Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59:2

Iniquities. The history of Susanna shews that the captives were not all free from sin, which alone prevented their liberation, Lamentations iii. 44. (Calmet) [Daniel xiii.] — God is willing and able to save. He punishes for sin, to cause us to repent, ver. 20. (Worthington)

Isaiah 59:4

Justice. They arraign unjustly. None call upon the just God, but trust in idols. — Iniquity. They kill themselves, while they strive to injure others, Psalm vii. 15., and Micheas ii. 1.

Isaiah 59:5

Basilisk, or viper. (Calmet) — The young ones “burst through the viper’s sides.” (Pliny, [Natural History?] x. 62.) — So the works of the wicked are useless or destructive.

Isaiah 59:8

Peace, or prosperity. They quarrel with all, and ruin themselves, Psalm xiii.

Isaiah 59:9

Therefore. The wicked Jews nevertheless confess that their sins prove their destruction.

Isaiah 59:10

Dead. The Jews will not recognize Christ, notwithstanding the prophecies and miracles.

Isaiah 59:11

Judgment, that God would avenge us, (ver. 9.) and regard our fasts, chap. lviii. 3.

Isaiah 59:14

CHAPTER LIX.

In. Where truth is disregarded, there can be no justice.

Isaiah 59:16

Himself, to arrest his arm, stretched out to chastise his son; or to second him. There is nothing in man to stop God’s vengeance. He therefore pardons out of his own goodness, chap. lix. 2., and lxiii. 4. (Calmet) — He became man to redeem us, as no pure mortal could do it. (Worthington)

Isaiah 59:17

Justice. None can blame his conduct.

Isaiah 59:19

On. Hebrew, “is standard-bearer.” (Aquila) (St. Jerome) — Cyrus, the figurative redeemer, proceeds rapidly.

Isaiah 59:20

To Sion. Septuagint, “from Sion, and will turn away iniquity from Jacob. And this,” &c. (Haydock) — St. Paul hence proves that the Jews will at last be converted, Romans xi. 26. The return of the captives prefigured this event. (Calmet)

Isaiah 59:21

Covenant. Note here a clear promise of perpetual orthodoxy to the Church of Christ. (Challoner) — She hath still the spirit of truth. (Worthington) (Matthew xxviii. 20.) — None will apply this to the synagogue, which is visibly in the dark, and abandoned. (Calmet)