Commentary on Isaiah Part 14 (No. F023xiv)

Chapter 55

¹"Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ²Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness. ³Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. ⁴Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. ⁵Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. ⁶"Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; ⁷let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ¹²"For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off."

Intent of Chapter 55

55:1-13 Hymn of Joy and Triumph

Here, in the text as a celebration regarding the Final Restoration of Israel under the Messiah, God renews the Covenant promise to the people of Israel as the Servants of God under David. This was the promise in Zech. 12:8 given prior to the identification of the Lineage of Messiah in 12:10-14 and mentioned in Ch. 53 n. (F023xiii). So also is Messiah of Bethlehem Ephratah (Mic. 5:2) in his incarnation. This later text refers to the First Resurrection as David is involved and he was long dead when God gave the text to Zechariah and here in Isaiah. God's word shall not return empty. The entire world shall be blessed. The system is developed for and from the millennial reign of Messiah from Jerusalem (Rev. Ch. 20). This section concludes the first Section of the Second phase of Isaiah, called Second Isaiah by the Revisionists.

55:1-2 This text is similar to Wisdom's invitation to a banquet (Prov. 9:3-6; comp. Jn. 7:37). The Calling and Grace of God is a free gift that cannot be purchased. It was paid for by the Sacrifice of Messiah at Chs. 53 and 54.

55:3-5 God's promise to David (2Sam. 7:4-17) is here continued as the Everlasting Covenant between God and His People (54:9-10; Jer. 33:19-26; comp. Jer. 31:31-34). In this text we see the emphasis move from David's messianism to Israel's messianism aimed at the nations of the world.

55:6-9 Here God reissues a call to repentance as issued through the prophets (Jer. 29:12-14; and in the gospels under John the Baptist (Mat. 3:2) and trust in God's grace (Ps. 103:11; Rom. 11:33-36).

55:10-11 As the rain and snow bring moisture to the earth and vegetation so also shall God's word will not return to Him empty (9:8) but bring forth fruit in the Plan of Salvation (No. 001A).

55:12-13 This is the New Exodus of Chs. 65-66 (comp. 43:16-21; 46:9-11) into the millennial system which will be restored to an Eden like environment (51:3 n.; 41:18,19; 44:3-4).

Chapter 56

¹Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. ²Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." ³Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." ⁴For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, ⁵I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off. ⁶"And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant-- ⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. ⁸Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered." ⁹All you beasts of the field, come to devour--all you beasts in the forest. ¹⁰His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all. ¹²"Come," they say, "let us get wine, let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure."

Intent of Chapter 56

56:1-66:24 Miscellaneous Oracles

These oracles are classed by the Revisionists as Miscellaneous Post Restoration Oracles. These are classed as post 538 BCE (see OARSV n. and Intro. p. 822, 1973).

56:1-8 A Blessing on all those who keep the Sabbath (comp. 58:13-14; Jer. 17:19-27).

There is no oracle indicating that God has allowed any transfer of the blessings applied to the Sabbaths to any other day such as Sunday or any other festival. On the contrary the culmination of all God's Oracles and Promises in Isaiah end, after the final restoration of Israel under Messiah for the millennial system, with the specific injunction in 66:23-24 that unless mankind keeps the Sabbaths and New Moons fully and correctly they will be put to death.

v. 2 Blessed is the man comp. Ps. 1:1; Jer. 17:7; Mat. 5:2-12.

v. 3 Foreigner - Gentile converts to the faith see also v. 6.

56:4-5 The rewards God has will suffice Eunuchs to be part of the family of the Lord with an everlasting name that shall never be cut off.

56:6-7 Conversion of the Gentiles will see them added to the nation under Messiah and they will be added to the nation keeping the Sabbaths and the Covenant which is tied to the Sabbath, and which cannot be profaned. They will be brought to the Holy Mountain and their offerings and prayers will be accepted. The Messiah has fulfilled the sacrifices, and the Temple was replaced with the Spiritual Temple made of humans (see 282D).

House of prayer Mk. 11:17;

For all people 60:1-14;

v. 8 In the Second Exodus of Chs. 65-66 Israel is restored, and God's Community extends to all of the nations of the world as part of the Israel of God under Messiah.

56:9-12 Oracle Against Corrupt Leaders

v. 9 Beasts - nations come to devour (Jer. 12:8-9; Ezek. 39:17; Dan. Ch. 2).

v. 10. Watchmen – prophets (Ezek. 3:17; 33:7).

v. 11 Shepherds - Rulers and leaders (Ezek. 34:1; Zech. 11:4-17).

The religious leaders have no understanding, and they follow their own way and teach for hire (see also Mic. Chs. 2-4).

Chapter 57

¹The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity, ²he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. ³But you, draw near hither, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the harlot. ⁴Of whom are you making sport? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and put out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, ⁵you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; who slay your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? ⁶Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a cereal offering. Shall I be appeased for these things? ⁷Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and thither you went up to offer sacrifice. ⁸Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness. ⁹You journeyed to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol. ¹⁰You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint. ¹¹Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not give me a thought? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and so you do not fear me? ¹²I will tell of your righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you. ¹³When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain. ¹⁴And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." ¹⁵For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. ¹⁶For I will not contend for ever, nor will I always be angry; for from me proceeds the spirit, and I have made the breath of life. ¹⁷Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, I smote him, I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. ¹⁸I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and requite him with comfort, creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips. ¹⁹Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the LORD; and I will heal him. ²⁰But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. ²¹There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked."

Intent of Chapter 57

57:1-13 Against Idolatry

57:1-2 The Righteous are taken away from the calamitous time to come. They enter into peace and the upright rest in their beds (graves).

57:3-13 Destruction of the Unrighteous

The text deals with the sons of the sorceress and the adulterers and harlots; the children of transgression and deceit who burn with lust among the oaks. These are they who say their children are in the valleys and the clefts of the rocks while their sinners offer cereal and drink offerings to the gods and of Molech as they forsook the One True God. When they sold themselves and cry out God will not hear them and they can rely on their collection of idols to deliver them, but God will deliver those who take refuge in Him to possess the land and they shall inherit His holy mountain.

3-4 You i.e. the illegitimate apostates of Jerusalem who abuse the righteous as the legitimate children (Jer. 3:1-20; Ezek. 16:1-63).

5-6 Israel and Judah were full of the ancient fertility cults and it permeates them to this day. Oak 6:13 n. Slay your children Jer. 19:5;

portion, lot refers to the gods of the Valleys (v. 6) and the mountains (v. 7) and the house (v. 8) and the other shrines (vv. 9-10) rather than the true God (Jer. 10:16).

7-8 Sexual immorality is endemic to the cults.

9-10 Molech (see Jer. 7:31 n.;

to Sheol - to the gods of the underworld (14:9-11). God condemns the practices as futile (Jer. 2:25).

11-13 God rebukes the idolaters (42:8) and their gods are impotent or powerless (42:17; Jer. 2:20-28).

57:14-21 Poem of Consolation

14 Comp. 40:1-4, 15. God is omnipresent (Jn. 1:1-18) and the Monogenes Theos speaks for Him. He is the Most High and inhabits eternity (1Tim. 6:16).

16-21 God's Anger will not last forever. He will spare Israel and mankind.

17 Israel continued to sin despite repeated punishment.

18 God will heal Israel by Grace.

Mourners refers to those who repent.

57:19-21 Israel will have peace, but there is no peace for the wicked (48:18; Eph. 2:17).

Chapter 58

¹"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. ²Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. ³'Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. ⁴Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. ⁵Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? ⁶"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ⁹Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. ¹¹And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. ¹²And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. ¹³"If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; ¹⁴then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Intent of Chapter 58

The Fasts in the Temple Calendar are most important. The key fast is on the day of Atonement on the 10^th day of the Seventh Month. The First fast is in the sequence of the Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241). It falls on the Seventh Day of the First Month as part of the process of the Cleansing of the Temple in the build up to the Passover. This period begins the preparation of the individual and the nation in the sequence to the Passover and Unleavened Bread and the sequence on from the Wave Sheaf offering to the Feast of Pentecost. The fast of the First month was kept by Messiah and the church from the formation in 27 CE right through to the present day with the exception of a period in the 20^th century in the Sardis system. See the Annex to # 291 below. This process is also tied to the Sanctification of the Nations (No. 077).

Fasting is an integral part of preparing an individual to be reconciled and at peace with God to the extent God accepts their approach to Him.

Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous (No. 291)

“The Fast

How do we know that the fast is appropriate? The answer lies in the purpose of fasting as expressed in Isaiah 58:1-14. The first section of this text requires the lifting up of the voice like a trumpet, showing Israel their transgressions. In this we all err, and there is none righteous save Messiah.

Our people seek God daily and delight to know His ways as a nation that did righteousness and one that forsook not the ordinances of their God. They ask of Him the ordinances of justice and take delight in approaching unto God but they are deceived. God does not see the nation. Why have they fasted and He sees them not? Why do they afflict their souls and God takes no knowledge? He says through Isaiah: “Behold in the day of their fast they find pleasure and exact all their labours”. When Israel should be before God in prayer and supplication they work, both on the Feasts and the New Moons and on the Sabbaths. They work at Atonement, and they know not that they sin.

They fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness, and God says they shall not fast as they do on such days just to make their voice heard on high. Also, this type of righteousness of these people is not heard, because they spread sackcloth and ashes under them and bow down as bulrushes, and their fasts and prayers are not acceptable to God.

The fast that God has chosen is this:

To loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke.”

58:1-14 The Lord desires kindness and justice as we see from the body of the text (Mic. 6:6-8; Jas. 1:27).

58:1-5 Proper Motivation is required for fasting. Trumpets were used to announce fast days (Jl. 2:15; comp. Ezek. 33:3). However, individuals could choose any day that they considered it was important for them to fast.

3. Day of your fast Lev. 23:26-32; Jer. 36:9.

5. Sackcloth worn by mourners (Ezek. 7:18), by prisoners (3:24), and by prophets (20:2).

58:6-9b One demonstrates one's spiritual attitude to God by one's attitude to one's fellow man (Lk. 10:25-37). It is the Spiritual fruits that become obvious by the way we treat our fellow man; in justice and sharing in mercy (Lk. 3:8).

Light (42:6-7);

rear guard (52:12).

58:9c-12 With the right attitude God will hear (1:10-20; Mat. 25:34-40). God will give His people strength (strong bones) (66:14), abundance (Jer. 31:12) and your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt (44:26; 61:4) and the foundations of many generations shall be raised up and the righteous people shall be called the repairer of the breach and the restorer of streets to dwell in. The aim of the restoration is to restore the Sabbaths and God's Calendar (No. 156) in worship (66:23-24).

Point the finger - accusative gesture of contempt (Pr. 6:13).

58:13-14 Israel and Judah continually failed to properly observe the Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts and Holy Days (56:2; Mat. 12:1-8). With the Second Exodus under Messiah, God says they will be enforced on pain of death (Isa. 66:23-24).

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 55-58 (for KJV)

Chapter 55

Verse 1

Ho, &c. This cry heard in Jerusalem to-day. All water has to be bought. Compare John 4:14 ; John 7:37-39 .

every one that thirsteth. The invitation is only to these.

come. Figure of speech Repetition, for emphasis.

waters: of life (Revelation 22:17 ).

wine: of gladness (Psalms 104:15 ).

milk: of nourishment (1 Peter 2:2 ).

Verse 2

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), to emphasize the universal corruption and practice of the natural man. Compare John 6:27 .

hearken diligently. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for emphasis. Hebrew "Hearken a hearkening": i.e. continue to hearken.

Verse 3

everlasting. See note on "ancient", Isaiah 44:7 .

the sure mercies of David: i.e. the lovingkindnesses well assured to David, the "everlasting covenant" made with David in 2 Samuel 7:8-16 . Quoted in Acts 13:34 . Assured by oath to David (Psalms 132:11 ). of = pertaining to. Genitive of Relation. App-17 .

Verse 4

Him = Messiah: not David, but David's Son and David's Lord.

people = peoples.

Verse 5

thou . . . thee: i.e. Israel, who is addressed here.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Psalms 71:22 .

Verse 6

may be: i.e. letteth Himself be.

Verse 7

wicked = lawless man (singular) Hebrew. rasha', App-44 .

forsake. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

way . . . thoughts. Note the Introversion of lines in verses: Isaiah 55:7 and Isaiah 8:7 -. way. -7. thoughts. 8-. thoughts. -8. ways.

unrighteous. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 .

man. Hebrew ' ish . App-14 .

abundantly pardon. Hebrew multiply to pardon.

Verse 8

My thoughts . . . your thoughts. Note the Introversion of the pronouns. The contrast thus emphasized is not merely holiness, but vastness.

Verse 10

as = according as.

heaven = the heavens.

but = except it: i.e. until it. Note that the four succeeding tenses are pasts, and in the singular number. The waters do return, as stated in other scriptures (Psalms 135:7 . Jeremiah 10:13 ; Jeremiah 51:16 ).

Verse 11

My word be that goeth. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 8:3 ; Deuteronomy 32:2 ).

shall = shall assuredly.

Verse 12

go out = go forth: i.e. from the lands of your wandering.

peace = prosperity.

break forth . . . singing. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. See note on Isaiah 14:7 .

the field: i.e. the open country beyond the limits of cultivation.

Verse 13

brier: or, nettle.

Chapter 56

Verse 1

justice = righteousness.

Verse 2

man = (mortal) man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

this . . . it. This righteousness . . . this salvation. Both Feminine.

of man = of Adam. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

keepeth the sabbath. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:8-11 ).

Verse 3

stranger = foreigner. Hebrew. nakar. See Proverbs 5:3 .

speak = think.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Verse 4

choose. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .

Verse 5

place: or, trophy. Hebrew hand.

Verse 7

to = into. Some codices read "upon".

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

house of prayer. See quotation below. shall be accepted = for acceptance.

Mine house, &c. Quoted in Matthew 21:13 .Mark 11:17 . Luke 19:46 . Contrast " your house" (Matthew 23:38 ).

people = peoples.

Verse 8

The Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah.

Verse 11

greedy = strong of soul. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ) = strong of appetite: i.e., as well rendered, "greedy".

every one. Hebrew. 'I s h . App-14 .

Verse 12

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27 .

Chapter 57

Verse 1

merciful = kind.

from the evil to come = from the presence of the calamity.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 : i.e. the calamity referred to in Jeremiah 22:10 . See 2 Kings 22:16-20 .

Verse 2

He: i.e. the righteous man.

they: i.e. the men of grace.

in = upon,

beds = couches.

his uprightness = his straight path.

Verse 3

sorceress. See note on Isaiah 2:6 ("soothsayer").

Verse 4

children = offspring.

transgression: i.e. inborn transgression. Hebrew. pasha '. App-44 .

seed of falsehood = false seed. Figure of speech Enallage.

Verse 5

with idols = with the sacred trees: i.e. the Asherahs. See App-42 .

slaying the children. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:21 ); to Molech (1 Kings 11:7 . 2 Kings 17:16 , 2 Kings 17:17 ); or to Baal (Jeremiah 19:5 .Ezekiel 16:20 ; Ezekiel 23:39 . Hosea 13:1 ).

Verse 6

the smooth stones, &c. = the open places. Judah still in the land. None of the things mentioned in verses: Isaiah 57:5-7 found in Babylonia.

thy. This and all the Pronouns in verses: Isaiah 57:6-8 are Feminine.

drink offering . . . meat offering. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 29:40 , Exodus 29:41 , &c. Numbers 15:1-10 ). Compare 1 Kings 12:32 , 1 Kings 12:33 .

I receive comfort. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 8

remembrance = symbols.

where thou sawest it = a hand thou hast seen: as beckoning.

Verse 9

the king. Or, the idol, as in Isaiah 30:33 . 1 Kings 11:7 .

hell. Hebrew. Sheol. App-35 .

Verse 10

found . . . hand = found [by the length of thy journeys] a hand to mouth life.

Verse 12

for. Some codices, with two early printed editions, omit "for", and read "and thy works, they will not profit thee".

Verse 13

criest. In distress.

thy companies. The paramours of Isaiah 57:8 .

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

vanity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for vain men. Compare Psalms 144:4 .James 4:14 .

putteth his trust = fleeth for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. See App-69 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 14

Cast ye up = Make a highway. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.

Verse 15

lofty = lifted up. Same word as Isaiah 6:1 ("exalted One").

That inhabiteth = inhabiting.

Verse 16

souls = breathing things. Hebrew. neshamah. App-16 . See note on Isaiah 2:22 ("breath").

Verse 17

I hid Me. Compare Isaiah 45:15 ; Isaiah 59:2 ; Isaiah 64:7 .

Verse 18

lead = (gently) lead.

mourners. See note on "mourn" (Isaiah 3:26 ).

Verse 19

Peace, peace. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for great emphasis = perfect peace (as in Isaiah 26:3 ), or great prosperity.

Verse 20

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 ,

the troubled sea = the sea when tossed.

when = for.

Verse 21

no peace. Compare Isaiah 48:22 .

Chapter 58

Verse 1

Cry aloud = Hebrew "call with the throat": i.e. deep down as in the oriental throat. It denotes not a wild cry, but solemnity with restraint. transgression = rebellion. Hebrew. pasha' App-44 .

the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:6 .

Verse 2

forsook. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

justice = righteousness. Compare Ex. 21-23.

Verse 3

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

afflicted our soul. Reference to Pentateuch. This is a strictly Levitical technical expression (Leviticus 16:29 , Leviticus 16:31 ; Leviticus 23:27 , Leviticus 23:32 .Numbers 29:7; Numbers 29:7 ). This shows that the People were not in exile as alleged, but in the Land. See also the references to other observances below (Isaiah 58:13 ). Note that in Isaiah 58:0 and Isaiah 59:0 we have the reference to the Day of Atonement; in Isaiah 60:0 and Isaiah 61:0 , to the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. Isaiah 60:0 refers to the feast of Tabernacles with its "ingathering" (verses: Isaiah 58:3-5 , Isaiah 58:13 ), which followed the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27 , Leviticus 23:34 ).

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "souls" (plural)

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Verse 4

ye fast. Referring to Day of Atonement, which was still observed; and in the Land, not in exile, as alleged.

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha' App-44 .

ye shall not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "and ye shall not".

to make = if ye would make.

Verse 5

chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .

a man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .

soul. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

bulrush. See note on Isaiah 9:14 .

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 6

bands = pangs. See note on Psalms 73:4 .

Verse 7

to deal = to break. The technical term for giving or partaking of food, as in Luke 24:30 , Luke 24:35 .Acts 2:42 , Acts 2:46 ; Acts 20:7 , Acts 20:11 ; Act 27:36 . 1 Corinthians 10:16 ; 1 Corinthians 11:24 . Compare Job 42:11 .Lamentations 4:4 .Ezekiel 18:7 ; Ezekiel 24:17 . Hosea 9:4 .

bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all kinds of food.

poor. Hebrew. 'anah. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

hide not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "do not thou hide".

thine own flesh. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 29:14 ).

Verse 8

thine health. Hebrew thy healing. Referring to the healing of wounds.

be = bring up.

rereward = rearguard. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:19 , Exodus 14:20 ). Compare Isaiah 52:12 .

Verse 9

cry. In distress.

Verse 10

draw out thy soul. Some codices, with Syriac, read "give out thy bread".

be. Supply Ellipsis (of verb "become"). Or, we have the Figure of speech Oxymoron . See App-6 .

Verse 11

guide = (gently) guide.

drought. Hebrew droughts (plural of majesty) = great drought.

make fat = invigorate.

Verse 12

build = rebuild. This is still future.

to dwell in: or, leading home.

Verse 13

thy foot. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "thy feet" (plural)

from the sabbath. Reference to Pentateuch, as in Isaiah 56:2 .

pleasure. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "pleasures" (pl).

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

thine own words = vain words: or, keep making talk,

Verse 14

delight thyself = revel.

cause thee to ride, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 ).