And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
People from foreign nations will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Yes, I struck you down in my anger, but now in my kindness I have shown you mercy.
God is promising that He will restore His people after punishing them, and even foreign nations will help in their rebuilding.
📚 Historical Context
This prophecy was written during or after Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when the city walls were torn down and the people were exiled. Isaiah is prophesying about Jerusalem's future restoration, when foreigners would actually help rebuild what they had once destroyed. This began to be fulfilled when Persian King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return and rebuild, and later when various foreign rulers supported the reconstruction of Jerusalem.
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