This chapter is evidently closely connected in sense with Isaiah 56:9. In the closing part of the last chapter the prophet had said that the land of Israel would be invaded by foreign armies, represented under the image of ravening beasts come to devour. One of the causes of this he had also stated,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH - This refers, as I suppose, to the time of Manasseh (see the Introduction, Section 3). Grotius supposes, that it refers to king Josiah; Vitringa, that it refers to martyrs in general. But it seems probable to me that the prophet designs to describe the state of stupidity whi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL ENTER INTO PEACE - Lowth, ‘He shall go in peace.’ So the margin. Vulgate, ‘Peace shall come.’ Septuagint, ‘His sepulture (ἡ ταφὴ αὐτοῦ _hē_ _taphē_ _autou_) shall be in peace.’ The idea is, that by his death the righteous man shall enter into rest. He shall get away from conflict, str... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST WHOM DO YE SPORT YOURSELVES? - The word here rendered ‘sport’ (ענג _‛__ānag_) means properly “to live delicately and tenderly”; then “to rejoice, to take pleasure or delight.” Here, however, it is evidently used in the sense of to sport oneself over anyone, that is, to deride; and the idea... [ Continue Reading ]
INFLAMING YOURSELVES - Burning, that is, with lust. The whole language here is derived from adulterous intercourse. The sense is, that they were greatly addicted to idolatry, and that they used every means to increase and extend the practice of it. The Vulgate, however, renders this, ‘Who console yo... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THE SMOOTH STONES OF THE STREAMS - In the original here, there is a paronomasia, which cannot be fully retained in our English version. There has been also considerable diversity of opinion in regard to the sense of the passage, from the ambiguity of the words in the original. Jerome (the Vulg... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON A LOFTY AND HIGH MOUNTAIN - The design of this verse and the following, is, to show the extent, the prevalence, the publicity, and the grossness of their idolatry. The language is that which would appropriately express adulterous intercourse, and is designed to show the abhorrence in which God... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHIND THE DOORS - In every part of their habitations - behind the doors and posts and beams of their houses, they had erected the memorials of idolatrous worship. HAST THOU SET UP THY REMEMBRANCE - That is, they had filled their houses with the images of tutelary gods, or with something dedicated t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU WENTEST TO THE KING - Margin, ‘Respectedst.’ Jerome renders this, ‘Thou hast adorned thyself with royal ointment, and hast multiplied thy painting; and evidently understands it as a continuance of the sentiment in the previous verses as referring to the kind of decoration which harlots used... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART WEARIED IN THE GREATNESS OF THY WAY - That is, in the length of thy journeys in order to procure foreign aid. Thou hast traveled to distant nations for this purpose, and in doing it, hast become weary without securing the object in view. YET SAIDST THOU NOT, THERE IS NO HOPE - ‘Thou didst n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF WHOM HAST THOU BEEN AFRAID - The sense of this verse is exceedingly obscure. The design is evidently to reprove the Jews for the course which they had been pursuing in practicing idolatry, and in seeking the alliance of foreign powers. The main scope of the passage seems to be, to state that... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DECLARE THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - This is evidently spoken ironically. The sense is, ‘you have devoted yourselves to idols, and you have sought the aid of foreigners. I will now announce to you the true nature of the deliverance which they can bring to you.’ This is done in the following verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU CRIEST - That is, when you are in trouble, and feel your need of help. LET THY COMPANIES DELIVER THEE - The word used here (קבוּץ _qibûts_) means, properly, “a gathering; a throng; a collection.” Here it refers either to the throngs of the idols which they had collected. and on which the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHALL SAY - Lowth, ‘Then will I say.’ Noyes, ‘Men will say.’ The word אמר _'âmar_ seems to be used here impersonally, and to mean, ‘One shall say;’ that is it shall be said. The Septuagint and the Syriac render it, ‘They shall say.’ The idea is, that the obstacles would be removed from the path... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH - The design of this verse is, to furnish the assurance that the promise made to the people of God would certainly be accomplished. It was not to be presumed that he was so high and lofty, that he did not condescend to notice the affairs of people; but though he, in fact, dwelt in ete... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL NOT CONTEND FOR EVER - I will not be angry with my people forever, nor always refuse to pardon and comfort them (see Psalms 103:9). This is to be regarded as having been primarily addressed to the Jews in their long and painful exile in Babylon. It is, however, couched in general language... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE INIQUITY OF HIS COVETOUSNESS - The guilt of his avarice; that is, of the Jewish people. The word rendered here ‘covetousness’ (בצע _betsa‛_) means “plunder, rapine, prey”; then unjust gains, or lucre from bribes 1 Samuel 7:3; Isaiah 33:15; or by any other means. Here the sense is, that one o... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SEEN HIS WAYS - That is, either his ways of sin, or of repentance most probably it means the former; and the idea is, that God had seen how prone his people were to sin, and that he would now interpose and correct their proneness to sin against him, and remove from them the judgments which ha... [ Continue Reading ]
I CREATE THE FRUIT OF THE LIPS - The Chaldee and Syriac render this, ‘The words of the lips.’ The ‘fruit’ of the lips is that which the lips produce, that is, words; and the reference here is doubtless to offerings of praise and thanksgiving. See Hebrews 13:15; where the phrase, ‘fruit of the lips’... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE WICKED - All who are transgressors of the law and who remain unpardoned. The design of this is to contrast their condition with that of those who should enjoy peace. The proposition is, therefore, of the most general character. All the wicked are like the troubled sea. Whether prosperous or... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO PEACE - (see the note at Isaiah 48:22).... [ Continue Reading ]