Isaiah 41:2

Who stirs up this one from the east? ¹  Who ²  officially commissions him for service? ³  He hands nations over to him, ⁴  and enables him to subdue ⁵  kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like windblown straw with his bow. ⁶ 

Ge 11:31; Ge 12:1-3; Ge 14:14,15; Ge 17:1; 2Sa 22:43; 2Ki 13:7; Ezr 1:2; Isa 40:24; Isa 41:15; Isa 41:15,16; Isa 41:25; Isa 45:1; Isa 45:13; Isa 46:11; Heb 7:1; Heb 11:8-10

¹ sn The expression this one from the east refers to the Persian conqueror Cyrus, as later texts indicate (see 44:28-45:6; 46:11; 48:14-16).

² tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis.

³ tn Heb “[in] righteousness called him to his foot.”

⁴ tn Heb “he [the Lord] places before him [Cyrus] nations.”

⁵ tn The verb יַרְדְּ (yardÿ) is an otherwise unattested Hiphil form from רָדָה (radah, “rule”). But the Hiphil makes no sense with “kings” as object; one must understand an ellipsis and supply “him” (Cyrus) as the object. The Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has יוֹרִד (yorid), which appears to be a Hiphil form from יָרַד (yarad, “go down”). Others suggest reading יָרֹד (yarod), a Qal form from רָדַד (radad, “beat down”).

⁶ sn The point is that they are powerless before Cyrus’ military power and scatter before him.