Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Here breaks out a spirit of cavilling at God's punitive dealings, in self-justification, which shows that their professed 'seeking of God' (Isaiah 58:2) was only hypocrisy.
Wherefore have we fasted ... and thou seest not? - The words of the Jews: 'Why is it that, when we fast, thou dost not notice it' (by delivering us)? They think to lay God under obligation by their fasting (Psalms 73:13; thou dost not notice it' (by delivering us)? They think to lay God under obligation by their fasting (Psalms 73:13; Malachi 3:14).
(Wherefore) have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? - (Leviticus 16:29.)
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure - God's reply.
Pleasure - in antithesis to their boast of having 'afflicted their soul;' it was only in outward show; they really enjoyed themselves. Gesenius, after the Chaldaic [`quoe sunt necessaria vobis'], not so well, translates, cheepets (H2656), 'business.' However, as what follows refers to self-seeking and gain-seeking, rather than pleasure iff the restricted sense, cheepets (H2656) must be taken as we sometimes use 'your pleasure' - i:e., your own will or desire. So the Vulgate, Septuagint, Arabic, and Syriac.
Exact all your labours, х `atsbeeykem (H6092)] - 'oppressive labours' (Maurer). Horsley, with Vulgate, translates, 'exact the whole upon your debtors:' those who owe you labour, (Nehemiah 5:1-5; Nehemiah 5:8-10, etc.) The Septuagint and Arabic, 'ye oppress all that am subject to you.' Gesenius, 'ye press all your workmen to labour.' The English version is best.