Isaiah 57:3-13

An Invective against the Pro-Samaritans. Yahweh turns now bitterly to upbraid the pro-Samaritan party in the community, among whom flourished many of the primitive Palestinian religious practices. To defame his mother was to an Eastern the most offensive of insults; but the terms used are figurative (idolatry being often in OT described as adultery). How can this false brood deride the pious! (Isaiah 57:5 is probably an illustrative quotation). The adulteress has chosen for her portion the smooth (perhaps slippery ones, i.e. false gods) in place of Yahweh. On the high places she has set her bed, i.e. practised heathen rites, which were in fact notoriously sensual. The memorial is probably a phallic symbol; incited by it (so read for to another than me) she strips and prepares her bed and hires for herself such as she loves intercourse with (slightly emending made thee a covenant). For where thou sawest it translate probably, thou sawest the phallus. If so, some clause has fallen out. She anoints herself for the King, i.e. Melek (= Moloch) the Palestinian god, and perfumes herself. Not content with Palestinian deities she sends representatives to the shrines of distant gods, even to the deities of Sheol. She refuses, despite her weariness, to acknowledge failure. Whom has she feared? For she has entirely ignored her duty to Yahweh. She has misinterpreted His inaction. But he will expose her righteousness (!) and her works. When she cries, her abominations the idols (cf. mg.) will not rescue her. They shall fly like chaff in the wind. But he who adheres to Yahweh shall possess the land.