Isaiah 63:11

In adversity the people realised the privilege they had forfeited by their rebellion, and longed for a return of the days of Moses.

Then he(i.e. Israel) remembered &c.. Since the second half of the verse contains obviously words of the people, the subject of "remembered" must be Israel, not Jehovah. In the view of many commentators this subj. is expressed in the following phrase "his people" ("Then his people remembered the days of old"). But this order of words would be unnatural. The two expressions "Moses" and "his people" probably represent separate marginal glosses which have crept into the text, the first explanatory of "shepherd" and the second perhaps of "his flock." Neither is found in the LXX.

Where is he &c.] Or, Where is He that brought up from the sea the shepherd of His flock (i.e. Moses)? This reading is easier than that of the Massoretic text; it is supported by Hebr. MSS., and is followed by the LXX. The plural "shepherds" of R.V. represents the received Hebrew text; but the singular is the older and better reading. The plural was no doubt substituted in order to include Aaron (cf. Psalms 77:20).

This turning back of the people's mind to the wonders of the Exodus is a hopeful sign of penitence which Jeremiah did not discover in the men of his day: "neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt?" (Jeremiah 2:6).

that put his holy Spirit within him Rather, within it, i.e. His flock, the community; see on Isaiah 63:10. Cf. Haggai 2:5; Nehemiah 9:20; Numbers 11:17; Numbers 11:25.