Isaiah 66:1-24 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Isaiah 66. Here divisions are hard to define. The theme the coming punishment of the apostates and the coming glory of the pious is pursued now on one side, now on the other.

Isaiah 66:1-4. An Attack on the Projectors of a Rival Temple. Those Jews who refused to accept the reformed religion apparently proposed to set up a rival temple. Yahweh scornfully demands of them in what manner of building they would house Him, whose habitation is the universe. These things a temple and a resting-place He has already made for Himself, on Zion; for despite His loftiness He ever considers the humble and obedient worshipper. As for these rebels who combine forbidden with legitimate rites, such as human sacrifice, the sacrifice of a dog without effusion of blood, the sacrificial use of swine's blood, and honouring of images, just as they choose their own perverse ways so will He choose to make them the sport of fate and bring upon them the things they dread. For, refusing to hearken to His commandments, they deliberately defied Him.

Isaiah 66:2. but: Heb. simply and.

Isaiah 66:3. is as he that: Heb. literally, He that killeth an ox, he that killeth a man and similarly. The same man practises both the recognised and the illicit rite.

Isaiah 66:4. delusions: a rare word, meaning possibly wanton blows of fortune.

Isaiah 66:5-11. The Imminent Satisfaction of the Hopes of the Pious. On the other hand, those for whom Yahweh's word is law, to whom the opponents of reform have mockingly said, Let Yahweh glorify Himself (so LXX) in accordance with your confident hopes, that we may see you happy! are comforted by the assurance that He will bring these mockers to shame. He will roar from His Temple (cf. Amos 1:2) as He comes forth to punish His enemies. Zion, to the amazement of the nations, shall become so suddenly populous with throngs of returning exiles that she is likened to a woman who ere the birthpains have begun brings forth a son. Having brought His purposes near to accomplishment, Yahweh will certainly complete them. He bids Jerusalem rejoice, and those who have been constant in her ills be joyous in her joy, deriving from her joy to the full.

Isaiah 66:8. land: probably the people of a has fallen out before this word.

Isaiah 66:10. Rejoice ye with: read with LXX rejoice thou.

Isaiah 66:12-18 a. The Future Felicity of the Pious Contrasted with the Impending Doom of their Opponents. Yahweh promises that He will divert to Zion prosperity (peace) like an overflowing stream; and the wealth of the nations shall pour into her like a torrent. Her children shall be so comforted by Him that they are compared to an infant carried on the side (cf. Isaiah 60:4) and fondly consoled by a mother. In their experience of Yahweh's grace they shall rejoice, and their bodies shall be full of life like the new grass after the early rains. But while Yahweh's grace (so emend hand, Isaiah 66:14) shall be manifested to His servants, His enemies shall feel His wrath. He will come like (so some MSS and LXX) fire, the storm-cloud His chariot (cf. Psalms 18:10) scorching His foes with His hot indignation. With fire and sword He will enter into judgement with all men. As for those who cling to the old superstitious cultus, purifying themselves for the worship not of the Temple but of the groves, where they follow the actions of one in the midst probably a leader of the ceremonies, cf. Ezekiel 8:11 and eat in mystic meaJs food regarded by the Law as unclean, their works and thoughts shall perish together.

Isaiah 66:12. and ye shall suck; ye: read, and your children (LXX).

Isaiah 66:17. abomination: read, swarming creatures.

Isaiah 66:18. Transfer the first clause to Isaiah 66:17, rendering their works and their thoughts shall come, etc.

Isaiah 66:18 b - Isaiah 66:22. Yahweh will Gather to Zion her Dispersed Sons, and She shall Abide for Ever. Yahweh will assemble all nations before Jerusalem, and manifest His majesty in punishment; the survivors He will send into the furthest regions to testify of what they have seen. These furthest nations evidently the all of Isaiah 66:18 is not to be taken literally shall bring all the dispersed Jews back to Jerusalem, tenderly and reverently as a Jew would bring an offering to Yahweh. Yahweh will take some from the returned exiles to be Levite-priests. The nation shall be eternal, like the new earth and heavens which Yahweh will make.

Isaiah 66:18. If all are gathered, who are the nations of Isaiah 66:19? Many would delete all. But possibly the writer was not strictly logical.

Isaiah 66:19. unto the nations. Javan: a gloss explaining the far lands. In any case for Pul read Put (LXX); cf. Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 27:10 f., and for that draw the bow, read (cf. LXX) Meshech and Rosh, cf. Ezekiel 38:2. Javan = the Ionians.

Isaiah 66:21. priests and for Levites: the and is inserted by the translators, the for probably due to accidental repetition of a consonant in Heb.; read Levitical priests. The point is important, as it would date the passage before the sharp distinction made in the Priestly Legislation between priests and Levites.

Isaiah 66:23 f. A Late Appendix. The triumphant note upon which the book ends is sadly marred by this late addition, which pictures the Jewsall flesh can hardly here be of wider application coming each new moon and Sabbath to worship in the Temple, and regarding with abhorrence the dead bodies of the apostates in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna Mark 9:43 *). But the picture is not to be taken too literally, for the fantastic elements of the ever-gnawing worm and the undying fire cannot be reduced within the limits of experience. The addition is not much older than the second century B.C.

Related Commentaries of Isaiah 66:1

Isaiah 66:1-24

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?

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all 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.

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb,a 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.

4 I also will choose their delusions,b 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.

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.

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

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.

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.

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:

11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundancec 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.

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

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.

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.

17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behindd one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

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.

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,e 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.

21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

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.

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.

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.