He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth
As at the birth of Christ, the Prince of peace, in the times of Augustus Caesar, when there was a general peace in the world, though it did not last long; and in the times of Constantine, signified by silence in heaven for half an hour, ( Revelation 8:1 ) ; when for a while there was a cessation from wars and persecution; and as will be in the latter day, and which is here chiefly designed; when nations shall learn war no more, and Christ's kingdom will take place; of which and its peace there shall be no end, ( Isaiah 2:4 ) ( Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:7 ) ( Psalms 72:7 ) . The consideration of which may serve to relieve distressed minds under terrible apprehensions of present troubles and public calamities;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the
chariot in the fire;
that is, "chariots", or "carts" F25 or "wagons", in which, as Aben Ezra observes, arms and provision were carried for the use of soldiers; the Targum renders it "round shields" F26: and the destroying of all these military weapons and carriages is a token of peace, and of war's being caused to cease, there being no more use for them; with this compare ( Ezekiel 39:8 Ezekiel 39:9 ) . It was usual to burn the arms of enemies taken in war F1.