Isaiah 58:12

“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, &c.] As the cities in Israel and Judea, which had been long laid waste by the Assyrians and Chaldeans, were rebuilt by those of the Jewish nation, who returned from the captivity of Babylon, to which there is at least an allusion; and as the church of God, the tabernacle of David, which was fallen down, and had lain long in ruins, through corruptions in doctrine and worship, to the times of Christ, when the apostles, who were of the Jews, those wise masterbuilders, were instruments of raising it up again, and repairing its ruins: so, in the latter day, “the waste places of the world”f1151, as the words may be rendered, shall be…”

“they . . . of thee--thy people, the Israelites. old waste places--the old ruins of Jerusalem (Isa 61:4; Eze 36:33-36). foundations of many generations--that is, the buildings which had lain in ruins, even to their foundations, for many ages; called in the parallel passage (Isa 61:4), "the former desolations"; and in the preceding clause here, "the old waste places." The literal and spiritual restoration of Israel is meant, which shall produce like blessed results on the Gentile world (Amo 9:11-12; Act 15:16-17). be called--appropriately: the name truly designating what thou shalt do. breach--the calamity wherewith God visited Israel for their sin (Isa 30:26; Ch1 15:13). paths to dwell…”

“And they that shall be of thee - They that spring from thee; or thy people. Shall build the old waste places - Shall repair the old ruins, and restore the desolate cities and fields to their former beauty. This language is taken from the condition of Judea during the long captivity at Babylon. The land would have been desolated by the Chaldeans, and lain waste for a period of seventy years. Of course all the remains of their former prosperity would have gone to decay, and the whole country would be filled with ruins. But all this, says the prophet, would be restored if they were obedient to God. and would keep his law. Their descendants would be so numerous that the land would be entirely…”

“They shall be of thee - Thy posterity. Waste places - Cities which have lain long waste; that shall continue for many generations to come. The breach - Breach is put for breaches, which was made by God's judgment breaking in upon them in suffering the walls of their towns and cities to be demolished. Paths - Those paths that led from city to city, which being now laid desolate, and uninhabited, were grown over with grass, and weeds. To dwell in - These accommodations being recovered, their ancient cities might be fit to be re - inhabited. Isaiah 58:13”

“58:12 a rebuilder of walls: Nehemiah would later fulfill this promise (see Neh 2:17).”

“build: Isa 61:4; Neh 2:5, Neh 2:17, Neh 4:1-6; Jer 31:38; Eze 36:4, Eze 36:8-11, Eze 36:33; Amo 9:14 waste: Isa 51:3, Isa 52:9 The repairer: Neh 4:7, Neh 6:1; Dan 9:25; Amo 9:11 Isaiah 58:13”