Threats and Promises, addressed to Two distinct Parties The chapter may be divided into two nearly equal portions: i. _Isa 65:1-12_. A contrast is drawn between the servants of Jehovah and a party who have apostatised from the true religion. (1) Isaiah 65:1. The divine speaker complains that His... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's overtures have been rejected by an obdurate people. 1 Render: I WAS TO BE ENQUIRED OF BY THOSE THAT ASKED NOT, I WAS TO BE FOUND BY THEM THAT SOUGHT ME NOT, etc. The first verb in each line is of the form _Niphal_, which is to be understood not as a simple passive, but in its _tolerativ... [ Continue Reading ]
_spread out mine hands_ The attitude of supplication; cf. Proverbs 1:24. _a rebellious_( REFRACTORY, Hosea 4:16) _people_ LXX. has; λαὸν ἀπειθοῦντα καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα; and so the citation Romans 10:21. _a way_that was _not good_ "A not-good way" (litotes). The same phrase in Psalms 36:4; Proverbs 16:... [ Continue Reading ]
_that sacrificeth in the gardens_ Cf. ch. Isaiah 66:17, and see on Isaiah 1:29. _burneth incense upon altars of brick_ Strictly ON THE BRICKS (R.V.), or TILES. We have no key to the meaning of the expression. Some think the "tiles" denote the roofs of the houses, where sacrifices were sometimes offe... [ Continue Reading ]
Description of their illegal and superstitious cults.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first two lines read: WHO SIT IN THE GRAVES, AND PASS THE NIGHT IN SECRET (lit. guarded) PLACES. The practice of "sitting in graves" is undoubtedly rooted in the worship of ancestors (Schwally, _Das Leben nach dem Tode_, pp. 68, 71), and the object probably was to obtain oracles from the de... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stand by thyself_ Lit. "Draw near to thyself." Cf. Isaiah 49:20. _for I am holier than thou_ This construction of the accus. suffix is hardly admissible. The verb is to be pointed as _Piel_, and the clause rendered: ELSE I SANCTIFY THEE (cf. the similar use of the perf. in 1 Samuel 2:16). The words... [ Continue Reading ]
Sentence is now pronounced on the reprobates, who by their persistent idolatries have served themselves heirs to the guilt of their fathers. it is _written before me_ The sins mentioned above stand recorded in the heavenly books, calling constantly for punishment (cf. Jeremiah 17:1). Another interp... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your iniquities … your fathers_ The change from 3rd to 2nd pers. is extremely awkward, unless the verse could be detached from the preceding and regarded (down to "hills") as an exclamation. This is far from natural; the better construction is that of the E.V. which makes "iniquities" the obj. to ... [ Continue Reading ]
In the figure, the grape-cluster represents the nation as a whole, including many unworthy members, the "new wine" (_iîrôsh_, "must") is the spiritual kernel of the nation, here called "my servants"; and the truth taught is that for the sake of the latter "the whole" shall not be annihilated in the... [ Continue Reading ]
In spite of the gross idolatries denounced in the preceding section there is that in Israel which makes it precious in the sight of Jehovah, and ensures for it a brilliant future.... [ Continue Reading ]
When a separation is effected the true Israelites shall possess the land (ch. Isaiah 57:13; Isaiah 60:21). _a seed_ Cf. ch. Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 53:10. _my mountains_ the mountain land of Palestine, an Isaianic phrase (ch. Isaiah 14:25). _shall inherit it_ i.e. the land. _shall dwell there_ Dillman... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sharon_ (in Hebr. always with the art.) the northern part of the Maritime Plain, from near Carmel to Joppa, varying in breadth from 6 to 12 miles. (For a description see G. A. Smith, _Hist. Geogr._pp. 147 f.) _the valley of Achor_ Joshua 7:24; Joshua 15:7; Hosea 2:15. One of the valleys (not ident... [ Continue Reading ]
A renewed threat against the apostates, with a further allusion to their idolatry. _But ye are they that forsake &c._ Render: BUT AS FOR YOU THAT FORSAKE JEHOVAH (ch. Isaiah 1:4) &c. The whole verse is a descriptive anticipation of the object of the verb "destine" in Isaiah 65:12 (see R.V.). _that... [ Continue Reading ]
Render with R.V. I WILL DESTINE YOU TO THE SWORD &c. There is a play upon words between the verb for "destine" (_mânâh_) and _Měnî_in Isaiah 65:11. _because when I called &c._ Cf. Isaiah 65:1. _but did evil before mine eyes &c._ Exactly as ch. Isaiah 66:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Contrast between the fate of these idolaters and that of Jehovah's servants.... [ Continue Reading ]
_joy of heart_ Cf. Deuteronomy 28:47. _vexation of spirit_ lit. BREAKING of spirit; contrast the different sense of "broken of heart" (ch. Isaiah 61:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
Their names shall be used in a formula of imprecation. Comp. in illustration Jeremiah 29:22: "And from them shall be taken a curse for all the captivity of Judah … saying, -Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!"." Have we such a formula quoted i... [ Continue Reading ]
_That_ R.V., SO THAT (as Genesis 11:7; Psalms 95:11; Malachi 4:1, &c.). _he who blesseth himself in the_ LAND] i.e. "who invokes a blessing on himself"; cf. Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 48:20; Jeremiah 4:2. _shall bless himself_ BY _the God of truth_ using such expressions as, "May the God... [ Continue Reading ]
_new heavens and a new earth_ i.e. a new universe, Hebrew having no single word for the Cosmos (cf. ch. Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). The phrase sums up a whole aspect of the prophetic theology. The idea of a transformation of nature so as to be in harmony with a renewed humanity has... [ Continue Reading ]
The last sentence of Isaiah 65:16 inspires the loftiest flight of the prophet's imagination. The "former troubles shall be forgotten" in the glories of a new creation, in which all things minister to the welfare of Jehovah's regenerate people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I create Jerusalem a rejoicing &c._ i.e. either an object in which one may rejoice (Isaiah 65:19, ch. Isaiah 60:15) or an abode of joy (ch. Isaiah 51:3; Isaiah 61:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
God Himself rejoices in the new city and people; cf. Isaiah 62:5. _and the voice of weeping &c._ Cf. ch. Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 35:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Amongst the blessings of the new people of God the chief shall be a miraculous extension of the term of human life. This is the dominant idea down to the end of Isaiah 65:22. The expression of the thought is unaccountably laboured and obscure. _an infant of days_ must mean one who lives only a few... [ Continue Reading ]
In consequence of this extension of the term of life, each man shall enjoy the fruit of his own labour (cf. Deuteronomy 28:30). The idea is therefore somewhat different from that of ch. Isaiah 62:8-9. _as the days of a tree_ Cf. Psalms 92:12-13. _mine elect_(MY CHOSEN, Isaiah 65:15) _shall long en... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall not_ WEARY THEMSELVES FOR VANITY] ch. Isaiah 49:4; Habakkuk 2:13; because God's blessing rests on them. _nor bring forth_(sc. CHILDREN) _for_ SUDDEN DESTRUCTION] Jeremiah 15:8; Psalms 78:33. _and their offspring with them_ Better perhaps as a complete sentence: AND THEIR OFFSPRING SHAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Daniel 9:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
A last feature of the new earth is the peace which shall reign in the animal world. See on ch. Isaiah 11:6-9, from which this verse is quoted. The second and fourth lines are cited literally from Isaiah 11:7; Isaiah 11:9, the first is a condensation of Isaiah 11:6-7 a. The only clause not represente... [ Continue Reading ]