Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 59:17

17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate , and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

God, resolving to appear as a Man of War against Babylon, that did now oppress his People, puts on his Arms, Heb. wrapt himself, and particularly his Breast-plate which he calls Righteousness, to shew the justness of his Cause, as also his Faithfulness in making good his Promises to his People.

As the Breast-plate is to defend the Heart and vital parts, whereby God doth signifie the Innocency and justness of his Cause, as well as his Faithfulness; so the Helmet is to defend the Brain, the fountain of the animal Spirits, and therefore by this piece of armour would have us know that he is invincible▪ As by the other that he defends a just Cause in his Truth, and faithfulness, so by this, that he cannot be disappointed in it by reason of his Power, and Invincibleness.

Or Garments made of Vengeance, as God is said to put on the former for their sakes, whom he would preserve, so he puts on these for their sakes, whom he will destroy, viz. his Peoples Enemies▪ the Chaldeans, and other enemies of the Jews.

Either 1. Zeal to his own honour, which had been given to Idols; or 2. Zeal for his own People, who were now in distress: Or 3. Zeal, and Indignation against the Babylonians, who were such great oppressors of his People, which are the materials, that his garment of vengeance, and his cloak of Zeal is made of. It may be triffling to follow this Metaphor of Garments too close; see of the Phrase, Iudg. 6. 34. marg. The sum of all these expressions is this, to describe both the cause, and effect together, the cause was Righteousness and zeal in God, the effect Salvation to his People, and vengeance on his enemies, as is evident from the next verse.

Marginal references: Eph. 6. 14, 17. 1 Thes. 5. 8.