1So sprichtH559 JehovaH3068 : Der HimmelH8064 ist mein ThronH3678, und die ErdeH776 der SchemelH1916 meiner Füße. Welches ist das HausH1004, das ihr mir bauenH1129 könntet, und welches der OrtH4725 zu meiner Ruhestätte? 2Hat doch meine HandH3027 dieses alles gemachtH6213, und alles dieses ist geworden, sprichtH5002 JehovaH3068. Aber auf diesen will ichH7307 blickenH5027 : auf den ElendenH6041 und den, der zerschlagenen Geistes ist, und der da zittert vor meinem WorteH1697. 3Wer ein Rind schlachtetH7819, erschlägt einen MenschenH376; wer ein SchafH7716 opfertH2076, bricht einem HundeH3611 das GenickH6202; wer SpeisopferH4503 opfert: es ist Schweinsblut; wer WeihrauchH3828 als Gedächtnisopfer darbringt, preist einen Götzen. So wie diese ihre WegeH1870 erwähltH977 habenH1288 und ihre SeeleH5315 LustH2654 hatH5221 an ihren Scheusalen, 4ebenso werdeH977 ich ihre Mißgeschicke erwählenH977 und ihre Schrecknisse über sieH7121 bringenH935; weil ich gerufen, und niemand geantwortet hatH6030, geredet, und sie nichtH2654 gehörtH8085 haben, sondern getanH6213, was böseH7451 ist in meinen AugenH5869, und das erwählten, woran ich kein Gefallen habeH1696. 5HöretH8085 das WortH1697 Jehovas, dieH2730 ihr zittert vor seinem Worte! Es sagenH559 eure BrüderH251, die euch hassenH8130, die euch verstoßen umH1697 meines NamensH8034 willen: Jehova erzeige sich herrlichH3513, daß wir eure FreudeH8057 sehen mögen! Aber sie werdenH7200 beschämt werdenH954. 6StimmeH6963 eines Getöses von derH1576 StadtH5892 her! StimmeH6963 aus dem TempelH1964! StimmeH6963 JehovasH3068, der Vergeltung erstattet seinen FeindenH341! 7Ehe sieH935 WehenH2256 hatteH3205, hat sie geborenH2342; ehe Schmerzen sie ankamen, wurde sie von einem KnabenH2145 entbunden. 8Wer hatH8085 solches gehört, wer hat dergleichen gesehen? Kann ein LandH776 an einem TageH3117 zur Welt gebracht, oder eineH259 Nation mit einem Male geborenH2342 werdenH7200? Denn ZionH6726 hat Wehen bekommen und zugleich ihre KinderH1121 geborenH3205. 9Sollte ichH589 zum Durchbruch bringen undH7665 nicht gebärenH3205 lassen? sprichtH559 JehovaH3068; oder sollte ich, der gebärenH3205 läßt, verschließenH6113? sprichtH559 dein GottH430. 10Freuet euchH8055 mit JerusalemH3389 und frohlocket über sie, alle, die ihrH4885 sie liebetH157; seidH56 hocherfreut mit ihr, alle, die ihr über sie trauert! 11Auf daß ihr sauget und euch sättiget an der BrustH7699 ihrer TröstungenH8575, auf daß ihr schlürfet und euch ergötzet an der FülleH7646 ihrer HerrlichkeitH3519. 12Denn so sprichtH559 JehovaH3068 : Siehe, ich wende ihr FriedenH7965 zu wieH1471 einen StromH5104, undH5375 die HerrlichkeitH3519 der Nationen wie einen überflutenden BachH5158, und ihr werdet saugenH3243; aufH5186 den Armen werdet ihr getragen und auf den KnieenH1290 geliebkost werdenH6654. 13Wie einenH376, den seine MutterH517 tröstet, also werde ich euch tröstenH5162; und in JerusalemH3389 sollt ihrH5162 getröstetH5162 werden. 14Und ihrH3045 werdet es sehen, und euer HerzH3820 wirdH6524 sichH7797 freuen; und eure GebeineH6106 werdenH7200 sprossen wie das junge GrasH1877. Und die HandH3027 JehovasH3068 wird sich kundgeben an seinen KnechtenH5650, und gegen seine FeindeH341 wird er ergrimmenH2194. 15Denn siehe, JehovaH3068 wirdH784 kommenH935 im FeuerH784, und seine WagenH4818 sind wie der SturmwindH5492, um seinen ZornH639 zu vergeltenH7725 in Glut und sein ScheltenH1606 in FeuerflammenH3851. 16Denn durch FeuerH784 undH3068 durch seinH1320 SchwertH2719 wird Jehova Gericht üben an allem Fleische, undH3068 der ErschlagenenH2491 Jehovas werdenH8199 viele seinH7231. 17Die sich weihen und sich reinigenH2891 für die GärtenH1593, hinterH310 einem her inH8432 der Mitte; die SchweinefleischH2386 essenH398 und GreuelH8263 und MäuseH5909 : allzumal werdenH6942 sie einH259 EndeH5486 nehmen, sprichtH5002 JehovaH3068. 18Und ich-ihre WerkeH4639 und ihre GedankenH4284 sind vor mir. Es kommtH935 die Zeit, alle Nationen und SprachenH3956 zu versammeln; und sie werdenH6908 kommenH935 und meine HerrlichkeitH3519 sehenH7200. 19Und ich werde ein Wunderzeichen anH5046 ihnen tunH7760, und werde von ihnen Entronnene an die Nationen sendenH7971, nach Tarsis, Pul und LudH3865, die den BogenH7198 spannen, nach Tubal und Jawan, nach den fernenH7350 InselnH339, die von mirH8088 nicht gehörtH8085 und meine HerrlichkeitH3519 nicht gesehen haben; und sieH4900 werdenH7200 meine HerrlichkeitH3519 unter den Nationen verkündigen. 20UndH3068 sie werden alle eure BrüderH251 aus allen Nationen als Opfergabe für Jehova bringenH935, auf RossenH5483 undH3068 auf WagenH7393 undH3068 auf SänftenH6632 und auf MaultierenH6505 und auf DromedarenH3753, nach meinem heiligenH6944 BergeH2022, nach JerusalemH3389, sprichtH559 Jehova, gleichwie die KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 dasH1471 SpeisopferH4503 in einem reinenH2889 GefäßeH3627 zum HauseH1004 Jehovas bringenH935. 21Und auch aus ihnen werde ich zu PriesternH3548 und zu LevitenH3881 nehmenH3947, sprichtH559 JehovaH3068. 22Denn gleichwie der neueH2319 HimmelH8064 und die neueH2319 ErdeH776, die ich macheH6213, vor mirH6440 bestehenH5975, sprichtH5002 JehovaH3068, also wird euer SameH2233 und euer NameH8034 bestehenH5975. 23UndH7676 es wird geschehen: vonH6440 NeumondH2320 zu NeumondH2320 undH7676 von Sabbath zu Sabbath wird alles FleischH1320 kommenH935, um vor mir anzubetenH7812, sprichtH559 JehovaH3068. 24Und sie werdenH7200 hinausgehen und sich die LeichnameH6297 der MenschenH582 ansehen, die vonH3318 mir abgefallenH6586 sind; denn ihr WurmH8438 wird nicht sterbenH4191 und ihr FeuerH784 nicht erlöschenH3518, und sie werden ein Abscheu seinH1320 allem Fleische.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE HUMBLE COMFORTED, THE UNGODLY CONDEMNED, AT THE LORD'S APPEARING: JERUSALEM MADE A JOY ON EARTH. (Isa. 66:1-24)
heaven . . . throne . . . where is . . . house . . . ye build--The same sentiment is expressed, as a precautionary proviso for the majesty of God in deigning to own any earthly temple as His, as if He could be circumscribed by space (
1Kgs 8:27) in inaugurating the temple of stone; next, as to the temple of the Holy Ghost (
Acts 7:48-
Acts 7:49); lastly here, as to "the tabernacle of God with men" (
Isa 2:2-
Isa 2:3;
Ezek 43:4,
Ezek 43:7;
Rev 21:3).
where--rather, "what is this house that ye are building, &c.--what place is this for My rest?" [VITRINGA].
2 have been--namely, made by Me. Or, absolutely, were things made; and therefore belong to Me, the Creator [JEROME].
look--have regard.
poor--humble (
Isa 57:15).
trembleth at . . . word-- (
2Kgs 22:11,
2Kgs 22:19;
Ezra 9:4). The spiritual temple of the heart, though not superseding the outward place of worship, is God's favorite dwelling (
John 14:23). In the final state in heaven there shall be "no temple," but "the Lord God" Himself (
Rev 21:22).
3 God loathes even the sacrifices of the wicked (
Isa 1:11;
Pro 15:8;
Pro 28:9).
is as if--LOWTH not so well omits these words: "He that killeth an ox (presently after) murders a man" (as in
Ezek 23:39). But the omission in the Hebrew of "is as if"--increases the force of the comparison. Human victims were often offered by the heathen.
dog's neck--an abomination according to the Jewish law (
Deut 23:18); perhaps made so, because dogs were venerated in Egypt. He does not honor this abomination by using the word "sacrifice," but uses the degrading term, "cut off a dog's neck" (
Exod 13:13;
Exod 34:20). Dogs as unclean are associated with swine (
Matt 7:6;
2Pet 2:22).
oblation--unbloody: in antithesis to "swine's blood" (
Isa 65:4).
burneth--Hebrew, "he who offereth as a memorial oblation" (
Lev 2:2).
they have chosen--opposed to the two first clauses of
Isa 66:4 : "as they have chosen their own ways, &c., so I will choose their delusions.
4 delusions-- (
2Thess 2:11), answering to "their own ways" (
Isa 66:3; so
Pro 1:31). However, the Hebrew means rather "vexations," "calamities," which also the parallelism to "fears" requires; "choose their calamities" means, "choose the calamities which they thought to escape by their own ways."
their fears--the things they feared, to avert which their idolatrous "abominations" (
Isa 66:3) were practised.
I called . . . none . . . answer--(See on
Isa 65:12;
Isa 65:24;
Jer 7:13).
did . . . chose--not only did the evil deed, but did it deliberately as a matter of choice (
Rom 1:32). "They chose that in which I delighted not"; therefore, "I will choose" that in which they delight not, the "calamities" and "fears" which they were most anxious to avert.
before mine eyes--(See on
Isa 65:3).
5 tremble at . . . word--the same persons as in
Isa 66:2, the believing few among the Jews.
cast you out for my name's sake--excommunicate, as if too polluted to worship with them (
Isa 65:5). So in Christ's first sojourn on earth (
Matt 10:22;
John 9:22,
John 9:34;
John 16:2;
John 15:21). So it shall be again in the last times, when the believing shall be few (
Luke 18:8).
Let the Lord be glorified--the mocking challenge of the persecutors, as if their violence towards you was from zeal for God. "Let the Lord show Himself glorious," namely, by manifesting Himself in your behalf; as the parallelism to, "He shall appear to your joy," requires (as in
Isa 5:19; compare
Isa 28:15;
Isa 57:4). So again Christ on the cross (
Matt 27:42-
Matt 27:43).
appear to your joy--giving you "joy" instead of your "rebuke" (
Isa 25:8-
Isa 25:9).
6 God, from Jerusalem and His "temple," shall take vengeance on the enemy (
Ezek 43:1-
Ezek 43:8;
Zech 12:2-
Zech 12:3;
Zech 14:3,
Zech 14:19-
Zech 14:21). The abrupt language of this verse marks the suddenness with which God destroys the hostile Gentile host outside: as
Isa 66:5 refers to the confounding of the unbelieving Jews.
voice of noise--that is, the Lord's loud-sounding voice (
Ps 68:33;
Ps 29:3-
Ps 29:9;
1Thess 4:16).
7 she--Zion.
Before . . . travailed . . . brought forth--The accession of numbers, and of prosperity to her, shall be sudden beyond all expectation and unattended with painful effort (
Isa 54:1,
Isa 54:4-
Isa 54:5). Contrast with this case of the future Jewish Church the travail-pains of the Christian Church in bringing forth "a man child" (
Rev 12:2,
Rev 12:5). A man child's birth is in the East a matter of special joy, while that of a female is not so; therefore, it here means the manly sons of the restored Jewish Church, the singular being used collectively for the plural: or the many sons being regarded as one under Messiah, who shall then be manifested as their one representative Head.
8 earth--rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [LOWTH]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day (
Mark 4:28).
at once--In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once.
for--rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [MAURER].
9 cause to bring forth, and shut--rather, "Shall I who beget, restrain the birth?" [LOWTH], (
Isa 37:3;
Hos 13:13); that is, Shall I who have begun, not finish My work of restoring Israel? (
1Sam 3:12;
Rom 11:1;
Phil 1:6).
shut--(compare
Rev 3:7-
Rev 3:8).
10 love . . . mourn for her-- (
Ps 102:14,
Ps 102:17,
Ps 102:20;
Ps 122:6).
11 suck-- (
Isa 60:5,
Isa 60:16;
Isa 61:6;
Isa 49:23).
abundance--Hebrew, "the ray-like flow of her opulence," that is, with the milk spouting out from her full breasts (answering to the parallel, "breast of her consolations") in ray-like streams [GESENIUS].
12 extend--I will turn peace (prosperity) upon her, like a river turned in its course [GESENIUS]. Or, "I will spread peace over her as an overflowing river" [BARNES], (
Isa 48:18).
flowing stream--as the Nile by its overflow fertilizes the whole of Egypt.
borne upon . . . sides--(See on
Isa 60:4).
her . . . her--If "ye" refers to the Jews, translate, "ye shall be borne upon their sides . . . their knees," namely, those of the Gentiles, as in
Isa 49:22; and as "suck" (
Isa 60:16) refers to the Jews sucking the Gentile wealth. However, English Version gives a good sense: The Jews, and all who love Jehovah (
Isa 66:10), "shall suck, and be borne" by her as a mother.
13 mother-- (
Isa 49:15).
comforteth-- (
Isa 40:1-
Isa 40:2).
14 bones--which once were "dried up" by the "fire" of God's wrath (
Lam 1:13), shall live again (
Pro 3:8;
Pro 15:30;
Ezek 37:1, &c.).
flourish . . . herb-- (
Rom 11:15-
Rom 11:24).
known toward--manifested in behalf of.
15 (
Isa 9:5;
Ps 50:3;
Hab 3:5;
2Thess 1:8;
2Pet 3:7).
chariots . . . whirlwind-- (
Jer 4:13).
render--as the Hebrew elsewhere (
Job 9:13;
Ps 78:38) means to "allay" or "stay wrath." MAURER translates it so here: He stays His anger with nothing but fury," &c.; nothing short of pouring out all His fiery fury will satisfy His wrath.
fury--"burning heat" [LOWTH], to which the parallel, "flames of fire," answers.
16 Rather, "With fire will Jehovah judge, and with His sword (He will judge) all flesh." The parallelism and collocation of the Hebrew words favor this (
Isa 65:12).
all flesh--that is, all who are the objects of His wrath. The godly shall be hidden by the Lord in a place of safety away from the scene of judgment (
Isa 26:20-
Isa 26:21;
Ps 31:20;
1Thess 4:16-17).
17 in . . . gardens--Hebrew and the Septuagint rather require, "for (entering into) gardens," namely, to sacrifice there [MAURER].
behind one tree--rather, "following one," that is, some idol or other, which, from contempt, he does not name [MAURER]. VITRINGA, &c., think the Hebrew for "one," Ahhadh, to be the name of the god; called Adad (meaning One) in Syria (compare
Acts 17:23). 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 . . . midst--namely, of the garden (see on
Isa 65:3-
Isa 65:4).
mouse--legally unclean (
Lev 11:29) because it was an idol to the heathen (see on
Isa 37:36;
1Sam 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.
18 know--not in the Hebrew. Rather, understand the words by aposiopesis; it is usual in threats to leave the persons threatened to supply the hiatus from their own fears, owing to conscious guilt: "For I . . . their works and thoughts," &c.; namely, will punish [MAURER].
it shall come--the time is come that I will, &c. [MAURER].
gather . . . nations--against Jerusalem, where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall fight for Jerusalem against those nations: and the survivors (
Isa 66:19) shall "see God's glory" (
Zech 12:8-
Zech 12:9;
Zech 14:1-
Zech 14:3,
Zech 14:9).
tongues--which have been many owing to sin, being confounded at Babel, but which shall again be one in Christ (
Dan 7:14;
Zeph 3:9;
Rev 7:9-
Rev 7:10).
19 sign--a banner on a high place, to indicate the place of meeting for the dispersed Jewish exiles, preparatory to their return to their land (
Isa 5:26;
Isa 11:12;
Isa 62:10).
those that escape of them--the Gentile survivors spared by God (see on
Isa 66:18;
Zech 14:16).
Isa 2:2-
Isa 2:3;
Mic 5:7; and
Zech 14:16-
Zech 14:19 represent it, not that the Jews go as missionaries to the Gentiles, but that the Gentiles come up to Jerusalem to learn the Lord's ways there.
Tarshish--Tartessus in Spain, in the west.
Pul--east and north of Africa: probably the same as Philoe, an island in the Nile, called by the Egyptians Pilak, that is, the border country, being between Egypt and Ethiopia [BOCHART].
Lud--the Libyans of Africa (
Gen 10:13), Ludim being son of Mizraim (Egypt): an Ethiopian people famous as bowmen (
Jer 46:9): employed as mercenaries by Tyre and Egypt (
Ezek 27:10;
Ezek 30:5).
Tubal--Tibarenians, in Asia Minor, south of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and Araxes. Or, the Iberians [JOSEPHUS]. Italy [JEROME].
Javan--the Greeks; called Ionians, including all the descendants of Javan, both in Greece and in Asia Minor (
Gen 10:2-
Gen 10:4).
my glory . . . Gentiles-- (
Mal 1:11).
20 they--the Gentiles (
Isa 66:19).
bring . . . your brethren--the Jews, back to the Holy Land (
Isa 49:22). It cannot mean the mere entrance of the Jews into the Christian Church; for such an entrance would be by faith, not upon "horses, litters, and mules" [HOUBIGANT]. "Offering" is metaphorical, as in
Rom 15:16.
horses--not much used by the Jews. The Gentiles are here represented as using their modes of conveyance to "bring" the Jews to Jerusalem.
chariots--as these are not found in Oriental caravans, translate, "vehicles," namely, borne, not drawn on wheels.
litters--covered sedans for the rich.
upon swift beasts--dromedaries: from Hebrew root, "to dance," from their bounding motion, often accelerated by music [BOCHART]. Panniers were thrown across the dromedaries' back for poorer women [HORSLEY].
21 of them--the Gentiles.
priests . . . Levites--for spiritual worship: enjoying the direct access to God which was formerly enjoyed by the ministers of the temple alone (
1Pet 2:9;
Rev 1:6).
22 (
Isa 65:17;
2Pet 3:13;
Rev 21:1).
23 Literally, "As often as the new moon (shall be) in its own new moon," that is, every month (
Zech 14:16).
sabbath--which is therefore perpetually obligatory on earth.
all flesh-- (
Ps 65:2;
Ps 72:11).
before me--at Jerusalem (
Jer 3:16-
Jer 3:17).
24 go forth, and look--as the Israelites looked at the carcasses of the Egyptians destroyed at the Red Sea (
Exod 14:30; compare
Isa 26:14-
Isa 26:19;
Ps 58:10;
Ps 49:14;
Mal 4:1-
Mal 4:3).
carcasses, &c.-- (
Isa 66:16), those slain by the Lord in the last great battle near Jerusalem (
Zech 12:2-
Zech 12:9;
Zech 14:2-
Zech 14:4); type of the final destruction of all sinners.
worm . . . not die-- (
Mark 9:44,
Mark 9:46,
Mark 9:48). Image of hell, from bodies left unburied in the valley of Hinnom (whence comes Gehenna, or "hell"), south of Jerusalem, where a perpetual fire was kept to consume the refuse thrown there (
Isa 30:33). It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on God's vengeance on the wicked (
Rev 14:10). May God bless this Commentary, and especially its solemn close, to His glory, and to the edification of the writer and the readers of it, for Jesus' sake!