1.
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
I am found, &c. Quoted in Romans 10:20 , Romans 10:21 .
Behold Me. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. See note on Isaiah 24:16 .
a nation that was not called by My name. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:21 ), and to the Dispensation of the Acts.
2.
I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
good = right. Compare Psalms 36:4 .
3.
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
provoketh Me to anger. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:21 , the same word, though not the same form). App-92 .
that sacrificeth in gardens. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 17:5 ).
upon altars of brick = upon the bricks: i.e. not on the golden altar of incense.
4.
Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
graves = tombs. Hebrew. keber. App-35 .
monuments = secret places. Probably in heathen temples.
eat swine's flesh. Reference to Pentateuch, where this was forbidden (Leviticus 11:7 . Deuteronomy 14:8 ). App-92 . Bones of swine were found at Gezer. See note on 1 Kings 9:15 .
broth. The reference is to a sacrificial feast of unclean food.
abominable things. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 7:18 ; Leviticus 19:7 ). The Hebrew word ( piggul ) is found only in Ezekiel 4:14 , beside these passages. App-92 .
5.
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
6.
Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
it is written. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:35 .Leviticus 26 . Deuteronomy 32 ).
will recompense, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:35 , the same word, and is unique in its occurrence). App-92 .
7.
Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
8.
Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Thus saith the LORD. Note the frequent occurrence of this expression in predicting these new things.
As = According as.
new wine. Hebrew. tirosh . App-27 . Here is further reference to the new Israel. See notes on Isaiah 65:1 .
My servants' sake. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Septuagint, read "servant's (singular): i.e. Messiah (see note on Isaiah 37:35 ): = "for the sake of My servant".
9.
And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
a seed. A further reference to the new Israel of Isaiah 26:2 ; Isaiah 66:7 , Isaiah 66:8 . Matthew 21:43 .
10.
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Sharon. See note on Isaiah 33:9 . valley of Achor. As in Hosea 2:15 . The only two references to the history of Joshua 7 .
11.
But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
that troop. Hebrew Gad, the well-known Syrian god of "Fate".
furnish the drink offering = fill up the
mixed wine. Hebrew. mimsak. App-27 . Compare Jeremiah 7:18 .
that number. Hebrew. m'ni. Same as the god Manu (= Destiny) of the Assyrian inscriptions.
12.
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
number = destroy. Hebrew. manithi. Figure of speech Paronomasia , with the name of the god, Meni.
13.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Behold, &c. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Figure of speech Symploke. Luke 6:25 refers to the period prophesied here.
My servants. Refers to the new Israel of Isaiah 26:2 ; Isaiah 66:7 , Isaiah 66:8 . Matthew 21:43 .
14.
Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
vexation = breaking.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
15.
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
by another name: i.e. Hephzi-bah. See Isaiah 62:4 .
16.
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
That = So that.
he who blesseth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:18 ; Genesis 26:4 ).
truth = faithfulness. Compare 2 Corinthians 1:20 .
shall swear, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 6:13 ).
17.
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
new heavens, &c. : i.e. new, in respect to the old. Not the "new" of 2 Peter 3:13 , or Revelation 21:1 . Note the contrast of this with the only two references to the history of Revelation 21 :
Isaiah 65 .
Name , Jerusalem (Hephzi'bah, Isaiah 65:18 )
Position , on mountain (Isaiah 65:25 ).
Privileges , Isaiah 65:18-20 .
Character , sinners there (Isaiah 65:20 ).
Character , prayer (Isaiah 65:24 ).
Employment , labour, planting, building (Isaiah 65:21 ).
Revelation 21 .
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2 ) ;
"great", "holy" (Revelation 21:10 ).
out of heaven (Revelation 21:2 ).
Revelation 21:4
no sinners (Revelation 21:27 ).
no temple (Revelation 21:22 ).
already built by God (Revelation 21:12-25 ; Revelation 22:3-5 ).
18.
But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
for ever. Chaldee Targum renders it "in the world of worlds": i.e. the most glorious world.
19.
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
no more heard. Therefore not the restoration of Ezra-Nehemiah, or the Church of God now.
20.
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
There. Some codices read "And there".
of days: i.e. of a few days.
child shall die = youth may die: i.e. neither early death, nor premature decay.
accursed = cut off. Compare Psalms 101:8 .
21.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
they shall build, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:16 . Deuteronomy 28:41 ).
22.
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
elect = chosen.
23.
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
They shall not labour in vain. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:41 , reversed). Compare Leviticus 26:16 . App-92 .
24.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
before they call, &c. A reference to Isaiah 30:19 . The blessing of Messiah (Psalms 21:3 ) now extended to the new Israel.
25.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
wolf, &c. As in Isaiah 11:6 , Isaiah 11:7 , Isaiah 11:9 , which is Millennial, not eternal.
together = as one. Hebrew ' echad . Same word as "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 , i.e. one of others. Occurs in former part of Isaiah (Isaiah 4:1 ; Isaiah 5:10 ; Isaiah 6:2 , Isaiah 6:6 ; Isaiah 9:14 ; Isaiah 10:17 ; Isaiah 19:18 , &c.); and, in the latter part (Isaiah 47:9 ; Isaiah 51:2 , &c.) See App-79 .
dust. Never was the serpent's food. It is used as a powerful Figure of Speech, or Idiom, as in Psalms 72:9 Compare Proverbs 20:17 .
the serpent's, &c. = as for the serpent, dust shall be his food: i.e. the Old Serpent (Revelation 20:2 ), who brought in all the sin and misery to the world and to Israel, will then be bound (Revelation 20:1-3 ), and he will lick the dust, the symbol of his humiliation, disappointment, and defeat. Referring to the Figures of speech used in Genesis 3:14 . See App-19 .
in all My holy mountain. See note on Isaiah 11:9 .