[1] The image is now transferred to the state and king of
Israel, which is also to be cut down to the stump, like the
tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. But out of that stump, and
from its living roots, shall grow up a scion--one of those
slender shoots which we see springing up from, and
immediately around, the stock of a truncated tree. A king
of the race of Jesse shall sit on the throne of his
fathers, in accordance with the covenant made with David
(Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4).--_Strachey._
When the axe is laid to the imperial power of the world, it
falls without hope (chap. x. 33, 34). But in Israel spring
is returning (chap. xi. 1). The world-power resembles the
cedar-forest of Lebanon; the house of David, on the other
hand, because of its apostasy, is like the stump of a
felled tree, like a root without stem, branches, or crown.
The world-kingdom, at the height of its power, presents the
most striking contrast to Israel and the house of David in
the uttermost depth announced in chapter vi., _fin.,_
mutilated and reduced to the lowliness of its
Bethlehemitish origin. But whereas the Lebanon of the
imperial power is thrown down, to remain prostrate, the
house of David renews its youth. . . . Out of the stump of
Jesse--_i.e.,_ out of the remnant of the chosen royal
family, which has sunk down to the insignificance of the
house from which it sprang--there comes forth a twig
(_choter_), which promises to supply the place of the trunk
and crown; and down below, in the roots covered with earth,
and only rising a little above it there shows itself a
_nētzer, i.e.,_ a fresh, green shoot. In the historical
account of the fulfilment, even the ring of the words of
the prophecy is noticed: the _nētzer,_ at first so humble
and insignificant, was a poor despised _Nazarene_ (Matt.
ii. 23).--_Delitzsch._
[2] For additional suggestions on this part of the subject, see
outlines on pages 71-73 (ISAIAH'S VISION OF THE LAST DAYS,
THE LATTER-DAY GLORY, THE FUTURE TRIUMPHS OF THE GOSPEL),
101 (THE DIVINE IDEAL OF ISRAEL REALISED), 182 (THE REMEDY
OF THE WORLD'S MISERY), 186 (THE GOVERNMENT OF CHRIST),
191-194 (THE PRINCE OF PEACE, THE EMPIRE OF CHRIST, THE
SECURITY FOR THE FULFILMENT OF GOD'S PROMISES, THE
OUTSTRETCHED HAND OF GOD).