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ye be ftricken (s) any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head (t) is fick, and the whole heart faint. 6. From the sole (u) of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises (x), and putrifying sores: they have not been closed (y), neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 7. Your country (z) is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your land, ftrangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrown by ftrangers (a). 8. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage (b) in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 10. Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom (c); give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah (c). 11. To what purpose (d) is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burntofferings of rams, and the fat of fed

(s) v. 5. "Stricken," i. e. "corrected," to oduce amendment.

(t) v.5. "The whole head, &c. "i. e. " the corruption is universal: there is not one it hath not reached."

(u) v. 6. "From the sole, &c." i. e. " all ranks are infected; none is free." (x) v. 6. "Wounds, bruises, &c." i. e. sins of every description."

(y) v. 6. "Not closed, &c" i. e. "nothing has been done to make them better: they are in the worst state possible." IF(x) v. 7. "Your country, &c."

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"beafts, and I delight not in the blood "of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. "12. When ye come to appear before "me, who hath required this at your "hand, to tread my courts (e)? 13. Bring "no (f) more vain oblations; incense is "an abomination unto me,,the new moons "and sabbaths, the calling of affemblies "I cannot away with (g), it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14. Your "new moons, and your appointed feasts, my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto 66 me, I am weary to bear them. 15. And "when ye spread forth your hands, I will "hide mine eyes from you: yea, when

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ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil "of your doings from before mine eyes, "cease to do evil, 17. Learn to do well, "seek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, "judge (b) the fatherless, plead for the "widow. 18. Come now and let us "reason together, saith the LORD: though ¢ your fins be as scarlet, they shall be as "white as snow; though they be red like "crimson, they shall be as wool. 19. If

"Jerusalem," called by these names, as resem bling those cities in wickedness: another allusion to the song of Moses, where, in speaking of the sins of the nation, he says, "Their vine "is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of "Gomorrah. Deut. xxxii. 32."

(d) v. 11. "To what purpose, &c." "It is "not a compliance with the externals only of the "ceremonial law that God requires; he expects "inward purity, and righteous conduct."

(e) v. 12. Bp. Lowth reads, "Who hath "required this at your hands? Tread my "courts no more: bring no more vain obla"tions, &c." Though God required all the Israelites to appear before him at stated times,

it was the appearance of those only who did justice, and obeyed the weightier matters of the law, that was acceptable to him. The appearance of the presumptuous sinner was an insult; and the question here, "Who hath required "this at your hands?" might be intended to imply that it was that God who had also commanded righteousness, and was of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.

(ƒ) v. 13, 14. ~A similar passage occurs, Amos v. 21 to 24.

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(g) v. 13. Away with," i. e. "endure." (b) v. 17. "Judge," i. e. " do justice to."

ye be willing and obedient, ye shall "eat (k) the good of the land. 20. But "if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be de"voured with the sword: for the mouth " of the LORD hath spoken it. 21. How "is the faithful city become an harlot ? "it was full of judgment; righteousness

lodged in it; but now murderers. "22. Thy filver (/) is become dross, thy "wine mixed with water. 23. Thy "princes are rebellious, and companions "of thieves: every one loveth gifts (m), "and followeth after rewards: they judge "not the fatherless, neither doth the << cause of the widow come unto them. 24. Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD "of hofts, the mighty One of Israel, "Ah, "I will case me of mine adversaries, and

avenge me of mine enemies. 25. And "I will turn my hand upon thee, and "purely purge away thy dross (n), and

take away all thy tin (n). 26. And I will "reftore thy judges as at the first (0), and "thy counsellers as at the beginning (0) : "afterward thou shalt be called (p), “The "city of righteousness, the faithful city."

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27. Zion shall be redeemed with judg"ment, and her converts with righteous28. And the deftruction of the "transgressors and of the sinners (g) skail "be together, and they that forsake the "LORD shall be consumed. "they (r) shall be ashamed of the oaks ( "which ye have desired, and ye shall be "confounded for the gardens that ye have "chosen. 30. For ye shall be as an a "whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden thr "hath no water (t). 31. And the strat "shall be as tow, and the maker of it "as a spark, and they shall both ba "together, and none shall quench them." CHAP. II. (x)

HE word that Isaiah the son d

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Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2." And (y) it shall come to pass in the last days (z), that the moun"tain (a) of the LORD's house shall be "established in the top of the mour "tains (b), and shall be exalted above the

hills (b); and all nations (c) shallow unto "it. 3. And many people shall go and say,

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make one continued discourse. bably delivered in Uzziah's or Jotham's time.

(y) v. 2. This and the two following veres occur almost verbatim, Mic. iv. 1. 2. 3. Mich was contemporary with Isaiah.

(z) v. 2." The last days," i. e. the "tim "after the Messiah's appearance. 2 Lowth,25" Perhaps referring to times not yet arrived, ba fast approaching. Dr. Lightfoot understands it of the last days of Jerusalem and the Jewish state. z Lightf. 1074.

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(a) v. 2. "The mountain of the Lord' "house," i. e. either "the true religion, th proper worship of the only true God." "the church of Christ. The church and pop "of God." Mede 135, 29th Disc.

(b) v. 2. "In the top of the mour and above the hills," i. e. (probably) ∞ to put down every other religion.

(c) v. 2. "All nations." The admission of, the Gentiles, and the universality of Christ's religion, are frequent topics of prophecy. The promises to Abraham were, " In thee," or " 66 thy seed, shall all families, or nations of the "earth be blessed." Gen.xii. 3.-xxii. 18. And according to Ps. ii. 8. he, i. e. Christ, was to have "the heathen for his in heritance, and th

utmost parts of the earth for his possession." Zechariah says of him," He shall speak peat

""Come ye, and let us go up to the "mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths for out of Zion fhall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4. And he shall judge (d) among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat (e) their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall

unto the heathen; and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river (i. e. the Euphrates) even to the ends of the earth. Zech. ix. 10." "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive," (i. e. shall have everlasting life within eir power.) 1 Cor. xv. 22. Mr. Mede exects that there is still to come a second and ore glorious admission of the Gentiles, when e Jews shall also turn to the true religion. Lede 139, 140, 29th Disc.

(d) v. 4. "Judge," i. e. (perhaps) "bring his judgments upon." Vengeance upon his emies is one of the characteristics of the Messiah. According to Balaam's prophecy, he Star and Sceptre he foresaw (i. e. Christ), was to "smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth," (i. e. his pponents). Numb. xxiv. 17. And it was oretold of him, Ps. ii. 9. that he should "rule the heathen with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel;" in s. cx. 6. that he "should judge among the heathen, and fill the places with the dead bodies, and wound the heads over many countries;" and Is. xi. 4. post, that he ould smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and slay the wicked with the breath of his lips." And see Ps. xxi. 8. 9. The estruction of Jerusalem, in little less than rty years after the crucifixion, was

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"not lift up sword against nation, neither "shall they learn war any more. "house of Jacob, come ye (f), and let "us walk in the light of the LORD.

6. Therefore (g) thou (b) hast forsaken "thy people, the house of Jacob, because "they be replenished from the east (i) and "are soothsayers (k) like the Philistines, "and they please themselves in the chil"dren (7) of strangers. 7. Their land also is full of silver and gold (m) neither is

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"I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim," (i. e. the kingdom of Israel), " and the horse

from Jerusalem," (i. e. the kingdom of Judah); " and the battle bow shall be cut off; "and he" (i. e. the Messiah)" shall speak 66 peace unto the heathen. Zech. ix. 1o." Passages possibly looking forward to a period very different from any which has yet occurred, when man shall live in perfect harmony with man, and wars shall cease throughout the world,

(f) v. 5. "Come ye, &c." The position of this verse, after those which foretell the call and coming in of the Gentiles, might be intended to imply that the house of Jacob would long resist the true religion, and not walk in the light of the Lord, but that they also in the end would be converted, and join the flock of Christ. There are other passages, however, which more plainly predict this event, and its accomplishment is perhaps at no great distance.

(g) v. 6. "Therefore." An induction, not from what had preceded, but from what follows: It is because they are replenished from the east, &c. &c. that thou hast forsaken them. From hence to the end of the chapter is foretold the punishment of the Jews for their idolatrous practices, for their confidence in their own strength, and for their distrust of God's protection. It predicts also the downfall of idolatry.

(b) v. 6. "Thou," i. e. " God."

(i) v. 6. " From the east," where divination was practised.

(k) v. 6. "Soothsayers." This was against the injunction, Deut. xviii. 14. "These na "tions, which thou shalt possess, hearkened "unto observers of times, and unto diviners; "but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not "suffered thee so to do."

(1) v. 6. "In the children," by associating with them, learning their practices, and (perhaps) intermarrying with them.

(m) v. 7. "Silver and gold." One command, Deut. xvii. 17. to the king they were in after times to have was, "neither shall he "greatly multiply to himself silver or gold.'

"there any end of their treasures: their land " is also full of horses (n), neither is there

any end of their chariots. 8. Their land "also is full of idols (o): they worship the "work of their own hands, that which "their own fingers have made. 9. And "the mean man boweth down (p), and the "great man humbleth (p) himself: therefore "forgive them not (q). 10. Enter (r) into "the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for "fear of the LORD, and for the glory of

his majesty. 11. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of "men shall be bowed down, and the LORD "alone shall be exalted in that day (s).

12. For the day of the LORD of hosts "fhall be upon every one that is proud and "lofty, and upon every one that is lifted "up, and he shall be brought low;

13. And upon all the cedars (t) of Le"banon, that are high and lifted up, and "upon all the oaks of Bashan.

14. And "upon all the high mountains, and upon "all the hills that are lifted up, 15. And

(n) v. 7. "Horses." Another command to their king, Deut. xvii. 16. was, "He shall "not multiply horses to himself" to prevent their intercourse with Egypt.

(o) v. 8. "Idols." Idolatry was an offence against which the Mosaic institutions were particularly strict: If an individual were guilty of it, he was to be stoned to death, and no ties of kindred, friendship, or love, were to induce. a man to pity or conceal the offender; and if a city were guilty, the inhabitants and cattle were to be destroyed utterly with the edge of the sword, and the city and the spoil thereof were to be burnt. Deut. xiii. 6 to 16. So particular was God to keep up amongst his own peculiar people, who had such repeated and decisive proofs of his power, that worship he prescribed, and that reverence for himself he had so full a right to demand.

(p) v. 9. "The mean," "the great," i. e. "all ranks," "boweth down," and "humbleth "himself," to worship the idols.

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(q) v. 9. Forgive them not," or rather "thou wilt not forgive them," assigning the reason why God will withhold forgiveness.

(r) v. 1o. "Enter, &c." A spirited mode of insinuating the greatness of the impending vengeance. So Hos. x. 8. "They shall say "to the mountains, cover us, and to the hills, fall on us ;" and see Rev. vi. 16. (s) v. 11. "That day," i. e. the " day of "God's vengeance."

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66 upon every high tower, and upon every "fenced wall, 16. And upon all the ship "of Tarshish (u), and upon all pleasant pictures (u). 17. And the loftiness of shall be bowed down, and the "haughtiness of men shall be m "low and the LORD alone shall "exalted in that day. 18. And the ic "he shall utterly abolish. 19. And t "shall go into the holes (x) of "rocks, and into the caves of the er "for fear of the LORD, and for z "glory of his majesty, when he arise "shake terribly the earth. 20. In "day a man shall cast his idols of siva

and his idols of gold, which they "each one for himself to worship, to "moles, and to the bats: 21. Toge "the clefts of the rocks, and into the 15 "of the ragged rocks, for fear of the "LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, "when he ariseth to shake terribly the "earth. "whose breath is in his nostr

22. Cease ye (y) from a

(t) v. 13, 14, 15, 16. Trees in propbox writings signify great men. Mede. And dars, oaks, mountains, hills, towers, va ships, and pictures, are here figurative expr sions for persons of rank and opulence.

(u) v. 16. “ Ships of Tarshish." Perce who have aggrandized themselved by c merce, and pleasant pictures," those #* have raised themselves by works of art.

(x) v. 19." Holes, &c." The conster tion and dismay during the sixth seal in R lations is described in nearly the same ma Rev. vi. 15 to 17. "The kings of the car "and the great men, and the rich men, "the chief captains, and the mighty "and every bond man, and every free ma "themselves in the dens, and in the rocks "the mountains, and said to the mou "and rocks, “"fall on us, and hide us from "face of him that sitteth on the throne, "from the wrath of the Lamb; for the "day of his wrath is come, and who shal

"able to stand."

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(y) v. 22. "Cease ye,” i. e. “ place ne * pendence on."

(x) v. 22. "Whose breath is in his nostrik "Who can therefore give no assistance to I compared to God's." When God formed man he breathed into his nostrils the breath

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life. Gen. ii. 7. And by this expression Isa might intend to bring to their recollection origin and creation, and consequent inferior

for wherein (a) is he to be accounted of."

CHAP. V. (b)

NOW will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of beloved my touching his vineyard: My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. 2. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes (c). 3. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me, and my vineyard. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes (c)? 5. And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard; I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up: and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. 6. And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged, but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7. For the vineyard of the LORD of

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man. The folly of trusting to man where e reliance ought to be placed upon God is Tprobated, and the same reason assigned to pose man's insufficiency l'salm cxlvi. 2. 3. O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man, for there is no help in them: for when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, and then all his thoughts perish."

(a) v. 22," Wherein, &c." What assistance an he give? What has he on which reliance #'an be placed?

(b) This chapter is unconnected with what receded or follows. It reproves the Jews for heir wickedness, ascribes to that cause calamities which had already befallen them, and looks forward to the Babylonish invasion and perhaps to more distant judgments.

(c) v. 2.4. "Wild "grapes," i. e. " grapes of no value."

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hosts is the house of Israel, and the men "of Judah his pleasant plant: and he "looked for judgment, but behold oppres"sion; for righteousness, but behold a "cry (d). 8. Wo unto them that join "house to house (e), that lay field to field, "till there be no place, that they may be "placed alone in the midst of the earth. 9. In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, "Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. "10. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield "one bath (f), and the seed of an homer "shall yield an ephah (ƒ). 11. Wo unto "them that rise up early in the morning, "that they may follow strong drink, that "continue until night, till wine inflame

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them. 12. And the harp and the viol, "the tabret and pipe, and wine are in "their feasts but they regard not the "work of the LORD, neither consider the "operation of his hands.

13. There-. "fore (g) my people are gone into cap❝tivity, because they have no knowledge: " and their honourable men are famished, "and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14. Therefore hell (b) hath enlarged "herself, and opened her mouth without "measure: and their glory, and their "multitude, and their pomp, and he that "rejoiceth shall descend into it. 15. And "the mean man (i) shall be brought down, " and the mighty man (i) shall be humbled,

(d) v. 7. “ A cry," from those who were. oppressed.

(e) v. 8." House to house," i. e. " set their "whole minds upon increasing their posses*sions."

(ƒ) v. 10. "One bath," " one ephah," something less than a bushel. "An homer" was eight bushels; a bath, an ephah, and the 10th of an homer, were the same. Ezek. xlv. II. The meaning therefore here is, the scarcity shall be so great, that the harvest shall notproduce more than a tenth of what was sown.

(g) v. 13. "Therefore." This is the reason, because they have no knowledge. Sec ante, note on Is. ii. 16.

(b) v. 14. "Hell, &c." A bold figurative expression: intimating a destruction so great, that hell (personified) would feel unable to holdthe numbers, unless she were enlarged.

(i) v. 15. "The mean man," and " the "mighty man," i. e. "all ranks."

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