Bible Commentary

Isaiah 45:3

Isaiah 45:3

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

I will give thee the treasures of darkness; i.e. "treasures stored in dark places"—"bidden treasures." Treasuries were built for greater security without windows. Of the treasures which fell into the hands of Cyrus, the greatest were probably those of Babylon (Herod; 1.

183) and of Sardis (Xen; 'Cyrop.,' 7.2, § 11). The value of the latter has been estimated at above one hundred and twenty-six millions sterling. That thou mayest know; or, acknowledge. If these documents are accepted as genuine, or even as true in substance (Ewald), Cyrus must be considered to have identified Jehovah with his own Ormuzd, and to have viewed the Jewish and Persian religions as substantially the same.

He would be under no temptation, with so weak and down-trodden a people as the Jews, to resort to politic pretences, as he might be in the case of the Babylonians (see the comment on ). Which call thee by thy name (comp.

and ). (On the special favour implied in God's condescending to "know" or "call" a person by his name, see the 'Pulpit Commentary' on .) Am the God of Israel; rather, am the Lord … the God of Israel.

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Isaiah 45 — OverviewIsaiah 45 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleCyrus was nominated, in the foregoing chapter, to be God's shepherd; more is said to him and more of him in this chapter, not only because he was to be instrumental in the release of the Jews out of their…Isaiah 45 — OverviewIsaiah 45 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeIsaiah 45:1, God calls Cyrus for his church’s sake; Isaiah 45:5, By his omnipotency he challenges obedience; Isaiah 45:20, He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power.Isaiah 45 — OverviewIsaiah 45 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of…Isaiah 45:1-4Isaiah 45:1-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleCyrus was a Mede, descended (as some say) from Astyages king of Media. The pagan writers are not agreed in their accounts of his origin. Some tell us that in his infancy he was an outcast, left exposed, and was…Isaiah 45:1-5Isaiah 45:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe unfelt hand on the human heart. Of this passage the most striking and inviting words are those in the fourth and fifth verses: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me;" "I girded thee, though thou hast…Isaiah 45:1-7Isaiah 45:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryGOD'S WILL CONCERNING HIM ANNOUNCED TO CYRUS. This direct address of God to a heathen king is without a parallel in Scripture. Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Abimelech, were warned through dreams. Nebuchadnezzar was even…