Isaiah 66

The Lord reproveth the Jews that relied on the outward temple, ver.1. And showeth who they are that please him. 2 a threatening against the rebellious. 4 afterward he comforteth the Godly, 24.

1. Thus saith the LORD, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool of my feet.: [see the Annotat. 1 kings 8.27 and 2 Chron. 6.18. Acts 7:48,49 and 17.24] where should that house be that ye should build unto me? [As if he had said, ye must not think that i can be shut up in the Temple. Many Jews in those times thought that they did enough when they worshipped God in the Temple (whereunto they themselves especially tied) with the outward worship that was enjoined them, although they did not live according to all his commandments, but lived wicked lives. But this reproof of the outward worship of the Jews, must be so understood as that under it is likewise prophesied of the disannulling of the ceremonies of the Old Testament] and where is the place of rest? [Or, which is the place of my rest? As Acts 7:49. the Tabernacle and the Temple are called the rest of the Lord, 1 Chronicles 28:2 and 2 Chron. 6.41 and Psal.132.8. see the Annotat there. But of the new heavenly Jerusalem it is said, Revel. 21.22. i saw no Temple therein, for the Lord the Almighty God is the Temple of it, and land. And now is the time that the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth, being tied to no certain house or place, Job 4:21,24]

2. For mine hand [That is, power] hath made all these things, [this is set down by way of questing on, Acts 7:50 hath not mine handmade all these things?] and [or, so therefore] all these things have been, [that is, subsist, to wit, by my power. See Psal.119.91 and Job 41:2. or, to be signifieth to continue, as Exodus 24:12. Ruth 1:2 Psal. 64.8. Dan.1.21. see Psal. 37 on ver. 18] speaketh the LORD, but to this (man) will i look, [Or, upon whom shall i look? That is, unto shall i be gracious, that is, whom shall i cause to enjoy my favour and help? To him that is poor, [And he that acknowledgeth his poverty, namely his spiritual poverty; that is, the want righteousness] and contrite spirit. By reason of the sense or acknowledge of his sins. See Psal.34 on vers. 19 and Psal. 35 on vers. 15 and 51.19 and above chapter 57.18. compare Matth. 5.3. and 1 Pet.3.4.] and that trembleth at my word. [that is, that so highly regarded my Majesty & excellency, as that he feareth and trembleth at my commandments, receiving them and submitting himself unto them with a child like fear and reverence. Compare Ezra.9.4 and 10.3, below ver. 5. Hos. 11, 10. See also Exod.19.16 . Job 37:1.]

3. Who so killeth an ox, [Heb, throateth. To wit, for an offering; with acknowledgement of his sins and without faith, or he that doth it outwardly in the time of the new Testament. See above chap.1.11. Hebrews 10:1,11.] smitteth [or slayeth] a man: [that is, killeth a man. The meaning is, it as displeasing unto me, ye he doth as exceedingly provoke me to anger, as if he slew a man] who so offereth a lamb, breaketh a dogs neck: [that is, he is like one that breaketh a dogs neck, or beheadeth a dog, or cutteth off neck; to wit to offer it unto me, as Deuteronomy 21:4. and understand here under the name of dog all kinds of unclean beasts, which were forbidden in law to be offered] who so offereth a meat-offering, is (as he that offereth) swines blood: see Levit. 11. Ver.7,8,9. Deuteronomy 14:8 where not onely swines flesh is forbidden to be eaten, but the a Jews were not allowed to touch it without desiling themselves therewith] who so burneth frankincense for a remembrance-offering, [to wit, for memorial. See the Annotat. Levit. 2. On verse 2. Heb. He that maketh a remembrance of incense, or frankincense] is (as)_ he that blesseth an idol: [or, praiseth an idol: [or praiseth an idol: that is, giveth thanks, as if he were a true God. See of the Hebrew word rendered an idol, 1 Samuel 15 on ver.23.] these also choose their (own) ways [the meaning is, they walk not in the ways that i have prescribed unto them, but they choose ways unto themselves; ways and manners of worship; or their own wicked lusts, & evil concupiscence’s] their soul delighteth in their abominations. [That is, in their idolatries and ceremonies, which are an abomination to me. See 2 Chron. 18.8. Ezek.20.7. with the Annotat.]

4. I will also choose (the reward) of their dealings, [as if God should say, have they chosen their own ways and walked in them? I also will choose the thing that i will do [others, i will also choose their mutabilities; that is, i will also punish them for their hypocrisy and will make them to trot up and down and to go into captivity [Others, for their delusions; that is, i will discover their wickedness, and hypocrisy, whereby they mean to blind mine eyes] and will cause their fears] to wit, the power of the Chaldeans and others enemies, which they are afraid of.] see Job chapter 39 on ver. 25.] to come upon them; because i called, and none did answer; [see Proverbs 1:14 above chap.50.2 and 65.12 and Jeremiah 7:13] but did that which is evil in mine eyes, [see above chapter 65.12] and chose that in which I delighted not.

5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, that separate you far off my names sake, [here now God or the prophet speaketh to the godly Israelites that lived in the time of the prophets, and which afterwards in the time of Christ should believe in him, and should therefore be hated and persecuted of their brethren according to the flesh (your brethren) to wit, false brethren, hypocrites, (that separate you) or fever you, are a verse from you, counting you unworthy of their company. See above chap.65.5. (for my names sake) that is, because you profess the true religion, which i have given you to observe to the honour of my name] say [to wit, mocking at the threatening which the Lord causeth to be denounced by his prophets] let the Lord shew his power on us by his judgements where with thou dost threaten us. This those wicked men speak in a scoffing way, profanely rejecting all the threatening which the Lord causeth to be denounced by his Prophets] let the Lord be glorious: [As if they had said, let the Lord shew his power on us by his judgements, wherewith thou dost threaten us. This those wicked men speak in a scoffing way, profanely rejecting all the threatening and promises which the Lord made by his Prophets. Compare above chapter 5.19.] but he shall appear to your joy, they on the contrary shall be ashamed [Or verily he (to wit, the Lord) shall appear (that is, he shall surely come) to your joy (to wit, to the joy of the Godly) but they (to wit the wicked) shall be ashamed; that is, i will plague them and bring them to shame: neither shall their false gods in whom they put their confidence, be able to deliver them.]

6. There shall be [that is, he heard] a voice of a great rumour [others, the sound of a noise] from the city, [to wit Jerusalem] a voice from the Temple, the voice of the Lord, that recompeseth desert to his enemies. [some understand the words of this verse this, there shall be heard an alantum and lamentation, when the Chaldeans shall come shall come to destroy the city of Jerusalem and the temple: this shall be the voice of the Lord, who shall call, or stir up the Chaldeans, to punish the wicked Jews. Others take these words thus, the voice of the teachers of the Gospel, that shall lift up their voice like a trumpet, shall go forth from Jerusalem, and be heard from the temple, above chap.2.3. being a gracious voice unto the elect, but displeasing unto the enemies of God, 2 Cor.2 15,16.]

7. Before she [to wit, Zion, ver. 8, that is, the church of God] travelled [Or, bad had pangs, sorrows] she brought forth; [that is, the church of Christ shall suddenly and unware increase, in regard that suddenly and beyond expectation, many of the Gentiles shall suddenly and unawares increase, in regard that suddenly and beyond expectation, many of the Gentiles shall declare the Gospel, which as children of God shall be born unto her. See Acts 2:41, 47. And chapter 12 vers.24. the Gentiles came in great multitudes, instead of the wicked and unbelieving Jews to the church of Christ. See Acts 11. Ver.18. and ver. 23.] before her pain came upon (her) she was delivered of a man hold. [that is, a great and mighty people, which ver.8 are her sons, and Exod.4.22. God’s people are called Gods sons: and his first born. Compare with Revel. 12.5.

8. Who hath ever heard such a thing? Who hath seen the like? Is it possible that a land [that is, the inhabitants of a land, a land full of people] should he born in one day? Is it possible that a people should be borne at once?] [that is suddenly in a short time] but Zion was in pangs, and she brought forth her sons. [that is, Zion brought forth her children as soon as her pangs and travail came upon her. This came to pass when the preaching of the Gospel was speedingly embraced (and she brought forth her sons) understand this of a great number of Gentiles which were by faith gained unto Christ. See ver.7.]

9. Should I break open the womb and not beget? [Or thus, should i break upon the womb (of others) and not cause (Zion) to bring forth? Or thus, should i bring to the birth & not cause to bring forth? That is, should i prepare a people for the Gospel and give no grace to receive it, process it, and live according to it? Compare above chapter. 37.3.] saith the LORD: should i that beget, henceforth shut up? [that is, remain, or cause to remain barren. See Genes. 16.2. and 20.17,18.] saith thy God.

10. Rejoice ye [O ye faithful children of God, ye new-born Christians, of whose birth is spoken ver.8.] with Jerusalem, [that is, with the Church of God, the spiritual Jerusalem, which the Lord hath built up again, and greatly increased by the calling of the Gentiles] and be glad over her, [or with her, or in her, or in her, that is, for her sake] all her lovers, be joyful with joy [that is, he heartily joyful, as Matth.2.10.] over her all ye that mourned for her. [to wit, not onely for the destruction of the earthly Jerusalem, but much more because of the Church of God is almost utterly oppressed by the enemies.]

11. That ye may suck, and satisfied with the breasts of her consolations: [that is, that ye may be partakers of the gifts which the Lord shall abundantly pour out upon his church. See the Annotat. Psal. 36. On ver.9. (With the breasts of her consolations) that is, of her manifold comforts, wherewith she doth comfort wounded consciences. See 2 Cor. 1.3,4.] that ye may suck out & delight yourselves with the brightness of her glory. [Or, with the abundance of her glory.]

12. For thus saith the LORD, behold, i will extend peace [the word peace is diversly taken in Scripture; first, for spiritual peace arising from faith in Christ, Rom.5.1, Secondly, for brotherly peace, which one man hath with another, as Job.14.27. Mark 9:50. thirdly, it signifieth likewise besides rest from war, all manner of health and prosperity both in soul and in body. See Psal.37 on ver. 11.] over her, [Or, incline, or bow it to her; to wit, to Zion; that is, to my church] like a river, [see above chapter 48. On ver.18.] and the glory [that is, riches. See above chap.61. on ver. 6 and Revel. 21.26.] of the Gentiles like an over-running brook: then shall ye [to wit, the godly Jews] suck, [to wit, the sincere milk of the word of God] ye shall be carried upon (her) side. [Or, upon (her) arms] and be friendly dandled upon the knees. [the meaning is, the Christian church and the ministers thereof shall deal very friendly & courteously with you, as a mother doth with her tender babes, not omitting any thing that might tend to your instruction and piety. See above chapter 49.22 and 60.4, 16 and Numb.11,12 and 1 Thess. 2.7. Gal.6.1,2.]

13. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will i comfort you: [that is, i will shew all fatherly and motherly affection towards you and I will embrace you with loving kindness. See above chapter 40.11.] yea, ye shall be comforted at Jerusalem. [that is, in the church of believers.]

14. And ye shall see (it), and your heart {that is, your inward mind, or inward man. Psal.22.27. and 69.33.] shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: [that is, ye shall be made heartily and lively by the power of Gods spirit, whereas ye were before as it were dried up, and withered through grief. The word bones signifieth sometimes all the members of the body. See Psal.35 the annotate. On ver. 10. And Psal. 51. On ver.10. see the contrary of this clause, Prov.17.22. (like the tender grass) which seemeth to be dead in the cold winter-season, but is revived again when the spring cometh] then shall the hand of the LORD [That is, the strength and power, or the help of the LORD] he known towards his servants, [that is, towards all the godly] and shall be angry [Or, shew anger. The Hebrew word signifieth also loathing, detesting, as Num.23. ver. 7, 8.] with his enemies.

15. For, behold the LORD will come with fire, {or, come in, or as fire. This is a description of vengeance which the Lord shall exercise: and it may be understood of the corporal punishment which God shall bring upon his enemies here in this life, as likewise at the day of judgement, 2 Thess. 1.8,9. See also Jerem. 5.14.] and his charets [understand here warlike charets. Compare this with Psal.68.18.] like a whirl wind: to turn [or, to employ] hither his anger [that is, judgements] with fury and his rebuke [that is, his wrath, his judgements. See Psal.9 on ver. 6.] with flames of fire.

16. For with fire, [understand here the fire of divine wrath and vengeance. See Job. 22. On ver. 20] and with his sword. [some thus, that is, with the sword. Here some do understand the sword of the Chaldeans, and of other enemies, which the Lord would send against the Jews, therefore he calleth them his sword. But others understand here by the sword, the word of God; as Ephesians 6:17. Hebrews 4:12.] will the Lord enter into judgement with all flesh: [that is, with all wicked men, that’s shall have been disobedient and rebellious against him] & the slain of the LORD shall be multiplied.

17. They that sanctify, and purify themselves in the gardens, after one in the midst (thereof:) that eat swine’s flesh, and the abomination and mice: shall be consumed together, speaketh the LORD. [A narration what manner of enemies they were whom the LORD should destroy; to wit, such as honour idols, and lead not their lives according to the law of God. (they that sanctify themselves and purify themselves [to wit, after the manner of Idolaters, to please their false Gods, (in the gardens) or, for the gardens that is, to go and offer in the gardens of Idols; see above chapter 1.29. and 65.3. (after one) that is, one after another, or after one another. Some understood hereby me. A well, or pool lying in the gardens, by or behind which they washed themselves with the water thereof, that they might so cleanse and purify themselves. Others, behind one (tree) that is, behind a close row of trees dedicated to some idol. Others, behind (the temple of the one; to wit, God, who is called one Deuteronomy 6:4 also some among the then call God the one. Others, behind the temple of Achad, which Achad they conceive to be an idol among the Assyrians, representing the sun (in the midst thereof) that is, openly (that eat swines flesh, & see above chapter ver. 3 and Levit. 11.7. (they shall be consumed) that is, be cut off or be destroyed]

18. Their works and their thoughts! [Others, but as for me, O their works, As if so be God he had in the former verse reproved the abominable idolatry of the wicked Jews, should add a threatening here, speaking as one provoked to anger, with short abrupt words. Or these words may be thus placed, should i (bear with) their works and (with) their thoughts? As if he had said, i will by no means bear with them; but i will forthwith gather all the heathen, & as followeth in the text] it cometh, [that is, the time cometh] that shall gather all the heathen tongues: and they shall come, and they shall see my glory. [that is, instead of the wicked and ungodly Jews, i will call the Gentiles and i will manifest my glory unto them, (all the heathen tongues) that is, all manner of nations that speak divers languages (and they shall see) that is, be made partakers of (my glory) which an, [God revealeth in the Gospel, redeeming mankind Jesus Christ.]

19. And i will set a mark upon them, [whereby the converted Jews may be known to be my children and servants. This mark is the profession of the use of the holy sacraments, and inwardly the holy Ghost, whereby they are sealed, Ezekiel 1:13.] and i will send those that shall escape of them, [to wit, from the rejection, of the greater part from the ruin and destruction of the Jews] unto the Gentiles, [this was fulfilled in the Apostle & others, that preached the Gospel among the Gentiles] (to) tharsis, [to wit, unto that dwell in Tharsis, & so in the sequel of Tharsis, see the Annotat. 1 Kings 10. On ver.22.] Pul was also the name of one of the kings of Assyria. See 2 Kings 15:19,20 and 1 chron.5.26.] and Lud, [see Gen.10. on ver. 13 and 22.] the how-shooters, [Heb. The bow drawers, or the bow-benders; that is, those that shoot with the bow. Compare Jer.46.9.] to Tubal. See Gen. 10 on ver.2] and Javan, [that is, the Grecians. See Gen.10 verse 2.] to the Isles lying afar off, that have not heard my fame, [Heb, my hearing; that is, which have not heard of me, which as yet had not heard the preaching of the Gospel. See Romans 10:16,17. Others that as yet had not heard the fame concerning my great power] neither have seen my glory: and they [or the same, to wit, whom i shall send unto the Gentiles, namely the Apostles, and other teachers, as Barabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Luke] shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

20. And they shall bring your brethren, [to wit, your brethren in Christ, or believers, the elect Gentiles, which converted by the preaching of the gospel shall be made the children of Abraham, and consequently shall be the brethren of the Jews] (for) a meat-offering unto the LORD, [or for a sacrifice to be offered unto the LORD. Others, for a gift, or present. See Romans 15:16. so likewise below in this verse] out of all the Gentiles, upon horses, & in charet, and in horselitters, [or covered charet or coaches] and upon mules, and upon swift runners, [or upon swift beats, or upon post-horses that is, with all diligence and helps or means] unto my holy mountain, [that is, to the communion of saints. See above chap.2.2.] (To) Jerusalem, [from ver. 23.may be gathered, that this is not to be meant of the material Jerusalem, for it is impossible that all flesh should come thither every month or every week, to worship there] saith the LORD, like as the children of Israel bring the meat-offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

21. And i will also take of them [to wit, of the converted Gentiles] some for priests, (and) for Levites, [that is, for teachers and for preachers of the Gospel. See Romans 15:16. Phil.2.17.] saith the LORD.

22. For like as that new heaven, and that new earth, which i will make, [see above chapter 65 on ver. 17. And 2 Pet. 3.13. Revelation 21:1.] shall stand before my face, saith the LORD, so shall (also) your seed and your name stand. [That is, there shall be and remain always a church and company of believer in the world. The kingdom of Christ is called, Heb.12.28. An unmoveable Kingdome.]

23. And is shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another [Heb. From (the time of) the new moon to his new moon] and from one Sabbath to the other, [Heb, from Sabbath to his Sabbath. That is, continually, from time to time, without distinctions of that were in the Old Testament. Compare Collos. 2.28.] all flesh, [that is, all manner of nation upon earth, both Jews and Gentiles. See Joel 2:28. Acts 2:17. see also above on ver.20] shall come to worship before my face, saith the LORD.

24. And they [To wit, the true members of the church, the faithful] shall go forth, and they shall see the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me; [this may indeed be taken according to the letter, as above chapter 34.3 and elsewhere: but it may be also taken here for such as are dead in sins, though they be alive according to the body, as 1 Tim. 5.6 and Revel. 20.5. (They shall see) and rejoice because of the righteous judgement of God upon the wicked, as well in this life as in that which is to come. Compare Revel. 12. Ver.10, & and chapter 19. Ver. 12, &] for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, [Christ applieth these words to the damned in hell, where the worm of conscience never dieth, but always gnaweth, and where the fire of Gods wrath is never quenched, Mark 9:4.] and they shall be an abhorring [or an abomination, or a curse. The Hebrew word is found onely here, and Daniel 12:2. In both places is spoken of stiff necked obstinate sinners which are loathed and abhorred of all good and godly people] unto all flesh. [To wit, to all the elect children of God or to all other creatures]