My house shall be called the house of prayer Isaiah 56:7, "Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people," or for all nations, notof all nations (Mark).

a den of thieves Rather, a cave of robbers or bandits. Cp. Jeremiah 7:11, "Is this house which is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes?" The context of these words is strikingly suggestive: "if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings … and shed not innocent blood in this place… then will I cause you to dwell in this place in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever." The caves of Palestine had always been refuges for the lawless, and in the reign of Herod the Great the robbers dwelling in caves had rebelled against him and resisted his power, Jos. Ant.i. 12. Possibly this thought may be present here: "Ye have made my house a stronghold of rebels against God and the Messiah, when it ought to be a garrison of loyal subjects." Also the disputes of the traffickers resembled the wrangling of bandits in their caves.

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