60:1 your light has come Light is a metaphor for the salvation and spiritual awakening brought by the Messiah (see note on 51:4).

on you The second-person pronouns in this passage are feminine and singular. They refer to Zion/Jerusalem, which is personified as female (see 49:21–22; 51:18–20; 52:1–2).

60:3 nations shall come to your light In 42:6, Israel was sent as a light to the nations. That role was transferred to the Servant-Messiah in 49:6. Nations are described streaming to Zion in 2:2–5 and 11:10.

60:4 All of them gather Compare 49:18–22, where the nations bring the exiles of Israel home to Zion.

60:5 the wealth of the nations Refers to tribute brought to Yahweh. The conquering powers in the ancient Near East would exact tribute or tax payments on people they conquered. Israel and Judah had to regularly pay their wealth to Assyria, Babylonia, and Egypt. Isaiah envisions a reversal where the nations now pay tribute to Jerusalem (see note on 18:7).

60:6 Midian A nomadic tribe mainly located in northwest Arabia. According to Gen 25, Midian was a son of Abraham by his second wife Keturah.

Ephah A son of Midian (Gen 25:4).

Sheba A region in southwest Arabia known for its wealth and trade in precious stones and metals (see 1 Kgs 10:1; 2 Chr 9:1).

gold and frankincense Gold was associated with riches and power. Frankincense—a tree resin imported from Arabia—was highly prized as a spice and perfume.

60:7 Kedar A son of Ishmael (Gen 25:13). The nomadic tribe of Kedar is usually associated with the northern region of the Arabian desert, east of Syria. The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (reigned 669–632 bc) records a military expedition against Kedar, which was apparently a powerful Arabian faction at the time. See note on Isa 21:16.

Nebaioth The eldest son of Ishmael (Gen 25:13). Assyrian records place them as a nomadic tribe in northern Arabia, allied with Kedar.

for favor on my altar See note on Isa 56:7.

60:9 Tarshish A seaport city presumed to be in the western Mediterranean. See Gen 10:4 and note; Isa 2:16 and note; Jonah 1:3 and note. Many of the references to Tarshish link it with maritime Phoenician trade. It may have been a Phoenician colony in southwest Spain. The word tarshish is also used to describe a type of precious stone, possibly named after its place of origin.

60:10 foreigners shall build your walls May allude to Persian support for the rebuilding of Jerusalem (see Isa 45:13; Neh 2:1–9). More directly, it refers to the honor and assistance that will come from all nations when redemption comes.

60:11 they shall not be shut Zion’s future will be so peaceful and prosperous that they will never need to lock the gates against any enemies or thieves. All will be at peace and will bring their wealth to Yahweh. Compare the age of peace and prosperity envisioned in Isa 2:2–5 and 11:1–11.

60:13 The glory of Lebanon Because of its abundance, fertility, and rugged beauty, the Lebanon region is a standard image for earthly majesty and glory in the ot (see 14:8 and note; 29:17 and note).

I will do honor to the place of my feet The temple was described as Yahweh’s footstool (Pss 99:5; 132:7; Ezek 43:7; compare note on Isa 6:1). The first temple had been built with cedars from Lebanon (1 Kgs 7:2–3). Now, the same exports from Lebanon will again decorate Yahweh’s dwelling.

60:14 the city of Yahweh Isaiah 62:2 indicates that God will give Jerusalem a new name. Here, the city is named “City of Yahweh.” Compare 1:26.

60:16 suck the breast of kings Ancient Near Eastern imagery frequently depicted kings or gods suckling the breast of a goddess. The motif has been found in Egyptian, Assyrian, Hittite, Canaanite, and Syro-Phoenician sources. Isa 49:23 describes Israel being nursed by queens. The image symbolized that the god or king was receiving the best possible care and attention. Here, the nursing imagery reflects how Israel will receive the best of what all the nations have to offer. Compare the wealth of the nations image in v. 5.

and you shall know that A variation on the recognition formula (see note on Ezek 5:13), where Israel will finally see and acknowledge Yahweh’s power after all the wondrous things He has done on their behalf (see note on Isa 49:26).

60:17 instead of iron I will bring silver While iron represents swords and spears, silver represents the wealth of nations; see v. 5 and note.

60:18 Violence shall no longer be heard Illustrates the messianic age of peace (see 2:4; 11:9).

60:19 Yahweh will be your everlasting light See note on 51:4.

60:21 the shoot of his planting The planting consists of the true followers of Yahweh (61:3). The branch is a messianic image in 4:2 and 11:1 (see note on 4:2).