Isaiah 1

2. Predictions about the nations.—These are principally given in the chapters or passages entitled “Burdens”; Babylon (xiii.-xiv. 23); Philistia (xiv. 28-32); Moab (xv., xvi.); Damascus, for Syria (xvii.); Ethiopia and Egypt (xviii.-xx.); Babylon, “the Wilderness of the Sea” (xxi. 1-10); Edom or “Dumah” (xxi. 11, 12); Arabia (xxi. 13-17); Jerusalem, or Judah, “the Valley of Vision” (xxii.); and Tyre (xxiii.). Further predictions are given in chapters xxxiii. and xxxiv. against Assyria and Edom.

3. Prophecies of the Messiah and His Kingdom.—In addition to those already indicated above, the character of His reign and its results are predicted in ii. 4; ix. 2; xl. 11; lii. 13-15.

[Apart from the exposition given below, the reader who desires to study questions of authorship, date, and fuller summaries of the contents of the book may be referred to The Bible Handbook, by Angus and Green, or to The Progress of Prophecy, by Prof. W. J. Farley, chaps. vii. and viii. (1925).]

1. The vision, etc. Ewald terms this chapter appropriately, “The Great Arraignment.” From ver. 7 it has been argued that the chapter cannot be earlier than the time of Ahaz, when foreign invasions began. See 2 Kings xvi. 5, 6; 2 Chron. xxviii. 5-8. Or the picture may be that of the desolation caused by the Assyrians.

2. Hear, O heavens, etc. See Psa. l. 4. The appeal is repeated from Deut. xxxii. 1, being as applicable in Isaiah’s day as it had been centuries before.

they have rebelled. The word “they” is emphatic in Hebrew: even my children, whom I have reared, have rebelled.

3 his owner. If the fatherly relation was too high to grasp, Israel might at least have risen to the level of the irrational animals, and recognised its Master.

4. A seed of evildoers. i.e., “a race who are evildoers,” not descended from evildoers. The Spanish version is “gente pecadora” (sinful race).

the Holy One of Israel. This appellation is found almost exclusively in Isaiah. It suggests God’s inherent holiness along with His covenant relation to His people.

5. Ye will revolt more and more. R.V., “Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more?” Cp. Ezek. xviii. 31: “Why will ye die?”

6. From the sole of the foot, etc. Comp. Deut. xxviii. 35; Job ii. 7.

7 desolate. Lit., “a desolation.” There were at least three invasions of Judah by “strangers” during Isaiah’s ministry: one by the combined forces of Syria and Israel (vii.), and two by the Assyrians (xxii., xxxvi.).

8 the daughter of Zion. A personification of the city and inhabitants of Jerusalem: see 2 Kings xix. 21 and Psa. xlv. 12. “Sometimes, however, it seems to mean the city without the inhabitants (Lam. ii. 8); sometimes the inhabitants without the city (Mic. iv. 10).”—Cheyne.

a cottage in a vineyard. A temporary hut erected for the fruit-watcher of the vineyard or cucumber ground; see note on Job xxvii. 18. A picture of loneliness.

9. We should have been as Sodom, etc. i.e., We should have been totally and justly destroyed.

12 to tread. Rather, “to trample,” i.e., insultingly; your attendance upon these outward rites, whilst your hearts and lives are ungodly and impure, is an insult to Me.

13 vain oblations. Lit., “the minchah (meal-offering) of vanity.”

Incense is an abomination, etc. Rather, “Incense is abomination to Me; [and so are] new moon, sabbath, calling of assembly: I cannot endure iniquity, and the solemn meeting”; i.e. I cannot bear these services when coupled with iniquity: see R.V.

14 appointed feasts. The Hebrew term here used is appropriated in Scripture to the Sabbath, the Passover, the Pentecost, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Trumpets. Though these were appointed by God, yet when so kept they became hateful to Him.

15 blood. Heb., “bloods” (bloodstains).

16. Wash you, etc. This refers to personal reformation, which, although not the ground of forgiveness, is repeatedly commanded, as being indispensable to it; see lv. 7; Ezek. xviii. 30-32.

18 let us reason together. Listen to reason: hear what I am ready to do for you. “Isaiah lays more stress on this intellectual side of the moral sense than on the other, and the frequency with which in this chapter he employs the expressions know and consider and reason, is characteristic of all his prophesying.”—G. A. Smith.

23. Thy princes. The corruption of the ruling class is always a main feature of Oriental misrule.

24 ease Me. Or, “rid Myself,” as a man would do, of those who thus annoy Me.

25 purely purge. i.e., thoroughly. Lit., “as with alkali,” or lye. Metaphor from smelting. The “tin” (rather, lead) was used in alloying silver.

26 as at the first. As in the earlier and better times of the nation.

27 her converts. i.e., those who return to God by true repentance.

29 the oaks. Or, “terebinth-trees”; meaning groves of such trees. These were favourite places of idolatrous worship.

31 the maker of it. Rather, “and his work” (R.V., so also Luther’s version).