Isaiah60chapter 60

The traffic is described by route, and it is the real commercial map of the ancient world. Camels of Midian and Ephah and all the caravans from Sheba bringing gold and frankincense — that is the incense road up from southern Arabia, the richest overland trade there was. Flocks of Kedar and rams of Nebaioth — the northern Arabian herding tribes. And the ships of Tarshish first, the long-haul freighters of the western Mediterranean, bringing sons from far away with their silver and gold.

The line about the gates is a security statement. Every walled city shut its gates at dusk and barred them, and being outside when they closed was a serious matter. Isaiah says your gates shall be open continually, day and night, they shall not be shut — which is only possible in a world with nothing left to fear.

The materials list is an upgrade schedule, one grade at a time: for bronze I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver, for wood bronze, and for stones iron. Every ordinary material in the building trade is replaced by the next one up.

The timber comes from Lebanon, and the species are named as a builder would name them — cypress, pine, and box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary. That was the standard source of quality construction wood for the whole region, and Solomon's temple had been built from it.

The last verses go past what any restoration achieved. The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor the moon for brightness, for the LORD will be your everlasting light. Read in a premillennial frame, this is the reign of the Messiah with the nations bringing their wealth to Jerusalem, not a description of the modest city rebuilt under Persian permission.