That in the primary sense of this text it is a prophecy of the _conversion of the Gentiles_, upon the _rejection of the Jews_, for their contempt and crucifying of Christ, cannot be doubted by any, who will not arrogate to themselves a greater ability to interpret the prophecies of the Old Testament... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have spread out my hands_ This is applied to the Jews, Romans 10:21. _I have stretched out my hands_, I have used all means to reduce them; I have stretched out the _hands_ of a passionate _orator_, to persuade them; of a _liberal benefactor_, to load them with my benefits: this I have done conti... [ Continue Reading ]
_A people that provoketh me to anger_ That the Jews are the people here intended, is without question: the prophet, speaking of the calling of the Gentiles, upon their rejection, enumerates some of their sins which were the causes thereof: for though their crucifying of Christ was the sin which was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me_ Though they were so exceedingly guilty, yet they pretended to singular sanctity, so that they would not suffer others to come near or touch them. The reader will observe that the crime of hypocrisy is here decried, and every one that is acquainted wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together_ Yea, and when I reckon with them, I will punish them, not only for their personal sins, but for the sins of their parents, which they have made their own, by imitation. _Which have burned incense upon the mountains_ There performing to i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord_ These words may be conceived as a gracious answer from God to the prophet, pleading God's covenant with _Abraham, Isaac_, and _Israel._ To this God replies, that he intended no such severity as the utter destruction of the whole nation; that the unfaithfulness of men should not... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_, &c. The prophet now returns to address his discourse to the sinners and apostates, whom he had reproved and threatened, (Isaiah 65:2,) and renews his charge against them for forsaking the Lord, separating themselves from his worship, and polluting themselves with idolatry, the most shameful a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore will I number you to the sword_ “Here the allusion to _meni_, which signifies _number_, is obvious.” _And you shall all bow down to the slaughter_ As you have bowed down to idols, which are my enemies, I will make you bow down to your enemies' swords; _because when I called_ Namely, by my... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry_, &c. I will make a great difference between my faithful servants and such unbelievers as you are. This promise the Lord fulfilled in a remarkable manner before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. In consequence of the direction given b... [ Continue Reading ]
_That he who blesseth himself in the earth_ In any part of the world, for God shall have servants out of all nations, that shall be dignified with this new name; _shall bless himself in the God of truth_ That is, in his name; shall renounce every species of idolatry, and invoke and praise the true G... [ Continue Reading ]
_For behold, I create new heavens_, &c. I will tell you yet a more admirable thing: I am about wholly to change the state, not only of my people, freeing them from the afflictions and troubles by which they have been oppressed, but also of the world, bringing a new face upon it; sending my Son to in... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall be no more thence an infant of days_, &c. There shall he no untimely or premature deaths, either of infants and children, who do not grow up to man's estate, or of old men, who do not live out the full term of life. _For the child shall die_, &c. This should rather be translated, _For h... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall build houses and inhabit them_ The prophet here describes another privilege of the church in these happy days. They shall enjoy blessings the very reverse of the curses denounced on the disobedient, Deuteronomy 28:30. _They shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them._ See note on Is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before they call I will answer_ “Behold here,” says Vitringa, “a desirable blessing, the truest seal of divine favour and paternal love. The closest conjunction of heaven and earth, that is, of God and men, is expressed in this verse; seeing that God declares he will abundantly and immediately sati... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wolf and the lamb shall feed together_ Concerning the metaphorical sense of these expressions see chap. 11:7, and 35:9. But since the renovation here spoken of extends to the whole creation, the words may imply the correcting the noxious qualities of fierce or venomous creatures.... [ Continue Reading ]