Isaiah 48

The Lord complaineth of the Jews hypocrisy, ver.1. obstinacy, 3. And contempt of his prophesies, 5, etc. yet he spareth them for his names sake, 9. That they may learn to know him aright. 12. He promiseth his blessing unto Cores, 14. And exhorteth the Jews to the keeping of his commandments, with a promise of his blessing, and with a promise of a happy deliverance out of Babel. 20. The condition of the wicked, 22.

1. Hear this, ye house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out the waters of Juda, [That is, which are sprung from the tribe of Juida as from a fountain. See Deut.33.28. Psal.68.27. and the Annotat. There] which swear by the name of the LORD, [testifying thereby that they acknowledge the LORD for the true God: for a just and lawful oath is to call upon God for a witness] and make mention of the God of Israel, [to wit, when they swear by him. See Exod.23.13.] (but) not in truth nor in righteousness, [That is, not sincerely, as the Lord requireth, but hypocritically. See Jeremiah 4:2.]

2. Yea [Or though] they are called of the holy city [to wit, Jerusalem. Heb. The city of holiness, that is, they boast that they are citizens and inhabitants of the holy city of Jerusalem.] and they stay themselves upon the God of Israel: [to wit, as much as concerneth the outward appearance. But though they boast hereof in words, yet it is not so with them indeed and in truth, but their heart is far from him] the Lord of hosts is his name.

3. I have declared the former things, [To wit, both blessings and punishments] from that time, [to wit, from that time that I took you to be my people. Or from that time that I took you to be my people. Or from that time that I brought you forth out of Egypt, and gave you my law. So likewise ver.5.] and they went forth out of my mouth, and I caused them to be heard: I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

4. Because I knew that thou art hard, [See the Annotat. Exod.32.9. and 33.3. and Deut.9.13. and 21.27. and 32.5.] and thy neck is an iron sinew, [that is, as hard as an iron sinew] and thy forehead copper: [that is, hard and impudent.]

5. Therefore have I declared it to thee from that time, before it came to pass I caused thee to hear it: lest perhaps thou shouldst say, mine Idol [Heb. My sorrow] hath done those things, or my carved image, or my cast image [Heb. My casting] hath commanded them.

6. Thou hast heard (it) [To wit, that which I declared heretofore, and that which also afterward came to pass] observe all that [Heb. Behold or see it. That is, lay it to heart, consider it well] will not ye etc.) you that boast yourselves to be my people whom I have chosen, that ye as Prophets should publish and declare these things, to wit, that I have dealt so fatherly and so lovingly and friendly with you] from this time I do cause thee to hear new things [to wit, the ruine and destruction of the Babylonian captivity by Cores] and hidden, [Heb. Secure, kept] things, and which thou knowest not.

7. They are created now, and not from that time, neither hast thou heard them before (this) day: [That is, it is now first revealed by the Prophets, and brought to light, that which was formerly as it were hidden in my secret counsel] lest thou perhaps shouldst say, Behold, I knew them.

8. Also thou hast not them, [To wit, of thy star-gazers and soothsayers] also thou hast not known them, also from that time was thine ear not opened: for I knew that thou wouldst deal very unfaithfully, [Heb. That thou dealing unfaithfully wouldst deal unfaithfully; to wit, with me, or towards me] and that thou art called a transgressor from the womb. [that is, from that time that thou wast conceived and born; and further also from that time that I called and received you to be my people, (and that thou art called a transgressor, etc.) Understand withal, and thou hast also been such an one indeed and in truth. Or, thou hast so behaved and carried thy self, that they may justly call thee so.]

9. For my Names sake will I defer my wrath longer, [Or, prolong, adjourn, delay, put off, etc.] and (for) my praise (sake) will I refrain (my self) [Others, seal up (my self), that is, curb, bridle, keep back my self] for thy good: [or, for thy sake. Others towards thee,] that I cut thee not off. [As a tree is cut off, or cut down, which they intend to destroy.]

10. Behold, I have refined thee, [To wit, by affliction, misery, and adversity] but not as silver, [to wit, not so often, nor so narrowly as silver is refined, that thou perish not utterly. Or, not with silver; that is, I will not try thee together with silver in the fining-pot, as false and counterfeit silver is tried together with the good metal in one and the same fining-pot. The meaning is, I will indeed visit thee with affliction, but I will moderate it. See 1 Pet.1.7.] I have chosen thee line the fining-pot of misery. [To wit, as purified, refined, and chosen gold or silver, which is refined in the furnace. See Prov.7.3. and 27.13. The meaning is, when by my grace and mercy I shall have suffered thee to continue so long in trouble and affliction, until thou turn to me by true and hearty repentance, I will then shew thee favour and kindness again.]

11. For mine (own) sake, will I do it: for how should it [To wit, my Name, vers.9.] be prophaned? [that is, be mocked and reproached, as if I had not dealt faithfully with my people, but had utterly forsaken them, whereas I had otherwise promised] and I will not give my honour unto another. [Compare above chap.42.8.]

12. Hearken unto me, O Jacob, whom I have chosen and called to be my people] I am the same, I am the first, I also am the last. [See above chap.41.4. and 46.6. Revel.1.17. and 22.13.]

13. Mine hand also hath founded the earth, and my right hand hath measured the heavens with the palm: [Heb. Hath palmed, or spanned the heavens. See above chap.40.12.] when I call them, they [to wit, the heavens, and all the creatures. See Psal.147.4.] stand there together. [That is, they appear, and stand forthwith ready to serve me. A phrase borrowed or taken from the servants of Kings and Princes. See 1. Kings 10.8. Or thus: when I called them they stood there together; to wit, in the creation.]

14. All ye assemble yourselves, and hear: who among them [To wit, the Idols of the heathen, whereof mention is made above ver.5.] hath declared these things? [See above chap.41.22,23.] the LORD loveth him, [to wit, Cores. Namely so far, that he will give him his blessing and good success against the Babylonians. See above chap.45.1.] he [to wit, Cores] will do his pleasure [to wit, the Lords pleasure] against Babel, [the meaning is, Cores shall according to the pleasure of God, destroy Babel, and deliver the Jews out of the Babylonian captivity] and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. [His, to wit, Gods arm, that is, Gods power. Or, his, to wit, Cores his arm. Others, though the Chaldeans have been neer his arm. The meaning is, though God used the Chaldeans to chasten and correct his people, and to cause his power to appear, ye notwithstanding he will break them in pieces as a rod or staff wherewith he beat his people, and I punish and oppress them by Cores.]

15. I, I have spoken (it) also I have called him, [To wit, Cores, as above chap.45.1. That is, I will call him in due time: for Cores was not born, when Isaiah prophesied this of him. See the Annotat. Above chap.44.on ver.28.] I will cause him to come, and he shall be prosperous (in) his way.

16. Come ye near unto me, hear this, [The Prophet speaketh this unto the Jews, calling them to him, to confirm and establish them more and more in that which he preached and declared unto them before.] I have not spoken in secret from the beginning, [Heb. From the head. As if the prophet had said, I have not concealed ought from you of that which the LORD commanded me to preach unto you: But I have plainly and clearly told you all] (but) from that time that it was done, [that is, that the Lord revealed it unto me] am I there: [Others, that it was there, am I, or, was I? That is, I waited diligently and carefully on my Prophetic office. See above chap.21.8.] and now the Lord LORD and his spirit hath sent me. [In regard I am an ambassador of our great God, men ought to honour me, and give credit unto me.]

17. Thus saith the LORD thy Redeemer, the holy One of Israel: I am the LORD thy God, which teacheth thee what is profitable, which leadeth thee in the way (that) thou must go.

18. O That thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! [See Deut.32.20. Psal.81.14.] then had thy peace [that is, thy prosperity. See Psal.37.on vers.11.] been as a river, [that is abounding, and always lasting, as a River floweth continually [and thy righteousness [that is, the fruit of thy righteousness, that is, the blessed and happy estate of thy government, which should have followed, if thou hadst applied thy self unto righteousness. See Psal.24. the Annotat. On ver.5.] as the waves of the Sea, [that is, abundantly, exceedingly.]

19. Thy seed [That is, thy children] also had been as the sand, [to wit, multitude] and they that come forth out of thy bowels [that is, out of thy body, that is, the children that should issue from thee. See the Annotat. Job chap.5.on ver.25.] like as the little stones; [Others, gravel, or flint-stones] thereof: [to wit, of the sand] his name should not be cut off, [See above ver.9.] nor destroyed from before my face.

20. Go out of Babel, [See below chap.52.11. Jerem.50.8. and 51.6,45. Revel.18.4.] flee from the Chaldeans [that is, get ye away speedily, as it were fleeing, that ye be not also involved in the severe judgement which God would bring upon the Babylonians. See Jerem.51.6. Revel.18.4.] declare it with the voice of shouting, cause it to be heard, utter it even to the end of the earth; say, the LORD hath redeemed his servants Jacob. [to wit, out of the Babylonian Captivity, and out of many other miseries besides.]

21. And; [To wit, say also] They [to wit, the Jews that should go from Babel to Judea through the wilderness] were not thirsty (when) he [to wit, the LORD] led them through desert places: [The Lord did formerly provide for his people, and furnished them with all things necessary, when he led them through the wilderness toward the land of Canaan: In like manner the Lord promiseth here, that he would also provide for his people when he should bring them again from Babel into the land of Juda, and consequently that he would spiritually deliver and save his Church. See above chap.43.ver.19,20.] he caused water to flow out of the rock for them: when he clave the rock, then the water gushed out. [See Exod.17.6. Numb.20.11. Psal.105.41.]

22. (But) the wicked [That is, unbelievers, Idolaters, whether Babylonians or Jews] have no peace, [that is, no prosperity, neither in soul nor in body. See above ver.18. and below chap.57.ver.21..]