Isaiah 57:3

But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. BUT DRAW NEAR HITHER, YE SONS OF THE SORCERESS. In contrast to "the righteous" and their end, he announces to the unbelieving Jews their doom. SONS OF THE SORCERESS - i:e., ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the worship of false gods (). No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his mother (; ). SEED OF THE ADULTERER - spiritual adultery is meant: idolatry and apostasy ()....

3.And draw near, ye sons of the sorceress. After having spoken of the happy and peaceful death of good men, he breaks out with very great vehemence against the wicked, who did not cease to lead a base and shameful life, and were not moved by the death of believers. As he had said that good men enjoy peace, so he threatens that the wicked shall have ceaseless war. He taught that to the holy servants of God death shall even be like a hiding-place, to shelter them from the whirlwind, and storm, and other tempests, that he might threaten the worst of evils against the obstinate despisers of God. Here we ought to observe the contrast, between good men who walk before God, and the wicked, who cease not rebelliously to resist God. The former shall enjoy peace when they die; the latter shall have no peace during life, and shall feel dreadful torments in death. He orders them to come forth to the...

3-12 The Lord here calls apostates and hypocrites to appear before him. When reproved for their sins, and threatened with judgments, they ridiculed the word of God. The Jews were guilty of idolatry before the captivity; but not after that affliction. Their zeal in the worship of false gods, may shame our indifference in the worship of the true God. The service of sin is disgraceful slavery; those who thus debase themselves to hell, will justly have their portion there. Men incline to a religion that inflames their unholy passions. They are led to do any evil, however great or vile, if they think it will atone for crimes, or purchase indulgence for some favourite lust. This explains idolatry, whether pagan, Jewish, or antichristian. But those who set up anything instead of God, for their hope and confidence, never will come to a right end. Those who forsake the only right way, wander in...

BUT DRAW NEAR HITHER - That is, come near to hear the solemn sentence which God pronounces in regard to your character and doom. This is addressed to the impenitent and unbelieving part of the nation, and is designed to set before them the greatness of their sin, and the certainty that they would be punished. YE SONS OF THE SORCERESS - You who are addicted to sorcery and enchantments; who consult the oracles of the pagan rather than the only true God. On the meaning of the word used here, see the notes at Isaiah 2:6. The Hebrews, like other inhabitants of the East, were much addicted to this, and particularly in the time of Manasseh 2 Kings 21:6 : ‘And he made his sons pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dea

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 57:1, ISAIAH 57:2 THE EARLY DEATH OF RIGHTEOUS MEN ACCOUNTED FOR. The Hebrews were given to expect that long life should, as a general rule, accompany righteousness (Exodus 20:12; 1 Kings 3:14; Psalms 91:16; Proverbs 3:1,...

BUT DRAW NEAR HITHER,.... The death of the righteous, and their happiness after it, being observed: the wicked, who thought themselves safe from danger, and the happier that they were rid of the righteous, those witnesses and prophets which had tormented them, and therefore rejoiced on that account, are here summoned to the divine tribunal, to hear their character, and receive their doom, as follows: YE SONS OF THE SORCERESS; the children of Jezebel, the witch, and the prophetess that taught the servants of the Lord to commit fornication, and bewitched with her witchcrafts the sons of the apostate church of Rome; by whose sorceries all nations have been deceived, and of which she repents not, Revelation 2:20: THE SEED OF THE ADULTERER AND OF THE WHORE; of the great whore of Babylon, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; and

A lament for the death of the righteous many of them put to death by persecution. Isaiah 57:1. _The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness._ When there is a storm coming on, you may see the shepherds among the hills, gathering their sheep and taking them home, and when good men die in large numbers, and the Church's ranks are thinned, it is sometimes a token that bad times are coming on, and so God takes away the righteous from the evil to come. Oh! did men know what the world loses when a good man dies, they would regret it far more than the death of emperors and kings who fear not God. But as for those who are made righteous by the grace of God, they need no

Chapter s 56:9-57:14 must be read continuously. CHAPTER S 56:9-57:21 The Condition of the Apostate Nation and the two Classes 1. _The condition of the shepherds of Israel (Isaiah 56:9) _ 2. _Apostate Israel (Isaiah 57:1) _ 3. _The two classes (Isaiah 57:15) _ The final chapter of this second section corresponds to the last chapter of the first section (chapter 48). The sad condition of the people Israel is pictured. This is their national apostasy throughout this age, while strangers are joined to the Lord and the church is gathered. The worst is yet to come. Chapter 57:9 looks forward to the great apostasy during the great tribulation. The king is the Antichrist, who takes his seat in t

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST THE PRO-SAMARITANS. Yahweh turns now bitterly to upbraid the pro-Samaritan party in the community, among whom flourished many of the primitive Palestinian religious practices. To defame his mother was to an Eastern the most offensive of insults; but the terms used are figurative (idolatry being often in OT described as adultery). How can this false brood deride the pious! (Isaiah 57:5 is probably an illustrative quotation). The adulteress has chosen for her portion the smooth (perhaps slippery ones, _i.e._ false gods) in place of Yahweh. On the high places she has set her bed, _i.e._ practised heathen rites, which were in fact notoriously sensual. The memorial is probably a phallic symbol; incited by it (so read for to another than me) she strips and prepares her bed and hires for herself such as she loves intercourse with (slightly emending made thee a covenant).

SORCERESS. See note on Isaiah 2:6 ("soothsayer")....