch.1: take away the evil of your thoughts from before my eyes. Third he sets down the fruit of returning, namely mercy: and let him return, for he is great, that is, of manifold mercy, to forgive. Joel 2: turn to the Lord your God. Fourth he excludes the impediment to mercy: for not the thoughts, as if to say: you are wicked, I am merciful; you think of vengeance, I of mercy. Ezek. 18: are not my ways right, O house of Israel, and are not rather your ways wicked? And as. Here he shows the firmness of the promise: and first he shows the efficacy of the divine word: to me void, that is, without fruit. Wisdom 1: an obscure word. Hosea 6: he shall come like the early and the latter rain. Second he sets down its content as to the joyful release from Babylon, for in joy. Ps. 104: he brought forth his people in exultation, and his chosen ones in gladness. As to the congratulation of others: mountains and hills, the powerful and the common people, praising the Lord in you. Or it is a hyperbole. Your land, congratulating your return. As to the multiplied restitution of goods: instead of the brier, that is, the former things were few in respect of the things to come. Haggai 2: the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former. Above, ch.41: I will give in the wilderness. The saliunca, so called from leaping (saliendo), which is called the hare's thistle. Third he sets down the consequent glory of God: and the Lord shall be named, everywhere and always glorious for your liberation, for an everlasting sign, to which they shall flee as to a sign of salvation. Above, ch.49: behold I will lift up my sign to the nations. Note on that word, all you who thirst come to the waters, that divine teaching is first called water; and this, first, because it heals the sick. Ecclus. 15: he gave him to drink the water of wholesome wisdom. Second, because it cleanses the defiled. Ezek. 36: I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness. Third, because it satisfies those who thirst. John 4: whoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall not thirst forever. Second it is called wine; and this because, first, it pricks by reproving. Above, ch.1: your wine is mixed with water. Second, because it kindles by exhorting. Ps. 104: the word of the Lord inflamed him. Third, because it inebriates by consoling. Below, at the end: be inebriated with the breasts of your consolation. Third it is called milk; and this, first, on account of beauty. Gen. 49: Naphtali, a hart let loose, giving words of beauty. Second, on account of sweetness. Song 2: let your voice sound in my ears, for your voice is sweet. Third, on account of the ease of taking it. 1 Pet. 2: as newborn babes, desire milk.”

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree,.... The meaning of which either is, that instead of wicked men, comparable to briers and thorns for their being fruitless and useless, harmful and pernicious, under a curse, and their end to be burned, there good men, comparable to fruitful and beautiful trees, shall be; which was eminently true when the Gospel was preached in the Gentile world; see Isa 35:1 so the Targum, "instead of the ungodly shall rise up righteous persons, and instead of sinners shall rise up such as are afraid to sin;'' or else the sense is, that such who are like briers and thorns in their nature state, being no better than others, but children of wrath, even as others, shall by the grace of God be made like fir and myrtle trees; as great a change shall be wrought in them as if briers and thorns were changed into fir and myrtle trees; to which the saints are sometimes compared, particularly to myrtle trees, Zac 1:10, because goodly to look at, of a sweet smell, ever green, flourish in watery places, and bring forth fruit: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off; that is, these persons, who are become and made like to fir and myrtle trees, shall be called by the name of the Lord, shall bear his name, support his Gospel and interest, and be for his praise, and to the glory of his grace, who has done such great and wonderful things for them; and shall be for an everlasting sign and monument of the love, grace, power, and faithfulness of God, and for a sure token that the church and people of God shall not be cut off, but that God will have a people to serve him as long as the sun and moon endure. Next: Isaiah Chapter 56”

“Myrtle-tree. Instead of the wicked, the just shall be seen. (Chaldean) — Away. The conversion and sanctity of the Gentiles shall be a trophy to the Lord. (Menochius) Bible Text & Cross-references: God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful, that shall believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him. 1 All *you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money, make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine, and milk, without money, and without any price. 2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, *the faithful mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people; for a leader and a master to the Gentiles. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation, which thou knewest not: and the nations that knew not thee, shall run to thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. 10 And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. 12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you, and all the trees of the country shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle-tree: and the Lord shall be named for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away.”

“thorn--emblem of the wicked (Sa2 23:6; Mic 7:4). fir tree--the godly (Isa 60:13; Psa 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Rom 6:19. brier--emblem of uncultivation (Isa 5:6). myrtle--Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Psa 92:13-14). for a name . . . everlasting sign--a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jer 13:11; Jer 33:9). Next: Isaiah Chapter 56”