They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
They that sanctify themselves ... in the gardens - the Hebrew ( 'el ( H413) haganowt ( H1593 )) and the Septuagint [eis tous keepous] require, 'for (entering into) gardens;' namely, to sacrifice there (Maurer). The Vulgate, Chaldaic Arabic, and Syriac support the English version.
Behind one (tree) in the midst - rather, 'following one:' 'achar (H310) (the same as 'achªreey) 'achat (H259); i:e., some idol or other, which, from contempt, he does not name (Maurer). Vitringa, etc. think the Hebrew for "one," Achad, to be the name of the god: called Adad (meaning One) in Syria (cf. Acts 17:23, "To the Unknown God.") The Supreme God (Macrobius, 'Saturnal.' 1: 23). The idol's power was represented by inclined rays, as of the sun shining on the earth. Gesenius translates, 'following one'-namely, Hierophant (priest) - who led the rest in performing the sacred rites.
In the midst - namely, of the garden (cf. notes, Isaiah 65:3-4 ).
Eating ... the mouse - legally unclean (Leviticus 11:29), because it was an idol to the pagan (see note, Isaiah 37:36; 1 Samuel 6:4 ). Translate, 'the field-mouse,' or 'dormouse' (Bochart.) The Pharisees, with their self-righteous purifications, and all mere formalists, are included in the same condemnation, described in language taken from the idolatries prevalent in Isaiah's times.