I have hated them; their very persons, not simply, but for their wickedness. Compare Psalms 139:21,22. That regard, Heb. that observe, to wit, with respect to them, dependence upon them, or expectation of any good from them. Lying vanities; or, most vain vanities; such as are foolish, and deceitful, and fruitless. By which he understands, either,
1. All human or carnal helps, any arm of flesh; for he that trusteth therein is pronounced cursed, Jeremiah 17:5, and therefore is hateful. Or,
2. Idols, which are oft called vanities, as Deuteronomy 32:21 Jeremiah 2:5, Jeremiah 8:19, &c. Or,
3. Curious arts, and all sorts of divinations by stars, or the notions or inwards of living creatures, or by the dead; which practices were common and prevalent among those Eastern people, and by their example were too rife among the Israelites also, Isaiah 2:6, of whom he here speaks; for the Gentiles that observed these vanities he rather pitied than hated; but the Israelites that did so were apostates from God, and professed enemies to him and his laws, and therefore were the proper objects of just hatred.