ed; by what means the
servant was to be changed into a lord, it was unnecessary for the
Prophet here to point out; it had been already mentioned in vers.
32-34. The difference consists in this, that the New Covenant is not
like the Old, but that it first furnishes the right weapons by which
sin and the world can be overcome, viz., an infinitely richer measure
of the forgiveness of sins, of the graces of the Spirit.--We must still
premise a general remark concerning the determination of the boundaries
of the New Jerusalem here given, because this must guide us in
determining the single doubtful places which are here mentioned. The
correct view has been already given by _Vitringa_ in his Commentary on
Isaiah xxx. 33: "The Prophet promises to the returning ones the
restoration of the city of Jerusalem in its whole circumference; and he
describes it in this way, that he begins from the Eastern wall, passes
on thence, through the North side, to the West side, and thence, by the
South side, returns to the East." For the Prophet begins with the tower
of Hananeel which was situated at the East side of the town, near the
sheep-gate; compare remarks on Zech. xiv. 10. Thence he proceeds to [Pg
450] the corner-gate, which was situated in that corner where the North
and East met (compare l. c.), and hence comprehends the whole North
side. He closes with the horse-gate, of which he expressly states that
it was situated towards the East, and hence points out that he had
again arrived at the place from which he set out. We have thus gained a
firm foundation for determining those among the places mentioned, the
situation of which is, in itself, doubtful.--Let us now proceed to the
consideration of particulars. After [Hebrew: imiM], the _Keri_ inserts
[Hebrew: baiM]. It is true that this fuller expression is commonly used
by the Prophet; but, for that very reason, the more concise one is to
be preferred, which alone has the authority of the MSS. in its favour,
while the _Keri_ is nothing but a conjecture, perhaps not even that.
The full expression having already occurred so frequently in the
passage under consideration, the Prophet here, at the close, and for a
change, contents himself with the mere intimation. The Prophet says
intentionally: "The city is built to the Lord," so that "to the Lord"
must be connected with "is built;" not "the city of the Lord." The
latter expression had become so much a _nomen proprium_ of Jerusalem,
that th