Isaiah 57:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

ISAIAH CHAPTER 57 The blessed death of the righteous not duly lamented by the Jews; who also commit idolatry, and trusted in man: they are threatened, Isaiah 57:1-12; Evangelical promises to the penitent, Isaiah 57:13-19. No peace to the wicked, Isaiah 57:20,21. The righteous; just and holy men, who are the pillars of the place and state in which they live; yea, as the Jews call them, the pillars of the world. No man; few or none of the people. So he showeth that the corruption was general, in the people no less than in the priests. Layeth it to heart; is duly affected with this severe stroke and sad sign of God's displeasure. Merciful; or, godly; the same whom he now called righteous, whose duty and practice it is to exercise both mercy or kindness, and justice. From the evil to come; from those dreadful calamities which are coming upon the nation.