An Invective against the Pro-Samaritans. Yahweh turns now bitterly to upbraid the pro-Samaritan party in the community, among whom flourished many of the primitive Palestinian religious practices. To defame his mother was to an Eastern the most offensive of insults; but the terms used are figurative (idolatry being often in OT described as adultery). How can this false brood deride the pious! (Isaiah 57:5 is probably an illustrative quotation). The adulteress has chosen for her portion the smooth (perhaps slippery ones, i.e. false gods) in place of Yahweh. On the high places she has set her bed, i.e. practised heathen rites, which were in fact notoriously sensual. The memorial is probably a phallic symbol; incited by it (so read for to another than me) she strips and prepares her bed and hires for herself such as she loves intercourse with (slightly emending made thee a covenant). For where thou sawest it translate probably, thou sawest the phallus. If so, some clause has fallen out. She anoints herself for the King, i.e. Melek (= Moloch) the Palestinian god, and perfumes herself. Not content with Palestinian deities she sends representatives to the shrines of distant gods, even to the deities of Sheol. She refuses, despite her weariness, to acknowledge failure. Whom has she feared? For she has entirely ignored her duty to Yahweh. She has misinterpreted His inaction. But he will expose her righteousness (!) and her works. When she cries, her abominations the idols (cf. mg.) will not rescue her. They shall fly like chaff in the wind. But he who adheres to Yahweh shall possess the land.
Isaiah 57:3-13
3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, 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 yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and madeb thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the lifec of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.
11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;