"the snow from heaven, and returneth "not thither, but watereth the earth, and "maketh it bring forth and bud, that "it may give seed to the sower, and "bread to the eater: 11. So (z) shall my "word be that goeth forth out of my "mouth: it shall not return unto me "void (a), but it shall accomplish that "which I please, and it shall prosper in "the thing whereto I sent it. 12. For ye "shall go out with joy, and be led forth "with peace: the mountains and the hills "shall break forth before you into sing"ing (b); and all the trees of the field "shall clap their hands. 13. Instead of "the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and "instead (c) of the brier shall come up the "myrtle-tree and it shall be to the LORD "for a name (d), for an everlasting sign "that shall not be cut off."

(x) v. 11. "So, &c." i.e. as "rain meliorates "the earth, and produces fruit in the vegetable "world, so shall my word improve the hearts "of man, and bring forth works of righteous66 ness and goodness."

(a) v. 11. "Void," i. e. " without produc"ing fruit."

(b) v. 12. " Into singing," highly poetical, implying a state of exalted happiness and exultation. So Virgil (who had probably seen Isaiah, or some extracts from it) "Ipsi lætitiâ voces "ad sidera jactant Intonsi montes." 5 Eclog. 62. Milton advances a step higher, and makes the trees join in an act of devotion. "And wave "your tops ye pines with every plant, in sign "of worship wave."

.

(c) v. 13. Instead, &c." figurative, to express a change to better times: perhaps a spiritual change.

(d) v. 13. "For a name," i. e. perhaps, "a topic of praise."

(e) An exhortation to justice, from the consideration that some signal deliverance by God was near. Encouragements to strangers and aliens to turn to God's worship, and keep his commandments, with an intimation of some approaching judgment, on account of the indo. lence and misconduct of the rulers and teachers of the people.

(f) v. i." Near to come," so that whoever should not have qualified himself to deserve it, The

might be excluded for ever. See Is.lv. Ste chance of sharing in blessings, and the of being included in punishments, are both held out as incentives in this chapter.

(g) v. 3. "The stranger," and "the eunuch,

CHAP. LVI. (e)

HUS saith the LORD, "Keep ye

TH

judgment, and do justice: for my "salvation is near to come (f), and my " righteousness to be revealed." 2. Blessed "is the man that doeth this, and the so "of man that layeth hold on it; the "keepeth the sabbath from polluting i "and keepeth his hand from doing ❝ evil. 3. Neither let the son of "stranger (g), that hath joined himsel "the LORD, speak, saying, "The Lo "hath utterly separated me (b) from E "people" neither let the eunuch (), ""Behold, I am a dry tree (i).” 4. Fo "thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs "that keep my sabbaths (k), and choose th "things that please me, and take hold of

"&c." This encouragement to the strange and the eunuchs (who stand here for the gr tiles) intimates that times are referred to wher the great distinction between Jew and Get should no longer exist; when the blessings of God's kingdom should be equally open to al; and when, as it is expressed in v. 7. God's "house should be called an house of prayer "for all people." According to the Mosaic law, eunuchs were never to enter into the congrega tion of the Lord, Moabites or Ammonites not until the 10th generation, nor Edomites cr Egyptians until the 3d. See Deut. xxiii. 1. 5. *. The old distinction between Jew and Gentile Christ destroyed. See Acts x. 34-35.-Ro iii. 29, 30.-Gal. iii. 28.-Eph. ii. 11 to 16. (b) v.3. "Separated me," i.e. " by those Mo saic institutions which forbad their entering "into the congregation."

(i) v. 3. "A dry tree," i. e. “exclud "from the blessings;" in the situation of tree without moisture to support it, or di man without son or daughter. It was led upon as a signal blessing, and a mark of God's favour, to have sons and daughters, to perpett ate the father's name and family: it gave him an interest upon earth beyond his own life. See verse 5.

(k) v. 4. "My sabbaths," one of the dis tinguishing marks of God's people. A co stant acknowledgement of his superintendaver mandment, and the foundation of a special pr and rule; the whole subject of the 4th com mise, Is. lviii. 13. 14. "If thou turn away th "foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pl sure on my holy day; and call the sabbath

去

"my covenant (/); 5. Even unto them " will I give in mine house, and within my "walls, a place and a name better than of "sons and of daughters: I will give them "an everlasting name, that shall not be cut - "off. 6. Also the sons of the stranger, "that join themselves to the LORD to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant: 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain (m), and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings (n) and their sacri*fices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house (o) shall be called an house of prayer for all people (p). 8. The LORD God, which gathereth the outcasts

delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable : and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord: and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, "and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy **father; for the mouth of the Lord hath

spoken it ;" an intimation so expressed how tan man neglect !! See also note on Is. lviii. 13. () v. 4. "Take hold of my covenant," i. e. take to my religion, follow my commandments, walk in my laws, and look up to my promises."

(m) v. 7. "My holy mountain," i. e. "the place for worshipping me: my church," the mountain of the Lord's house, which is to be established in the top of the mountains, and to be exalted above all the hills; unto which all nations shall flow; ls. ii. 2." i. e. the church of Christ."

() v.7." Burnt offerings," and "sacrifices," i. e. "their worship," "their prayers and praises."

is

(o) v. 7. "Mine house, &c." this passage ferred to by our Saviour, Matt. xxi. 13.fark xi. 17. and Luke xix. 46.

(p) v. 7." All people," Gentiles as well as

(g) v. 8. " Others," i. e. "the Gentiles," those that are gathered," i. e. " already," the Jews." So says our Saviour, John x. 16. Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

(r) v. 9. "Come to devour ;" an intimation of heavy judgment upon those who should dis

"of Israel, saith, "Yet will I gather "others (q) to him, besides those that are "gathered (q) unto him." 9. All ye beasts "of the field, come to devour (r), yea,

all

ye beasts in the forest. 10. His (s) "watchmen (t) are blind: they are all "ignorant; they are all dumb dogs (u), they "cannot bark: sleeping, lying down, "loving to slumber. 11. Yea, they are "greedy (x) dogs which can never have "enough, and they are shepherds that "cannot understand (x): they all look to "their own way, every one for his gain, " from his quarter. 12. Come ye, say

they, I will fetch wine (y), and we will fill "ourselves with strong drink; and to"morrow shall be as this day, and much "more abundant."

regard the offers he had been making: whether it refers to any judgement in particular, or to judgments God should from time to time inflict cannot well be known. The Jews experienced dreadful visitations in little more than a century, when they were attacked by Pharaoh Necho. 2 Kings, xxiii. 33. the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites, 2 Kings xxiv. 2.; and at length carried captive into Babylon, 2 Kings xxiv. 25.; and they had a still heavier visitation within 40 years after our Saviour's crucifixion, when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. In our own times too there have been such visitations upon the earth as bore strong marks of being" God's judgments." There is a similar invitation to the beasts during the Babylonish captivity, Ezek. xxxix. 17 to 22.; and another above 20 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Rev. xix. 17.; so that if Isaiah's was not intended to reach to our times, that in the Revelations may. If God's judgments are in the earth, what manner of persons ought we to be to avert them from our land?

(s) v. 10. "His" or "the."

(t) v. 10. "Watchmen" i. e. (probably) "the governors in church and state, they who "ought to see what is approaching, and to "give warning."

(u) v. 10. "Dumb dogs" who give no alarm when thieves approach.

(x) v. 11. Greedy," "too ntent upon «gain," ," "cannot understand," i. e. " have no "understanding."

(y). 12. "Fetch wine," giving themselves up to sensual indulgencies, without regarding threats or warnings.

THE

CHAP. LVII. (a)

HE righteous perisheth, and no man layeth (b) it to heart; and merciful 66 men are taken away, none considering "that the righteous is taken away from the <evil to come. 2. He shall enter (c) into "peace: they shall rest in their beds, each "one walking in his uprightness. 3. But "draw near hither, ye sons of the sorce"ress (d), the seed of the adulterer, and "the whore. 4. Against whom do ye "sport yourselves? against whom make ye "a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? "are ye not children of transgression, a "seed of falsehood? 5. Enflaming your"selves with idols under every green

"tree (e), slaying the children (f) in the "valleys under the cliffs of the rocks? "6. Among the smooth stones of the "stream is thy portion (g); they, they are "thy lot (g): even to them hast thou poured drink-offering, thou hast offered a meat"offering. Should I receive (b) comfort "in these? 7. Upon a lofty and high "mountain (e) hast thou set thy bed: even "thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice

a

8. Behind the doors (i) also and the posts "hast thou set up thy remembrance (t: "for thou hast discovered thy self (ì "another than me, and art gone up: the "hast enlarged thy bed (m), and made thee 66 a covenant with them; thou lovedst their "bed where thou sawest it. 9. And then

(a) The deaths of righteous men a ground of warning, because they are often taken off to exempt them from national calamities. A strong remonstrance with the people for their idolatries, an intimation of pardon to those who repent, and a strong denunciation against those who do not.

(b) v. I. Layeth it to heart." The last chapter ended with a censure upon the disregard of God's warnings: he here specifies as one warning, the deaths of righteous men, who are removed, when judgments are at hand, to rescue them from the wretchedness of the times.

(c) v. 2." He shall enter, &c." God gives the good this reward, a peaceful death: they come to their end in quiet in their beds. The death for which Balaam in vain wished, Numb. xxiii. 10, "the death of the righteous."

(d) v. 3. "Sons of the sorceress, &c." i. e. "who resorts to witchcrafts, divinations, "and enchantments." See ante, Is. xliv. 25.

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(e) v. 5. “Under every green tree," and v. 7. upon a lofty and high mountain," places of idolatrous worship, where they sacrificed and paid homage to the false gods, Ezek. vi. 13. 2 Kings, xvi. 4.-2 Chron. xxviii. 4.

(ƒ) v.5. " Slaying the children, &c." i. e. (probably)" sacrificing them to idols." This is mentioned as one of the sins of the Israelites Ps. cvi. 36. 37. "they offered their sons and "daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, "even the blood of their sons and of their "daughters, whom they offered unto the idols "of Canaan ;" and it was practised in Isaiah's time by Ahaz, who "burnt incense in the

valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his "children in the fire, after the abomination of

strength of my heart, and my portion for "ever" Ps. cxix. 57. "Thou art my portica, “O Lord;" and Ps. cxlii. 6. “I cried unto thee "O Lord, and said, thou art my hope a

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my portion in the land of the living," Lam. iii. 24. "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him. ' (b) v. 6. "Should I receive, &c." or (p haps) “shall not mine anger be kindled for the things," Sept. "Shall not I complain, Av (i) v. 8. Behind the doors," and " posts," two of the places where they set their idols.

(k) v. 8. "Thy remembrance," i. c. (F bably) "thy idol:" instead of rememb God (see post, verse 11.) in the needful time trouble, and calling his works to remembrance, making the idol the only object of ther thoughts and hopes.

(v. 8. "Discovered thyself," i. e. (pr bably)" opened thy mind, made known thy wants, applied for aid."

(m) v. 8. "Enlarged thy bed," i. e. "toadst "strange gods." Idolatry (which is infidelity towards God) is often expressed by terms use for infidelity towards husbands. See Jer. 1 to 9.-Ezek. xvi. 26. 28.-and Ezek, 3 to 48.

Entest to the king (n) with ointment (o), i didst increase thy perfumes (o), and 1st send thy messengers (p) far off, and Istabase thyself even unto hell. 10. Thou

wearied (q) in the greatness of thy y; yet saidst thou not, "There is no pe:" thou hast found the life of thine nd (r); therefore thou wast not grieved. . And of whom (s) hast thou been raid or feared, that thou hast lied (†), d hast not remembred me, nor laid it thy heart? have not I held (u) my ace even of old, and thou fearest me t? 12. I will declare (x) thy righteisness, and thy works, for they shall ɔt profit (x) thee. 13 When thou criest, t thy companies (y) deliver thee: but he wind shall carry them all away, anity shall take them: but he that putteth is trust in me shall possess the land, and all inherit my holy mountain: 14. And

n) v. 9. "The king," or, differently ated, "Moloch." It probably means some ant idol: or it may mean some foreign g to whom they went for aid: but the first se corresponds with the context. It seems refer to some well-known event in those es; perhaps during the reign of Ahaz. o) v. .9. "Ointment," and " perfumes," rhaps) both for your own persons," to shew ir respect to the idol, and "for presents o it."

(p) v. 9. "Send thy messengers, &c. "i. e. to make obeisance before your own arrival."

(q) v. 10. " Art wearied, &c." i. e. (probly) "such was your confidence in the idol, the distance and difficulties of the ways did not dispirit you."

(r) v. 10. The life of thy hand," i. e. (probly) "the idol," from whom alone thou okest for life and strength to invigorate your vn exertions :-ironically.

(s) v. 11. "Of whom, &c." So ante, Is. li. 2. 13.

(t) v. 11. Lied," "i. e. "dealt falsely, by turning to idols, and by thy deeds denying me." (u) v. 11. " Have not I held," or " is it not because I have held, &c." Intimating hat he would no longer forbear. (x) v. 12. "Declare," or " expose," "thy righteousness," i. e. ironically, "thy want of "it." "They shall not profit thee," I will shew their worthlessness. " They shall furnish no ground for exultation."

you

) v. 13. "Companies," i. e. "the idola

❝ shall say (z), " Cast ye up (a), cast ye up, "prepare the way, take up the stumbling "block out of the way of my people." 15. For thus saith the high and lofty One "that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place; "with him also (b) that is of a contrite and "humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the "humble, and to revive the heart of the "contrite ones. 16. For I will not con"tend for ever, neither will I be always "wroth for the spirit (c) should fail (d) "before me, and the souls which I have "made. 17. For the iniquity of his co"vetousness was I wroth (e), and smote "him I hid me, and was wroth, and he "went on frowardly in the way of his heart. "18. I have seen his ways, and will heal "him I will lead him also, and restore "comforts unto him, and to his mourn❝ers. 19. I create (f) the fruit of the

:

"trous powers: the forces "idolatrous nations."

you may get from (z) v. 14. "Shall say." This shall be the general cry.

(a) v. 14. "Cast ye up, &c." To make good the way, and remove every obstruction, that his worshippers may have easy access to God's temple. So Is. lxii. 10. and xl. 3.

(b). v. 15. "With him also, &c." "He is "the object of my special care." "A broken "and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not "despise." Ps. li. 17. "Our Saviour speaks of "God's making his abode with those who love «him." John xiv. 23. "If a man love me, he "will keep my words: and my Father will "love him, and we will come unto him, and "make our abode with him."

(c) v. 16. "The spirit," i. e. " of the con"trite, of those who have humbled themselves." (d) v. 16. "Should fail, &c." See the beautiful description of God's mercy, Ps. ciii. 8 to 14. where one consideration is stated to be "he knoweth whereof we are made, he remem"bereth that we are but dust."

(e) v. 17. "And was wroth, &c." or rather, "and he was grieved, and went on sorrowing on account of his ways." See Sept. This suggests a reason, consistent with God's justice, why God should heal him, and why he should still continue the denunciation in verse 21.

(f) v. 19. "I create, &c." i. e. (probably) "I will furnish grounds for thanksgiving and "praise, by the offers I will hold out of peace "and pardon:" perhaps looking forward to the christian dispensation.