Isaiah 57:4

On the contemptuous attitude of the Samaritans towards the Jews, see Nehemiah 4:1-4, and comp. ch. Isaiah 66:5.

sport yourselves Lit. "take your delight" (ch. Isaiah 55:2; Isaiah 58:14; Isaiah 66:11); only here used of malevolent satisfaction.

make a wide mouth Psalms 35:21.

are ye not &c. Are you not yourselves the proper objects of derision and abhorrence?

5 ff. Description of the varied idolatries to which they were devoted.

Inflaming yourselves with idols Rather, as R.V., Ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks (or "terebinths," the same word in ch. Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 61:3). The A.V. follows the chief ancient Versions in taking the last word to be the plural of that for "god"; but it is never used expressly of an idol or false god (not even in Exodus 15:11 or Daniel 11:36). The reference is, if not to the actual primitive tree-worship (traces of which are still found in Palestine), at least to that modification of it in which the sacred tree became a place of sacrifice and the scene of the licentious rites indicated by the expression "inflame yourselves." Comp. Hosea 4:13.

under every green(i.e. evergreen) tree Cf. Deuteronomy 12:2; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:6; Ezekiel 6:13; 1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 17:10 &c.

slaying the children(Ezekiel 16:21)] i.e. sacrificing them either to Jehovah or some false deity (Baal or Molech). On the subject of human sacrifice in Israel consult the notes in Davidson's Ezekiel(Camb. Bible for Schools, &c.), pp. 107 f., 143. Cf. Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 19:5; Ezekiel 20:25; Eze 23:39; 2 Kings 3:27; 2Ki 16:3; 2 Kings 21:6; Micah 6:7; Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31, &c., and 2 Kings 17:31.

in the valleys(or wadis, dry watercourses) under the clifts of the rocks Probably weird and desolate places were chosen by preference for these revolting rites, although this is the only passage where such a thing is suggested.