The Eternal Blessedness of the True Israel; the Doom of the Apostates This chapter continues the antithesis that runs through ch. 65, carrying it onward to its eschatological issues. The connexion of ideas is frequently extremely difficult to trace, and no two critics are agreed as to where the dif... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah, who fills and has created heaven and earth, "dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Comp. the citation in Acts 7:48 ff., also 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:24. _The heaven_is _my throne_ Psalms 11:4; Psalms 103:19. _the earth_is _my footstool_ Hence the Temple itself (or the ark) is spoken... [ Continue Reading ]
_all_ THESE things] i.e. the heavens and the earth, the whole visible creation. That the phrase refers to the Jewish community with its religious institutions (Duhm) is a thoroughly unnatural supposition. For _have been_read HAVE COME INTO BEING. _but to this_man _will I look_( HAVE REGARD) _&c._ C... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part of the verse runs literally thus: "The slaughterer of the ox, a slayer of a man; the sacrificer of the sheep, a breaker of a dog's neck; the offerer of an oblation, swine's blood; the maker of a memorial of incense, one that blesseth vanity (i.e. an idol)"; four legitimate sacrificial... [ Continue Reading ]
_delusions_ Perhaps INSULTS; see on ch. Isaiah 3:4. Cheyne renders expressively "freaks of fortune," remarking, "the word is very peculiar: it represents calamity under the figure of a petulant child." _their fears_ i.e. "that which they fear," and strive to avert by their magical rites. _because... [ Continue Reading ]
A promise to the believing Jews, that they shall speedily witness the discomfiture of their enemies and persecutors. _ye that tremble at his word_ thus fulfilling the condition of Isaiah 66:2. The "word" of the Lord is that spoken by the prophets, and the "trembling" of these devout hearers express... [ Continue Reading ]
Description of the sudden outbreak of Jehovah's destructive might from His city and sanctuary (cf. Amos 1:2; Joel 3:16; ch. Isaiah 33:14). A NOISE OF UPROAR FROM THE CITY! A NOISE FROM THE TEMPLE! THE NOISE OF JEHOVAH RENDERING RECOMPENCE (see on Isaiah 59:18) TO HIS ENEMIES! (those referred to in I... [ Continue Reading ]
The sudden repopulation of the city by her children. The figure is taken from ch. Isaiah 49:17-21; Isaiah 54:1; the fact set forth being the instantaneous return of the exiled Israelites, by which, without effort, the poor and struggling Jewish community becomes at once a great nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall the earth &c._ Render: SHALL (the people of) A LAND BE TRAVAILED WITH IN ONE DAY? For "land" in the sense of "population" there do not seem to be any real parallels; Judges 18:30 is hardly a case in point. Possibly the word for "people" (_-am_) should be inserted (Duhm).... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. ch. Isaiah 37:3; "the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth." But in this crisis Jehovah Himself is present, and what He begins He will carry on to its marvellous issue. The second half of the verse should be rendered as in R.V. SHALL I THAT CAUSE TO BRING F... [ Continue Reading ]
_that mourn for her_ Cf. ch. Isaiah 57:18; Isaiah 61:2-3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Invitation to the sorrowing children of Zion to rejoice in their mother's consolation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. ch. Isaiah 60:16. _abundance_ The Heb. word (_zîz_) is of uncertain interpretation. It is found again only in Psalms 50:11; Psalms 80:13 in the phrase "beast of the field" (_zîz sâday_). It is doubtful, however, if the word there be identical with that in this verse. A perfect parallelism (wi... [ Continue Reading ]
A promise of prosperity to Jerusalem and her inhabitants.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will extend_(cf. Genesis 39:21) _peace … like a river_ See ch. Isaiah 48:18. _the glory of the Gentiles_ THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. Cf. ch. Isaiah 60:5; Isaiah 61:6. _borne upon_ THE SIDE (see on Isaiah 60:4) … THE _knees_ So R.V. The insertion of "her" is misleading. As in Isaiah 60:4 (Isaiah 49:22... [ Continue Reading ]
A still finer image, "the grown man coming back with wounds and weariness upon him to be comforted of his mother" (G. A. Smith).... [ Continue Reading ]
R.V. AND YE SHALL SEE (it) AND YOUR HEART &c.; recalling ch. Isaiah 60:5. _your bones shall flourish like_ THE TENDER GRASS (R.V.)] i.e. shall be fresh and full of sap (cf. Job 21:24; Proverbs 15:30). So when the strength is exhausted by sickness, the bones are said to be consumed or burn (Psalms 31... [ Continue Reading ]
_with fire_ IN FIRE. Cf. Deuteronomy 5:22 ff. _and his chariots_ SHALL BE _like_ THE _whirlwind_(R.V.)] Cf. Habakkuk 3:8; Psalms 68:17. The image is derived from the storm-clouds on which Jehovah rides; ch. Isaiah 19:1; Psalms 18:10; Psalms 68:33; Deuteronomy 33:26. The phrase is applied in... [ Continue Reading ]
In fire and tempest the accompaniments of the theophany Jehovah will appear to take vengeance on His enemies. There is a connexion with the last clause of Isaiah 66:14 ; but the passage reads like a continuation of Isaiah 66:6. Comp. ch. Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:27 ff.; Psalms 50:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_by his sword_ See ch. Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 34:5-6. _plead_ i.e. "enter into judgement," as Ezekiel 38:22; Joel 3:2. _the slain of the Lord shall be many_ Cf. Jeremiah 25:33; Zephaniah 2:12 (Hebr.)... [ Continue Reading ]
A renewed description of the apostates, in terms similar to Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 65:3-5; Isaiah 65:11. Although the judgement is "with all flesh" it has a special significance for these reprobates. The connexion of Isaiah 66:17 with Isaiah 66:16 is not, however, beyond suspicion. _in the gardens_ FO... [ Continue Reading ]
The extension of the knowledge of Jehovah's power to the outlying nations, and the consequent voluntary surrender of the Israelites exiled among them. The first sentence of Isaiah 66:18 is untranslatable as it stands, and the text is certainly corrupt. A good suggestion is made by Duhm. He transfer... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will set a sign among them_ i.e. perform a miracle (ch. Isaiah 7:11) that shall convince them of Jehovah's divinity. _I will send … them_ I WILL SEND FROM THEM ESCAPED ONES, survivors (cf. Isaiah 45:20) of the judgement depicted in Isaiah 66:16. The purpose is to spread the tidings of Jehovah's... [ Continue Reading ]
The subject of the sentence is the nations. Cf. ch. Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 60:9; Isaiah 14:2. _litters_ Elsewhere only in Numbers 7:3 (in the phrase "covered wagons"). _swift beasts_ DROMEDARIES (R.V. marg.).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF THEM ALSO WILL I TAKE &c. (R.V.). Commentators differ in opinion as to whether the ministers of the sanctuary are to be taken from the restored exiles or from the Gentiles who bring them back; the language is consistent with either supposition. The latter is thought by some to be excluded by... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Jeremiah 31:35 f., Jeremiah 33:25 f. _the new heavens and the new earth_ ch. Isaiah 65:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Zechariah 14:16. _from one new moon to another_, &c. Lit. "as often as (ch. Isaiah 28:19) there is a new-moon on its new-moon &c.," i.e. apparently "at each separate new-moon &c.," a peculiar idiom found also in Numbers 28:10; Numbers 28:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Month by month and week by week all flesh shall come to Jerusalem to worship, while the dead bodies of the rebellious Israelites shall remain as a fearful spectacle and an abhorring to all flesh.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they_(the worshippers) _shall go forth_ to some place in the vicinity of Jerusalem, no doubt the Valley of Hinnom, Nehemiah 11:30; cf. Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16; 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:32; 2 Kings 23:10. (See below.) _the men that_ REBELLED _against me_ The apostates so often referred t... [ Continue Reading ]