Isaiah 11:1-2
There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.
Haydock
Verse 1. Root. Juda shall not be exterminated, like the Assyrians. C. — Christ shall spring from the blessed Virgin, (W.) for the salvation of mankind. The Jews agree, that this prediction regards the Messias; though some, with Grotius, would explain it literally of Ezechias. They do not reflect that he was now ten years old, and that the prophet speaks of an event which should still take place after he had been a long while upon the throne. If we were to look for any figure of the Messias, to whom this might be applicable, it would be Zorobabel. Zac. iii. 8. But how disproportionate would be the promises to the execution? Some passages may indeed relate to the return of the captives, (v. 11.) as the people must have a more immediate object, to insure the accomplishment of the more elevated predictions concerning the Messias: but these also refer ultimately to the propagation of the gospel, which the prophet had also in view. C.
Verse 2. Him. In the form of a dove. Jo. i. 32. H. — “The whole fountain of the Holy Ghost descending.” Ev. Nazar. S. Jer. — Christ was filled with his seven gifts, and of his fullness his servants receive. W. — Yet all virtues are the gifts of the holy Spirit, and the number seven is not specified in Hebrew, as the same word (C.) yirath, is rendered godliness, which (v. 3.) means, the fear of the Lord. H. — God enables us to penetrate the difficulties of Scripture, and to act with prudence, &c. M.