Isaiah 11:1-16

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• A prophetic passage. Events that will happen when the offspring of David (= Jesus the "Christ" or "Messiah") begins his rule over Israel. His presence will have an effect on both people and nature.

Details and/or Comments

• This passage is part of a larger context. Many of the prophecies in the book of Isaiah are messianic in nature. The New Testament shows that many of them were fulfilled in Jesus nearly 2000 years ago, and that others will be fulfilled at some point in the future.

• In our broad summary of world history, these future events would begin in what we describe as the "Third World Judgment."

See: 5 Worlds / 4 Judgments.)

• The first part of this passage focuses on the coming of the King, and the effects of his rule on the world. The second part focuses on God bringing the Jews back to the land of Israel and on what happens to Israel's enemies.

• A second return of this magnitude has never occurred. As with many prophecies, this was partially fulfilled when some of the exiles returned from Assyria and Babylonia; but the ultimate and final fulfillment has yet to take place.

They will return from everywhere they may be living (the "four corners of the earth," or the four points on a compass - see verse 12). The nations listed are from all the areas surrounding Israel, including the lands ("islands") west of Israel.

Scripture

Isaiah 11:1-16

Ecological restoration

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Isa 11:1 A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. Isa 11:2 The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh. Isa 11:3 His delight will be in the fear of Yahweh. ...	There is a contrast between the mighty "trees" (army/people) of Assyria (Isa 10:19), which would be destroyed, and a seemingly insignificant "branch" that would sprout up from the ruins of David's kingly lineage. (Jesse was David's father.) This is a messianic prophecy, which we now can see was a reference to Jesus Christ. Messianic Prophecies The description of Jesus' character stands in contrast not only to that of the Assyrians, but also to the nation of Israel, as well as to the wicked kings who had ruled over Israel. Jesus - About Him
He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears; Isa 11:4 but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Isa 11:5 Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.	He will judge in righteousness, not by mere appearances. This judgment will be so complete, that it has an impact on the environment itself... (see below). This will begin when Jesus returns for the "Third World Judgment," and it will continue throughout the time of Jesus' reign that follows. (See the next verses.)
Isa 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them. Isa 11:7 The cow and the bear will graze. Their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Isa 11:8 The nursing child will play near a cobra's hole, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. Isa 11:9 They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.	There will be complete peace and safety in every way. Ecological restoration will be one of the results. Ecological Blessings This event is one of the features of the "Fourth World Ecosystem." The cause of all this? It's related to the fact that "the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea." This knowledge will influence actions. For non-human entities, this will be an instinctive knowledge. Knowledge of God When the Curse Is Removed Changes in the Nature of Animals

Some of the events that will occur at that time, when the promised "branch" (= Jesus) will come to restore Israel.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Isa 11:10 It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious. Isa 11:11 It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.	All nations will benefit from his (Jesus') rule, as they look to him for guidance. This is an extension of God's original promise to Abraham, that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through him. Abrahamic Covenant The Israelites, who have been scattered across the world, will return to the land. This will be the second time God brings them back to the land. (The first time, which this is compared to, occurred when God brought them out of Egypt, with Moses.) Israel's Return to the Land Many passages emphasize that only a remnant will return. The rest will be destroyed in judgment. (Yet the fact that a remnant did survive will be considered an act of grace.) The Concept of A Remnant Where are these nations? Modern identity of the nations Obviously, v. 12 shows us that they will come from every place in the world where they may be living - north, south, east and west of the land of Israel. They will come from areas far beyond the countries listed here. This list is probably more relevant to the partial return that occurred in the immediate centuries after the exile. These are some of the closest countries that are situated north, south, east and west of Israel. The modern nations listed below give only the approximate locations of the areas mentioned in the verse. Geographical boundaries have changed numerous times since the verse was written. Assyria - Northern Iraq Egypt - Northern Egypt Pathros - Southern Egypt Cush - Ethiopia Elam - Southwest Iran Shinar - probably Iraq Hamath (a city) - Syria The islands (or coastlands) of the sea - Islands or countries that border on the Mediterranean Sea - areas west of Israel.
Isa 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isa 11:13 The envy also of Ephraim will depart, and those who persecute Judah will be cut off. Ephraim won't envy Judah, and Judah won't persecute Ephraim.	The Jews will return from wherever they are living. The hostility between the northern kingdom ("Israel") and southern kingdom ("Judah") will cease.
Isa 11:14 They will fly down on the shoulders of the Philistines on the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east. They will extend their power over Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon will obey them.	Though nations around the world will benefit from the coming of the King (previous verses), those who choose to be enemies will be overpowered by Israel. This includes the nations to the east and west of Israel. Where are these nations? Modern identity of the nations This must be taken in prophetic context. Modern Israel has not yet repented; so it could not happen at this present moment in time. When it does happen, conditions in both Israel and the neighboring countries may be quite different from what they are at the present! Philistia - Gaza Strip "The children of the east" (perhaps the Midianites, nomadic peoples who lived east of Israel, and sometimes invaded and plundered the land) - Northwest Saudi Arabia, and perhaps part of Jordan. Edom - Southern Jordan and areas south of the Dead Sea Moab - Jordan, east of the Dead Sea Ammon - Jordan, northeast of the Dead Sea
Isa 11:15 Yahweh will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will split it into seven streams, and cause men to march over in sandals. Isa 11:16 There will be a highway for the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, like there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.	The "Egyptian sea" and the "River" refer to the Red Sea and the Euphrates River. As God provided a way for Israel to cross the Red Sea the first time they entered the land, so he will do it again. But this time, he will also do it for those returning from north of Israel. There will be nothing to hinder their return from either direction. Red Sea Euphrates River The exact way the wind will accomplish this is not stated. Back when Moses led the nation out of Egypt - the first time God dried up the Red Sea - the wind pushed the waters and then dried the ground; but the whole event lasted only a few hours.

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.