"The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings."
Commentary
Gill's Exposition
The first shall say to Zion, behold, behold them,.... Or, "I the first say to Zion"; I who am the first and the last, Isa 41:4 which some ancient Jewish writers (d) observe is the name of the Messiah, and apply the passage to him; or, I am the "first" that say
these things to Zion (e), behold, behold them; behold such and such things shall come to pass, and accordingly they have come to pass; or, "behold", the promised Messiah, whom I have long spoken of, behold, he is come; see Isa 42:1 , and behold them, his apostles and ministers, publishing the good tidings of salvation, as follows. The Targum is, "the words of consolation which the prophets prophesied from the beginning concerning Sion, behold they come;'' they come to pass; which is such a proof of deity the idols and their worshippers cannot give: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings; which some interpret of Isaiah; others of Cyrus; others of Christ; and others of John the Baptist. I suppose the singular put for the plural, "one that bringeth good tidings", or, "an evangelist for evangelists"; and may be understood of Gospel teachers, whom the Lord gave to his church and people, and by means of whom he spread his Gospel, not only in Judea, but in the Gentile world, to the overthrow of Paganism. (d) T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 5. 1. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 63. fol. 55. 3. and Vajikra Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 171. 2. (e) "ego primus sum qui dico haec Sioni", Tigurine version.
Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)
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Commentary
Gill's Exposition
The first shall say to Zion, behold, behold them,.... Or, "I the first say to Zion"; I who am the first and the last, Isa 41:4 which some ancient Jewish writers (d) observe is the name of the Messiah, and apply the passage to him; or, I am the "first" that say
these things to Zion (e), behold, behold them; behold such and such things shall come to pass, and accordingly they have come to pass; or, "behold", the promised Messiah, whom I have long spoken of, behold, he is come; see Isa 42:1 , and behold them, his apostles and ministers, publishing the good tidings of salvation, as follows. The Targum is, "the words of consolation which the prophets prophesied from the beginning concerning Sion, behold they come;'' they come to pass; which is such a proof of deity the idols and their worshippers cannot give: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings; which some interpret of Isaiah; others of Cyrus; others of Christ; and others of John the Baptist. I suppose the singular put for the plural, "one that bringeth good tidings", or, "an evangelist for evangelists"; and may be understood of Gospel teachers, whom the Lord gave to his church and people, and by means of whom he spread his Gospel, not only in Judea, but in the Gentile world, to the overthrow of Paganism. (d) T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 5. 1. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 63. fol. 55. 3. and Vajikra Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 171. 2. (e) "ego primus sum qui dico haec Sioni", Tigurine version.