Tafsiran Yesaya 41:27: Rashi, Ibn Ezra & Malbim Beur Hamilot

The first to Zion, behold, behold them The first king who will give heart to Zion, behold he is the one I mentio ned, and even though the redemption will not be completed through him, he will be the one to initiate it. (Ezra 1:3) “Whoever of you from all His people...”

The first. The first relatively;³⁵The first in an absolute sense, can only be applied to God; I. E. therefore explains the word ראשון here by ראשון אחר ראשון lit. the first after another first, that is, the first relatively. it is the attribute to מבשר one that bringeth good tidings, which is to be supplied.

To Zion, to Jerusalem – Zion refers to the stronghold of Zion and represents the kingship, the Temple and the Sanhedrin. Jerusalem was the dwelling place of the masses and represents the gathering of the people and the like, as I wrote above.

behold them The elders of Israel will be ready, according to his statement, to go up from the exile and to begin.

and for Jerusalem I will give a herald in those days, [viz.] Haggai and Zechariah, who will encourage them to build it in the days of Darius III of Persia.