It is generally supposed that this chapter is closely connected in sense with the preceding; and that its object is, to defend the proceedings of God in regard to the Jews, and especially with reference to the complaint in the preceding chapter. If so, it is designed to state the reasons why he had... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM SOUGHT OF THEM THAT ASKED NOT FOR ME - That is, by the Gentiles. So Paul applies it in Romans 10:20. Lowth translates the word which is rendered, ‘I am sought,’ by ‘I am made known.’ Noyes, ‘I have heard.’ The Septuagint renders it, Ἐμφανὴς ἐγενήθην _Emphanēs_ _egenēthēn_ - ‘I became man... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SPREAD OUT MY HANDS - To spread out the hands is an action denoting invitation or entreaty Proverbs 1:24. The sense is, that God had invited the Jews constantly to partake of his favors, but they had been rebellious, and had rejected his offers. ALL THE DAY - I have not ceased to do it. The... [ Continue Reading ]
A PEOPLE - This verse contains a specification of the reasons why God had rejected them, and brought the calamities upon them. THAT PROVOKETH ME TO ANGER - That is, by their sins. They give constant occasion for my indignation. CONTINUALLY - (תמיד _tâmı̂yd_). It is not once merely, but their cond... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH REMAIN AMONG THE GRAVES - That is, evidently for purposes of necromancy and divination. They do it to appear to hold converse with the dead, and to receive communications from them. The idea in necromancy was, that departed spirits must be acquainted with future events, or at least with the se... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SAY, STAND BY THYSELF - Who at the time that they engage in these abominations are distinguished for spiritual pride. The most worthless people are commonly the most proud; and they who have wandered farthest from God have in general the most exalted idea of their own goodness. It was a charac... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, IT IS WRITTEN BEFORE ME - That is, the crimes of which they had been guilty, or the sentence which would be consequent thereon. The allusion is to the custom of having the decrees of kings recorded in a volume or on a table, and kept in their presence, so that they might be seen and not forg... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR INIQUITIES - Their idolatry and their forsaking God, and their arts of necromancy. AND THE INIQUITIES OF YOUR FATHERS TOGETHER - The consequences of your own sins, and of the long defection of the nation from virtue and pure religion, shall come rushing upon you like accumulated floods. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD - This verse is designed to keep their minds from utter despair, and to assure them that they should not be utterly destroyed. See the analysis of the chapter. AS THE NEW WINE - The Hebrew word used here (תירושׁ _tı̂yrôsh_), means properly “must” or “new wine” (see the notes at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL BRING FORTH A SEED - I will give descendants to Jacob, who shall share my favor and repossess the land. AN INHERITOR OF MY MOUNTAINS - The mountains of Palestine - Jerusalem and the vicinity - called the mountains of God because he claimed that land as his special residence, and the plac... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHARON - Sharon was properly a district south of Mount Carmel, along the coast of the Mediterranean, and extending from. Caesarea to Joppa. In the Scripture, this is almost a proverbial name to denote extraordinary beauty and fertility (see the notes at Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 32:5). SHALL BE A FOLD... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE THEY THAT FORSAKE THE LORD - Or rather, ‘Ye who forsake Yahweh, and who forget my holy mountain, I will number to the sword.’ The design of this verse is to remind them of their idolatries, and to assure them that they should not escape unpunished. THAT FORGET MY HOLY MOUNTAIN - Mount Mo... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WILL I NUMBER YOU TO THE SWORD - There is undoubtedly an allusion here to the idol Meni mentioned in Isaiah 65:11, and a play upon the name, in accordance with a custom quite common in the sacred Scriptures. The word מניתי _mâniytiy_, ‘I will number,’ is derived from מנה _mânâh_, the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD - The design of this verse is to show what would be the difference between those who kept and those who forsook his commandments. The one would be objects of his favor, and have abundance; the other would be objects of his displeasure, and be subjected to the evils... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SING FOR JOY OF HEART - They who serve me shall have abundant occasion of rejoicing. But ye - shall howl. You shall shriek under the anguish and distress that shall come upon you. FOR VEXATION OF SPIRIT - Margin, as in Hebrew, ‘Breaking.’ That is, your spirit shall be broken and crushed under... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL LEAVE YOUR NAME FOR A CURSE UNTO MY CHOSEN - To my people; to those whom I have selected to be my friends. The word rendered here ‘curse’ (שׁבועה _sh__e__bû‛âh_) means properly “an oath,” or “a swearing”; and then “an imprecation” or “a curse” (see Numbers 5:21; Daniel 9:11). The sens... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE WHO BLESSETH HIMSELF IN THE EARTH - That is, he who shall invoke blessings on himself. SHALL BLESS HIMSELF IN THE GOD OF TRUTH - Or by the true God. He shall not seek a blessing from a false god; but he shall come before the true God, and seek a blessing at his hand. AND HE THAT SWEARETH -... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEHOLD - The idea in this verse is, that there should be a state of glory as great as if a new heaven and a new earth were to be made. I CREATE NEW HEAVENS - Calamity and punishment in the Bible are often represented by the heavens growing dark, and being rolled up like as a scroll, or passing a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BE YE GLAD AND REJOICE - (See the notes at Isaiah 51:11). FOREVER - It is not to be momentary happiness - like a bright morning that is soon overcast with clouds. The joy of God’s people is to endure for ever, and they shall have ceaseless cause of praise and thanksgiving. I CREATE JERUSALEM A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL REJOICE IN JERUSALEM - (See the notes at Isaiah 62:5). AND THE VOICE OF WEEPING SHALL NO MORE BE HEARD - (See the notes at Isaiah 25:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL BE NO MORE THENCE - The Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Vulgate, read this, ‘There shall not be there.’ The change requires the omission of a single letter in the present Hebrew text, and the sense seems to demand it. The design of the prophet here is, to describe the times of happiness... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL BUILD HOUSES - (See the notes at Isaiah 62:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL NOT BUILD, AND ANOTHER INHABIT - Every man shall enjoy the avails of his labor. FOR AS THE DAYS I OF A TREE ARE THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE - That is, in that future time, such shall be the length of the lives of the people (see Isaiah 65:21). The Septuagint renders this, ‘The days of the tree... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN - That is, either because their land shall be unfruitful, or because others shall plunder them. NOR BRING FORTH FOR TROUBLE - Lowth renders this, ‘Neither shall they generate a short-lived race.’ Noyes, ‘Nor bring forth children for an early death.’ The Septuagint render... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THEY CALL, I WILL ANSWER - That is, their desires shall be anticipated, God will see their needs, and he will impart to them the blessings which they need. He will not wait to be applied to for the blessing. How many such blessings do all his people receive at the hand of God! How ready is he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB SHALL FEED TOGETHER - (See the notes at Isaiah 11.) AND THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW - Shall eat hay or provender like the ox. The food of the lion now is flesh. Changes shall take place as great as if his nature were changed, and he should graze with the herds of the field. See a... [ Continue Reading ]