The Fundamentals - 1910: Vol.7

84 The Fundamentals . . I have raised him [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and he shall build My city, and he shall let My exiles go free.” In chapter 46:10, 11: “Declaring the end from the begin- ning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; . . . calling a ravenous bird [Cyrus] from the east, the man of My counsel. . . . Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass.” In chapter 48:3, 5: “I have declared the former things from of old, . . . and I showed them, suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. . . . I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them.” And again in chapter 48:6-8, 14-16: “I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things; . . . be- fore this day thou heardest them not, . . . yea, from of old thine ear was not opened, . . . Who, among them hath declared these things? . . . I even I .have spoken; yea, I have called him; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret.” To which long list of predictions the prophet adds by way of lamentation: “Oh, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments [including predictions]! then had thy peace been like a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (48:18). CYRUS A SUBJECT OF PREDICTION From all these numerous explicit and oft-repeated pre- dictions one thing is obvious, namely, that great emphasis is laid on prediction throughout the Book of Isaiah. “Cyrus” must be considered as predicted from any point of view. The only question is, Does the prophet emphasize the fact that he is himself predicting the coming of Cyrus? or, that former predictions concerning Cyrus are now in his time coming to pass? Canon Cheyne’s remark upon this point is apropos. He says: “The editor, who doubtless held the later Jewish theory of prophecy, may have inferred from a number of passages,

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