Isaiah 63:18 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The people of thy holiness; or, thy holy people, as being set apart for his servants; holiness being to be understood for a covenant separation from other people. But a little while. i.e.

1. Comparatively to the promise, which was for ever, though they had possessed it about one thousand four hundred years. Or,

2. It seeming to them so, as things, especially such as are desirable, seem when they are past, Job 9:25,26 Psa 90 4. Or,

3. They enjoyed but small spaces of time in quietness, so they had small enjoyment of it. Or,

4. It may respect the temple, which stood but four hundred years. Have trodden down thy sanctuary; the temple, called the sanctuary from the holiness of it; this our adversaries the Babylonians have trodden down, 2 Chronicles 36:19; and this also implies their ruining of their whole ecclesiastical policy.

Isaiah 63:18

18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.