Isaiah 57:1,2

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 evilto come] The idea conveyed by this rendering is that the natural death of many good men was a divine intimation, little heeded by the community, that some great calamity was impending. The translation is perfectly admissible, and the thought is in accordance with the religious sentiment of the O.T. (cf. 2 Kings 22:20); yet it is doubtful if we are entitled to read so much into the prophet's language. There is nothing to indicate that "the evil" is future, nor is it likely that the prophet has in view a future of terror for the righteous. The clause may be equally well rendered that (or for) the righteous is swept away before the evil; and this is probably all that is meant. The "evil" is the prevailing wickedness and oppression caused by the misgovernment described in Isaiah 56:10-12. The words "none considering" are parallel to "no man layeth it to heart," and mean that the community takes no note of the fact that its best members are disappearing from its midst.