CHAPTER LVII _After mentioning the removal of righteous persons as an awful_ _symptom of the approach of Divine judgments_, 1, 2, _the prophet goes on to charge the nation in general with_ _idolatry, and with courting the unprofitable alliance of_ _idolatrous kings_, 3-12. _In opposition to su... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:2. _HE SHALT ENTER INTO PEACE_ - "He shall go in peace"] יבוא שלום _yabo shalom_; the expression is elliptical, such as the prophet frequently uses. The same sense is expressed at large and in full terms, Genesis 15:15: ואתה תבא אל אבותיך בשלום veattah libbo al abotheycha beshalom, ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:6. _AMONG THE SMOOTH STONES OF THE STREAM_ - "Among the smooth stones of the valley"] The Jews were extremely addicted to the practice of many superstitious and idolatrous rites, which the prophet here inveighs against with great vehemence. Of the worship of rude stones consecrated,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:8. _BEHIND THE DOORS ALSO AND THE POSTS HAST THOU SET UP_ _THY REMEMBRANCE__ _- "Behind the door, and the door-posts, hast thou set up thy memorial"] That is, the image of their tutelary gods, or something dedicated to them; in direct opposition to the law of God, which commanded th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:9. _AND THOU WENTEST TO THE KING WITH OINTMENT_ - "And thou hast visited the king with a present of oil"] That is, the king of Assyria, or Egypt. Hosea, Hosea 12:1, reproaches the Israelites for the same practice: - "They make a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried to Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:10. YET _SAIDST THOU NOT, THERE IS NO HOPE _- "Thou hast said, There is hope"] In one of the MSS. at Koningsberg, collated by Lilienthal, the words לא אמרת _lo amarta_, are left in the text unpointed, as suspected; and in the margin the corrector has written ותאמרי _vattomari_. Now i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:11. _NOR LAID_ IT _TO THY HEART_ - "Nor revolved it in thy hand"] _Eight_ MSS., (_four_ ancient,) and the _two_ oldest editions, with another, add the conjunction ו _vau_, ולא velo: which is confirmed by all the ancient Versions. _EVEN OF OLD_ - "And winked"] For ומעולם _umeolam_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:12. _THY RIGHTEOUSNESS _- "My righteousness"] For צדקתך _tsidkathech, THY righteousness_, the _Syriac, Septuagint_, MSS. _Alex_. and _Pachom_., and I. D. II., and _Marchal_. and οἱ Γ, and the _Arabic_, read צדקי _tsidki, MY righteousness_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:13. _LET THY COMPANIES DELIVER THEE _- "Let thine associates deliver thee"] _Thirty-nine_ MSS. (_ten_ ancient) of Dr. _Kennicott's_, and _two_ of my own, and the two oldest editions have יצילכו _yatstsiluchu_, plural.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:14. _AND SHALL SAY _- "Then will I say"] ואמר _vaomer_, to be pointed as the first person future. They are the words of God, as it is plain from the conclusion of the verse; _my_ people, עמי _ammi._ __... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:15. _FOR THUS SAITH THE HIGH AND LOFTY ONE _- "For thus saith JEHOVAH, the high and the lofty"] A MS. adds יהוה _Yehovah_, after אמר _amar_, and edition Prag. 1518. So the _Septuagint, Alex_., and _Arabic_. An ancient MS. adds יה _Yah_. _WITH HIM ALSO_ THAT IS _OF A CONTRITE AND HU... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:16. _FOR I WILL NOT CONTEND FOR EVER_] The learned have taken a great deal of pains to little purpose on the latter part of this verses which they suppose to be very obscure. After all their labours upon it, I think the best and easiest explication of it is given in the two following... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:17. _FOR THE INIQUITY OF HIS COVETOUSNESS WAS I_ _WROTH__ _- "Because of his iniquity for a short time was I wroth"] For בצעו _bitso_, I read בצע _betsa, a little while_, from בצע _batsa, he cut off_, as the _Septuagint_ read and render it, βραχυ τι "a certain short space." _Propter... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:18. _I HAVE SEEN HIS WAYS_] Probably these verses refer to the restoration of the Jews from captivity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:19. _I CREATE THE FRUIT OF THE LIPS_] "The sacrifice of praise," saith St. Paul, Hebrews 13:15, "is the fruit of the lips." God creates this fruit of the lips, by giving new subject and cause of thanksgiving by his mercies conferred on those among his people, who acknowledge and bew... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 57:21. THERE IS _NO PEACE, SAITH MY GOD_] For אלהי _Elohai,_ _twenty-two_ MSS. (_five_ ancient) of _Kennicott's, thirty_ of _De_ _Rossi's_, and _one_ ancient of my own, read יהוה _Yehovah_; the _Vulgate, Septuagint, Alex_., and _Arabic_, and three MSS. have both. This verse has referenc... [ Continue Reading ]