Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 61:5

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks , and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen, and your vine-dressers .

Viz. Gentiles, such as are not of the natural race of the Jews, but Gentile Converts. Or, such as shall have no more then an outward profession, strangers to the true work of Grace.

Ready to be at thy service, a like expression, ch. 48. 13.

The Churches with the word of God.

The same with strangers, or their successours.

As the words describe the prosperous estate of the Jews, the meaning of them is, that they should be in such a flourishing and prosperous condition, that without their own labour, they should have all inferiour offices executed, either by slaves taken in War, or by Persons hired for reward, which they should have Riches and Wealth enough to accomplish; But as they principally relate to the spiritual State of the Church, so probably by Strangers we may understand Converted Gentiles with their Successors meant by the Sons of Aliens, which should be ready to discharge all Offices for the advan[illegible: 1+ letters]age of the Church feeding the Flocks, viz. the Churches of Christ wi[illegible: 1+ letters]h the Word of God, and should manage the whole work of God's Spiritual Husbandry therein; see 1 Cor. 3. 6, 7, 8, 9. Or, by Strangers may be meant Members of the Church onely by an outward Profession, even they shall be some way serviceable to her in ordinary and inferiour matters: The Earth shall help the Woman, Rev. 12. 16.