They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
If these promises were in part fulfilled when the Jews, after their return out of captivity, were settled in peace in their own land and brought as it were into a new world, yet they were to have their full accomplishment in the gospel church, militant first and at length triumphant. The Jerusalem that is from above is free and is the mother of us all.
Commenting on Isaiah 65:17-25
They shall not labour in vain,.... As they do, who build houses, and enemies come and turn them out of them, and dwell in them themselves; or who plant vineyards, and sow their fields, and strangers come and devour them; or they are smitten with blasting and mildew: nor bring forth for trouble; for death, as the Targum; or for a curse, as the Septuagint...
bring forth for trouble--literally, "for terror," that is, "They shall not bring forth children for a sudden death" (Lev 26:16; Jer 15:8). seed . . . blessed-- (Isa 61:9). offspring with them-- (Hos 9:12). "Their offspring shall be with themselves" [MAURER]; not "brought forth" only to be cut off by "sudden death" (see the parallel clause).