Isaiah 43:22 to Isaiah 44:5. Yahweh's Intervention, not Purchased by His People but Entirely of His Grace, shall Bring New Life to Israel. It is not that during the exile Israel has assiduously sought Yahweh's aid by prayer and sacrifice. Nor has He exacted gifts and incense. So far from requiring them to buy sweet-scented cane to make fragrant their choice sacrifices, He has been compelled to do service for them, in saving them from the consequences of their sins. (Of His grace He will pardon their sins. What plea can they advance?) Their ancestor, Jacob, and the prophets, the very men who should have mediated between Yahweh and Israel, sinned against Him; the princes profaned His sanctuary. So He had given His people to the ban. Yet He bids His chosen people, addressing them by the pet name Jeshurun the upright one fear not. Upon them He will pour out His quickening life-spirit like rain on the thirsty ground. Their vigour shall be renewed, and they shall flourish like grass that grows amid waters (LXX) or willows on the banks of streams. Unto them, to share their prosperity, shall come men from the nations, giving their adherence to Yahweh, and marking on their hands the inscription, Yahweh's (cf. mg.), as a sign that they have become naturalised Israelites.
Isaiah 43:22 b. Read, nor hast thou wearied thyself over me, O Israel.
Isaiah 43:25 f. Probably a gloss. The connexion would be improved by its removal. plead: as in a law-court.
Isaiah 43:28 a. Read (cf. LXX), Thy princes profaned my holy sanctuary; a succeeding parallel clause may have been lost. will make: read mg. curse: devoted to destruction (p. 99).
Isaiah 44:2. Jeshurun: Deuteronomy 32:15 *, Deuteronomy 33:5; Deuteronomy 33:26, cf. Numbers 23:10 *.
Isaiah 44:3 a Metaphorical; read mg.