THE VISION OF ISAIAH THE SON OF AMOZ... — The term “vision,” as descriptive of a prophet’s work (1 Samuel 3:1), is the correlative of the old term “seer,” as applied to the prophet himself (1 Samuel 9:9). The latter fell into disuse, probably because the pretenders to the clairvoyance which it impli... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, O HEAVENS, AND GIVE EAR, O EARTH. — The prophet opens the great indictment by calling the universe to listen to it. The words remind us of Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 32:1, but the thought was the common inheritance of Hebrew poets (Psalms 50:4; Jeremiah 6:19; Jeremiah 22:29), and we can dr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OX KNOWETH HIS OWNER... — As in Exodus 20:17; 1 Samuel 12:3, the ox and the ass rather than, as with us, the horse and the dog, are the representative instances of the relation of domesticated animals to man. These know that relation, and act according to it; but Israel did not, or rather would... [ Continue Reading ]
AH, SINFUL NATION... — The Hebrew interjection is, like our English “Ha!” the expression of indignation rather than of pity. A SEED OF EVILDOERS, CHILDREN THAT ARE CORRUPTERS. — The first phrase in the Hebrew idiom does not mean “the progeny of evil-doers,” but those who, as a seed or brood, are ma... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SHOULD YE BE STRICKEN ANY MORE? YE WILL REVOLT MORE AND MORE. — Better, _by revolting more and more._ The prophet does not predict persistency in rebellion, but pleads against it. (Comp. “Why will ye die?” in Ezekiel 18:31.) THE WHOLE HEAD IS SICK.... — Better, _every head.... every heart._ The... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR COUNTRY IS DESOLATE... — It is natural to take the words as describing the actual state of things when the prophet wrote. There had been such invasions in the days of Ahaz, in which Israel and Syria (Isaiah 7:1), Edom and the Philistines, had been conspicuous (2 Chronicles 28:17); and the reign... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAUGHTER OF ZION. — The phrase stands, as everywhere (Psalms 45:12; Lamentations 2:8; Micah 4:10), for the ideal city personified. IS LEFT AS A COTTAGE IN A VINEYARD... — The “hut,” or “_booth,”_ in which the keeper of the vineyards dwelt, apart from other habitations, was an almost proverbial... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT THE LORD OF HOSTS... — This name also had been stamped on the prophet’s mind at the time of his call (Isaiah 6:3). The God of the hosts (or _armies_) of heaven (sun, moon and stars, angels and archangels) and of earth had not been unmindful of the people. The idea of the “remnant” left when t... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE RULERS OF SODOM. — The Hebrew text, by leaving a space between the two verses, indicates the beginning of a new section. It is noticeable that the prophet does not address the king. It may be that he trusted him, but not his ministers. We have to remember that the ruler... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHAT PURPOSE IS THE MULTITUDE OF YOUR SACRIFICES?... — Isaiah carries on the great _catena_ of prophetic utterances as to the conditions of acceptable worship (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalms 40:6; Psalms 50:7; Psalms 51:16). In Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6 we have the utterances of contemporary prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE COME TO APPEAR BEFORE ME. — Literally, _before my face._ This is the meaning given by the present Hebrew text, and it is, of course, adequate. The Syriac version and some modern scholars (_e.g.,_ Cheyne) adopt a reading which gives _to see my face._ In either case the implied thought is that... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING NO MORE VAIN OBLATIONS. — These were of the _minchah_ class, the “meat-offerings,” or, more properly, meal-offerings of Leviticus 7:9. This, with its symbolic accompaniment of incense (Isaiah 66:3), was the characteristic feature of the thank-offerings and peace-offerings. INCENSE IS AN ABOMIN... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR NEW MOONS AND YOUR APPOINTED FEASTS. — The latter word included the sabbaths (Leviticus 23:3). The words add nothing to what had been said before, but they come with all the emphasis of iteration. MY SOUL. — The words are in one sense anthropomorphic. With man the “soul” expresses the full int... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE SPREAD FORTH YOUR HANDS. — The words point to the attitude of one who prays, as was the manner of Jews, Greeks, and Romans (“tenditque ad sidera palmas,” Virg., _Æn.,_ xii. 196), standing, and with hands stretched out toward heaven. (Comp. Luke 18:11.) WHEN YE MAKE MANY PRAYERS. — The Pentat... [ Continue Reading ]
WASH YOU, MAKE YOU CLEAN... — The words were probably as an echo of Psalms 51:7. Both psalmist and prophet had entered into the inner meaning of the outward ablutions of ritual. CEASE TO DO EVIL; (17) LEARN TO DO WELL. — Such words the prophet might have heard in his youth from Amos (Amos 5:14). Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
RELIEVE THE OPPRESSED. — More accurately, _correct the oppressor._ The prophet calls on the rulers not merely to acts of benevolence, but to the courageous exercise of their authority to restrain the wrong-doing of the men of their own order. We are reminded of what Shakespeare says of Time, that it... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER. — The Authorised Version suggests the thought of a discussion between equals. The Hebrew implies rather the tone of one who gives an authoritative _ultimatum,_ as from a judge to the accused, who had no defence, or only a sham defence, to offer (Micah 6:2). “Let... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YE SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND. — The promise of temporal blessings as the reward of a true repentance, instead of the spiritual peace and joy of Psalms 51:8, fills us at first with a sense of disappointment. It has to be remembered, however, that the prophet spoke... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW IS THE FAITHFUL CITY BECOME AN HARLOT!... — The opening word, as in Lamentations 1:1, is the key-note of an elegiac wail, which opens a new section. The idea of prostitution as representing apostasy from Jehovah was involved in the thought that Israel was the bride whom He had wooed and won (Hos... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SILVER IS BECOME DROSS... — The two images describe the degeneracy of the rulers to whose neglect this disorder was due. (See Notes on Jeremiah 6:28.) Hypocrisy and adulteration were the order of the day. The coinage of judgment and justice was debased; the wine of spiritual life (Proverbs 9:5),... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PRINCES ARE REBELLIOUS. — The Hebrew words present an alliterative paronomasia (_sârim, sôrerîm_)_,_ which may be represented by “Thy rulers are rebels.” Here, as before, we note the “influence of Hosea (Hosea 9:15), from whom the words are cited. COMPANIONS OF THIEVES. — We seem almost to be re... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SAITH THE LORD. — The word for “saith” (literally, _whisper_) is that which always indicates the solemn utterance of an oracle. The solemnity is emphasised by the exceptional accumulation of Divine names. He who speaks is the Eternal, the Lord of the armies of earth and heaven, the Hero, t... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL TURN MY HAND UPON THEE. — The phrase, like the English “visit,” presents both a severe and a gracious aspect. Of the former we have instances in Psalms 81:14; Amos 1:8; of the latter in Zechariah 13:7. The context here inclines to the latter meaning. Jehovah punishes that He may save, and smi... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL RESTORE THY JUDGES AS AT THE FIRST. — The prophet looks back to the good old days, the time probably of David, or the early years of Solomon (1 Kings 10:9) — as Englishmen look back to those of Elizabeth — when judges were faithful, and princes upright, and the people happy — to such an ideal... [ Continue Reading ]
ZION SHALL BE REDEEMED WITH JUDGMENT... — Better, _through justice._ The condition of the redemption which primarily proceeds from the compassion of Jehovah is found in the renewed righteousness of man to man described in the preceding verse. Without that no redemption was possible, for that was of... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRANSGRESSORS AND OF THE SINNERS. — The first of the two words presents evil in its aspect of apostasy, the second in that of the open sin which may accompany the apostasy or exist without it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL BE ASHAMED OF THE OAKS... — Better, _terebinths._ The words point to the groves that were so closely connected with the idolatry of Canaan, especially with the worship of the _asherah,_ and which the people had chosen in preference to the sanctuary of Jehovah (Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 57:5; Is... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BE... — Men were to think of the pleasant places that had tempted them, not as they had seen them, fresh and green, but as burnt up and withered, and then were to see in that desolation a parable of their own future. The word for “strong” occurs only in Amos 2:9, where we find “strong as th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAKER OF IT AS A SPARK. — Better, _his work as a spark._ The sin itself becomes the instrument of destruction. The mighty and the proud, who were foremost in the work of idolatry, and who did not repent, should perish with their work — _i.e.,_ with the idol which their hands had made. The tow an... [ Continue Reading ]