Isaiah 56:9 to Isaiah 57:21. A Protest against the Unworthy Shepherds of God's Flock, and the arrogant Heathenism by which it is threatened; followed by a Message of Consolation to True Israelites This sombre and impassioned discourse is composed of three parts: i. ch. Isaiah 56:9 to Isaiah 57:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 57:1. The most alarming feature of the situation, though the least noticed, is the gradual removal of the righteous members of the community. Comp. Psalms 12:1. _merciful men_ lit., MEN OF PIETY (cf. ch. Isaiah 55:7; Isaiah 28:14). _none considering that the righteous is taken away from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Render with R.V. (and marg.) HE ENTERETH INTO PEACE; THEY REST IN THEIR BEDS, EACH ONE THAT WALKED STRAIGHT BEFORE HIM. The "peace" and "rest" spoken of are those of the grave (Job 3:13 ff.), the "bed" is the bier or coffin; cf. 2 Chronicles 16:14; Ezekiel 32:25. The same word is used of the sarcoph... [ Continue Reading ]
Indignant summons to the apostate community. _But draw near hither_ Better, BUT AS FOR YOU, DRAW NEAR HITHER &c. to hear your doom (cf. Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 45:20; Isaiah 48:16). _ye sons of_ _A_ _sorceress_ The most galling insult to an Oriental is to revile his mother (see 1 Samuel 20:30). By the... [ Continue Reading ]
Invective against an idolatrous party. With regard to the reference of this obscure and difficult passage the following points have to be noticed: (1) The scenery of Isaiah 57:5 is unmistakeably Palestinian (wadis, clefts of the rock, terebinths). (2) Several of the rites specified bear the complexi... [ Continue Reading ]
On the contemptuous attitude of the Samaritans towards the Jews, see Nehemiah 4:1-4, and comp. ch. Isaiah 66:5. _sport yourselves_ Lit. "take your delight" (ch. Isaiah 55:2; Isaiah 58:14; Isaiah 66:11); only here used of malevolent satisfaction. _make a wide mouth_ Psalms 35:21. are _ye not &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
As commonly explained, the verse refers to the worship of stone fetishes; but this is very doubtful. It is obvious, indeed, that by the SMOOTH (ONES) OF THE WADI some objects of worship are denoted, but is it necessary to suppose that they were smooth _stones_? The expression "smooth ones" (_ḥalqê_)... [ Continue Reading ]
As in the valleys, so on the hill-tops, the people had sacrificed to strange gods. Cf. Hosea 4:13; Jeremiah 2:20; Ezekiel 6:13. _hast thou set thy bed_ The image is suggested by the frequent comparison of idolatry (in Israel) to adultery. Cf. Hosea 4:12; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:2; Ezekiel 16:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part of the verse seems to allude to some form of household idolatry. Many commentators explain the expression as a violation of the command in Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20. In these passages the Israelites are directed to write certain sentences of Scripture on the doorposts of thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Pilgrimages and deputations to the shrines of foreign deities form a fitting conclusion to the enumeration of their idolatries. Another view taken of the verse is that it refers to political embassies sent to court the favour of some great heathen power. This idea derives support from the resemblanc... [ Continue Reading ]
Although wearied by these idolatries they have persisted in them with an infatuation which has blinded them to their desperate situation, and rendered them indifferent to the fear of Jehovah. _in the greatness of thy way_ i.e. "through thy much wandering," thy multifarious religious observances. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Most critics detect in this verse a milder tone on the part of the Divine speaker, as if He would find a partial excuse for the apostasies of the people in their undue fear of other gods, and distrust of Jehovah, who had so long time kept silence (cf. ch. Isaiah 51:12 f., Isaiah 42:14). If this impr... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jehovah will no longer be silent; He will proceed to judgement (cf. again Psalms 50:21). _I will declare thy righteousness_ must be spoken ironically: "I will expose thy (pretended) righteousness." This might be said of the Samaritans, who claimed to be true worshippers of Jehovah just as ancie... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee_ Cf. Jeremiah 2:28. The word for "companies" does not occur elsewhere; it means THEM WHICH THOU HAST GATHERED (R.V.): THY RABBLE of idols (R.V. marg.) (see Micah 1:7). _vanity_ R.V. A BREATH. The second half of the verse forms a transition to the n... [ Continue Reading ]
_And shall say_ or, AND IT SHALL BE SAID (R.V. marg.). The speaker is Jehovah ("my people"), not one of the angelic beings of the Prologue. The expression means simply "the word shall go forth." The image of the highway of salvation is taken from ch. Isaiah 40:3 (see also Isaiah 62:10), but seems t... [ Continue Reading ]
In striking contrast to the menacing tone of Isaiah 57:3 ff. is the impressive and elevated language in which the prophet now sets forth the gracious thoughts of Jehovah towards His erring but repentant people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_high and lofty_ An Isaianic phrase, ch. Isaiah 2:12 ff., Isaiah 6:1 (cf. Isaiah 52:13). _that inhabiteth eternity_ Rather, "that sitteth (enthroned) for ever." _I dwell in the high and holy_place] The strict rendering perhaps is "on high and Holy (as a holy One) I dwell." Cf. Isaiah 66:1. _of a c... [ Continue Reading ]
Hardly less remarkable is the motive here assigned for the Divine clemency, Jehovah's compassion for the frailty of His creatures (Psalms 103:9; Psalms 103:13 f., Psalms 78:39). The argument somewhat resembles that of ch. Isaiah 45:18 ff.: it cannot be Jehovah's purpose to undo His own creation. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the iniquity of his covetousness_ The mention of "covetousness" as the typical sin of the community here addressed affords some support to the theory that the post-exilic Jews are referred to. See Haggai 1:2; Haggai 1:9; Malachi 1:8; Malachi 1:13-14; Malachi 3:8; Nehemiah 5. These passages shew... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen his ways_ Either "his sinful ways" or "the amendment of his ways." The first view is perhaps more probable, in which case the words would be better joined to the preceding verse (so Duhm). _and will heal him_ Or, "And I will heal him," beginning a new sentence. Cf. Hosea 6:1; Hosea 14:... [ Continue Reading ]
_I create the fruit of the lips_ Better, CREATING FRUIT OF THE LIPS, continuing Isaiah 57:18. "Fruit of the lips" means praise and thanksgiving, as Hosea 14:2 (R.V. marg.); Hebrews 13:15. Jehovah will create this, cause it to spring forth spontaneously, from those who experience His lovingkindness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Their peace is contrasted with the eternal unrest of the wicked. For the image cf. Judges 13. _when_( FOR) _it cannot rest_ as Jeremiah 49:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is _no peace &c._ see on ch. Isaiah 48:22.... [ Continue Reading ]