As is commonly the case in the Messianic prophecies, so here, too, no attention is paid to the development of Christ's Kingdom in time. Everything, therefore, is fulfilled only as to its beginning; and the complete fulfilment still stands out for that future in which, after the fulness of the Gentiles has been brought in, and apostate Israel has been converted, the consequences of the fall shall, in the outward nature also, be removed. Ver. 1. "_And there cometh forth a twig from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit._" The circumstance that the words in the first verse are completed in the number seven, divided into three and four, intimates that the Prophet here enters upon the territory of the revelation of a mystery of the Kingdom of God. Totally different--so the Prophet begins--from the fate of Asshur, just now proclaimed, shall that of the royal house of David be. Asshur shall be humbled at a time when he is most elevated. Lebanon falls through the mighty One: but the house of David shall be exalted at a time when he is most humbled. Who then would tremble and be afraid, although it go downward? _Luther_ says: "This is a short summary of the whole of theology and of the works of God, that Christ did not come till the trunk had died, and was altogether in a hopeless condition; that hence, when all hope is gone, we are to believe that it is the time of salvation, and that God is then nearest when He seems to be farthest off!" The same contrast appears in Ezek. xvii. 24. The Lord brings down the high tree of the world's power, and exalts the low tree of the Davidic house. The word גזע does not mean "stem" in general, as several rationalistic interpreters, and _Meier_ last, have asserted, but rather stump, _truncus_, κορμός, as _Aquila_, _Symmachus_, _Theodotion_, translate. This is proved from the following reasons: (1) the derivation from גזע, in Arabic _secuit_, equivalent to גדע, "to cut off," chap. ix. 9; x. 33. The גדעים in latter passage clearly refers to the גזע here. The proud trees of Asshur shall be _cut down_; from the cut down trunk of David there shall grow up a _new_ tree overshadowing the earth, and offering glorious fruits to them that dwell on it.--(2) The _usus loquendi_. The signification, "stump," is, by [Pg 102] the context, required in the two passages in which the word גזע still occurs. In Job xiv. 8, it is obvious. The whole passage there from vers. 7-9 illustrates the figurative representation in the verse under review. "For there is hope of a tree; if it be _cut down_ it will sprout again, and its tender branch does not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the _stump_ thereof die in the dust, through the scent of waters it buds, and brings forth boughs, like one newly planted." We have here the figure of our verse carried out. That which water is to the natural tree decaying, the Spirit and grace of