1.
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Thus saith the LORD. See App-82 .
The heaven, &c . Quoted in Acts 7:49 . Compare 1 Kings 8:27 . 2 Chronicles 6:18 .
the = this. Hebrew. zeh .
ye: i.e. the future builders of the house.
the place of My rest: i.e. rest in satisfaction. The Temple was for sacrifice and atonement (2 Chronicles 2:6 ), not for dwelling. Compare Acts 7:48 .
2.
For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
poor = wretched, or lowly, Hebrew. 'ani. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 .
trembleth at = careth anxiously for. Compare Isaiah 66:5 .
3.
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
cut off = breaketh.
oblation = gift, or meal offering. Hebrew. minchah .
swine's blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 14:8 . Leviticus 11:7 ). Compare Isaiah 65:4 .
burneth incense = maketh a memorial of frankincense. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 2:2 ). App-92 .
chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .
their soul = they. Note the Introversion beginning with the last clause of Isaiah 66:3 , and including Isaiah 66:4 , They delight, &c. I also will choose, &c. When I called, &c. When I spake, &c. They chose, &c. I delighted not.
4.
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
did = have done.
5.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6.
A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
A voice, &c. Compare Zechariah 12:3-6 ; Zechariah 14:3 . Compare Isaiah 42:14 .
rendereth recompence. Compare Isaiah 65:6 .
7.
Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
she brought forth. This is the birth of the new nation. These are the "birth pangs" (or "sorrows") of Matthew 24:8 . In Revelation 12:1 , Revelation 12:2 we have one part of the type in the person of Messiah. Here is the other part of the type
a man child = a male, as in Revelation 12:5 .
8.
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
who. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and who".
a nation: i.e. the righteous nation of Isaiah 26:2 . Referred to in Isaiah 66:7 . Matthew 21:43 .
at once = at a stroke.
children = sons.
9.
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
saith thy God. See note on Isaiah 1:11 .
10.
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem. The promises, of Isaiah 1:27 ; Isaiah 2:1-5 , are now at length to be fulfilled.
mourn. As for one lost, or dead. See note on Isaiah 3:26 .
11.
That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12.
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Gentiles = nations.
then shall ye suck. The promises of Isaiah 49:22 and Isaiah 60:4 are again renewed.
13.
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
one = a man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
in Jerusalem. Not in the Church. Compare Isaiah 1:1 .
14.
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
when ye see this = as soon as ye see this.
15.
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16.
For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
a11 flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for all mankind.
17.
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
gardens. Compare Isaiah 1:29 , and Isaiah 65:3 .
tree: i.e. the Asherah .
tree, &c. See notes on next page.
abomination. Hebrew. shakaz. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:2 ). Occurs in Isaiah only here; Leviticus thirteen times (Isaiah 7:2 ; Isaiah 11:9 , Isaiah 11:11 , Isaiah 11:11 , Isaiah 11:13 , Isaiah 11:13 , Isa 11:20 , Isa 11:23 , Isa 11:41 , Isa 11:42 , Isa 11:43 ; Isa 20:25 ); and Ezekiel 8:10 . Not the same word as in Isaiah 65:4 . App-92 .
mouse. Reference to Pentateuch, where it is forbidden (Leviticus 11:29 ). App-92 . Elsewhere, only in 1 Samuel 6:4 , 1 Samuel 6:6 , 1Sa 6:11 , 1 Samuel 6:18 .
be consumed = come to an end.
18.
For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
thoughts = devices.
I will gather. Compare Joel 3:2 .Zephaniah 3:8 .
sign. See note on Isaiah 7:11
send: as missionaries.
those that escape: i.e. the remnant of saved Israel
Tarshish. put for the far west.
Pul. Lud = Phut. Lud, put for African peoples. They are mentioned together, as serving in the Egyptian armies (Ezekiel 30:5 ).
Tubal = the Scythian tribes.
Javan . Put for the Greeks settled in Asia Minor.
isles = maritime countries. See note on Isaiah 11:11 .
19.
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20.
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
shall bring. Not into the Church, but back to the Holy Land.
an offering = a gift offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 .
swift beasts: carriages, as required by the Structure of Isaiah 66:20 : q | horses. x | in chariots and litters. q | upon mules. r | in carriages. "Swift beasts" is Hebrew. kirkaroth , from karar, to move in a circle; hence, may mean (like English car) any vehicle on wheels. It is never used of animals. There is nothing to suggest " swaying furnaces", as suggested by some, to mean "locomotives".
holy. See note On Exodus 3:5 .
as = according as.
bring an offering, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 2 , &c.) App-92 .
21.
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
them . i.e. Israel.
priests and for Levites. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:9 ). See notes on Ezekiel 43:19 ; Ezekiel 44:10 , Ezekiel 44:13 , Ezekiel 44:15 . App-92 .
priests. Thus completing the fulfilment of Exodus 19:6 .
and. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text.
22.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
new heavens, &c. See note on Isaiah 65:17 .
23.
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
new moon. sabbath. Reference to Pentateuch. and the law concerning them (Numbers 10:10 ; Numbers 28:11-15 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 81:3 , Psalms 81:4 .
before Me. Reference to Pentateuch, implying centralized worship, as in Exodus 20:3 , Exodus 20:5 .Deuteronomy 26:3 , Deuteronomy 26:5 . App-92 . Compare Isaiah 1:12 .
24.
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
men. Hebrew, plural of 'Enosh. App-14 .
transgressed. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
their worm. Quoted in Mark 9:44 . Referred by our Lord to Gehenna, of which the fires in the valley of Hinnom were an illustration. Hebrew. tola', the maggot bred from putrid substances. See Exodus 16:20 . Deuteronomy 28:39 . Job 25:6 (second word). Psalms 22:6 . Psa 14:11 (second word); Isaiah 41:14 ; Isaiah 66:24 ; and Jonah 4:7 , which are all the occurrences of tola' in O.T. In the synagogue use, Isaiah 66:23 is repeated after Isaiah 66:24 , so that the book may end with comfort. Compare end of Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Malachi.
an abhorring. The Hebrew occurs only here.