12. number--"doom" you. Alluding to the "number," as Meni ([Is 65:11]) means. Retribution in kind, the punishment answering to the sin (compare [2Ch 36:14-17]).
I called, ye ... not answer--"I called," though "none had called" upon Me ([Is 64:7]); yet even then none "answered" ([Pr 1:24]). Contrast with this God and His people's mutual fellowship in prayer ([Is 65:24]).
13. eat--enjoy all blessings from me ([So 5:1]).
hungry--([Am 4:6]; ). This may refer to the siege of Jerusalem under Titus, when 1,100,000 are said to have perished by famine; thus [Is 65:15] will refer to God's people without distinction of Jew and Gentile receiving "another name," namely, that of Christians [Houbigant]. A further fulfilment may still remain, just before the creation of the "new heavens and earth," as the context, [Is 65:17], implies.
14. howl--([Is 15:2]; [Mt 8:12]).
15. curse--The name of "Jew" has been for long a formula of execration (compare [Jr 29:22]); if one wishes to curse another, he can utter nothing worse than this, "God make thee what the Jew is!" Contrast the formula ([Ge 48:20]) [Maurer].
my chosen--the elect Church, gathered from Jews and Gentiles, called by "another name," Christians ([Ac 11:26]). However (see on [Is 65:13]), as "My chosen," or "elect," in [Is 65:9], refers to the "seed of Jacob," the believing Jews, hereafter about to possess their land ([Is 65:19], ), are ultimately meant by "My chosen," as contrasted with the unbelieving Jews ("ye"). These elect Jews shall be called by "another," or a new name, that is, shall no longer be "forsaken" of God for unbelief, but shall be His "delight" and "married" to Him ([Is 62:2], ).
thee--unbelieving Israel. Isaiah here speaks of God, whereas in the preceding sentences God Himself spake. This change of persons marks without design how completely the prophet realized God with him and in him, so that he passes, without formally announcing it, from God's words to his own, and vice versa, both alike being from God.
16. That he--rather, "he who," &c.
blesseth, &c.--([Psa 72:17]; [Jr 4:2]).
God of truth--very God, as opposed to false gods; Hebrew, Amen: the very name of Messiah ([2Co 1:20]; [Re 3:14]), faithful to His promises ([Joh 1:17]; 6:32). Real, substantial, spiritual, eternal, as opposed to the shadowy types of the law.
sweareth, &c.--God alone shall be appealed to as God ([Is 19:18]; [De 6:13]; [Psa 63:11]).
troubles--that is, sins, provocations [Lowth]. Rather, calamities caused by your sins; so far from these visiting you again, the very remembrance of them is "hid from Mine eyes" by the magnitude of the blessings I will confer on you ([Is 65:17], &c.). [Maurer].
17. As Caleb inherited the same land which his feet trod on ([De 1:36]; [Jos 14:9]), so Messiah and His saints shall inherit the renovated earth which once they trod while defiled by the enemy ([Is 34:4]; ; ; [Eze 21:27]; [Psa 2:8]; 37:11; [2Pe 3:13]; [He 12:26-28] [Re 21:1]).
not be remembered--See on [Is 65:16], note on "troubles"; the words here answer to "the former ... forgotten," &c. The former sorrows of the earth, under the fall, shall be so far from recurring, that their very remembrance shall be obliterated by the many mercies I will bestow on the new earth ([Re 21:4-27]).
18. rejoice for ever ... Jerusalem--([Is 51:11]). "Everlasting joy ... Zion." Spiritually ([1Th 5:16]).
19. ([Is 62:5]).
weeping ... no more--([Is 25:7], ; ; [Re 7:17]; ), primarily, foretold of Jerusalem; secondarily, of all the redeemed.
20. The longevity of men in the first age of the world shall be enjoyed again.
thence--from that time forward.
infant of days--that is, an infant who shall only complete a few days; short-lived.
filled ... days--None shall die without attaining a full old age.
child ... die ... hundred years--that is, "he that dieth an hundred years old shall die a mere child" [Lowth].
sinner ... hundred ... be accursed--"The sinner that dieth at an hundred years shall be deemed accursed," that is, his death at so early an age, which in those days the hundredth year will be regarded, just as if it were mere childhood, shall be deemed the effect of God's special visitation in wrath [Rosenmuller]. This passage proves that the better age to come on earth, though much superior to the present will not be a perfect state; sin and death shall have place in it (compare [Re 20:7], ), but much less frequently than now.
21. (See on [Is 62:8]; [Am 9:14]).
22. They shall not experience the curse pronounced ([Le 26:16]; [De 28:30]).
tree--among the most long-lived of objects in nature. They shall live as long as the trees they "plant" (compare [Is 61:3], end of verse; [Psa 92:12]).
enjoy--Hebrew, "consume," "wear out"; they shall live to enjoy the last of it ([Is 62:9]).
23. bring forth for trouble--literally, "for terror," that is, "They shall not bring forth children for a sudden death" ([Le 26:16]; [Jr 15:8]).
seed ... blessed--([Is 61:9]).
offspring with them--([Ho 9:12]). "Their offspring shall be with themselves" [Maurer]; not "brought forth" only to be cut off by "sudden death" (see the parallel clause).
24. Contrast [Is 64:7], "none ... calleth," &c.; and see on [Is 65:12], "I called, ye did not answer." Maurer translates, "They shall hardly (literally, "not yet") call, when (literally, "and") I will answer; they shall be still speaking, when I will hear" ([Psa 32:5]; [Da 9:20], ).
25. (See on [Is 11:6]).
and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock--(See on [Is 11:7]).
and dust--rather, "but dust," &c. The curse shall remain on the serpent [Horsley], ([Ge 3:14]; [Mi 7:17]). "To lick the dust" is figurative of the utter and perpetual degradation of Satan and his emissaries ([Is 49:23]; [Psa 72:9]). Satan fell self-tempted; therefore no atonement was contrived for him, as there was for man, who fell by his temptation (Jude 6; [Joh 8:44]). From his peculiar connection with the earth and man, it has been conjectured that the exciting cause of his rebellion was God's declaration that human nature was to be raised into union with the Godhead; this was "the truth" concerning the person of the Son of God which "he abode not in"; it galled his pride that a lower race was to be raised to that which he had aspired to ([1Ti 3:6]). How exultingly he might say, when man fell through him, "God would raise manhood into union with Himself; I have brought it down below the beasts by sin!" At that very moment and spot he was told that the seed of the abhorred race, man, should bruise his head ([1Jo 3:8]). He was raised up for this, to show forth God's glory ([Ex 9:16]; [Ro 9:17]). In his unfallen state he may have been God's vicegerent over the earth and the animal kingdom before man: this will account for his assuming the form of a serpent ([Ge 3:1]). Man succeeded to that office ([Ge 2:19], 20), but forfeited it by sin, whence Satan became "prince of this world"; Jesus Christ supplants the usurper, and as "Son of man" regains the lost inheritance ([Psa 8:4-8]). The steps in Satan's overthrow are these: he is cast out, first, from heaven ([Re 12:7-9]) on earth; next, he is bound a thousand years ([Re 20:2], ); finally, he is cast into the lake of fire for ever ([Re 20:10]).
the serpent's meat--(See on [Is 11:8]).
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain--(See on [Is 11:9]).
Chapter 66
Is 66:1-24. The Humble Comforted, the Ungodly Condemned, at the Lord's Appearing: Jerusalem Made a Joy on Earth
This closing chapter is the summary of Isaiah's prophecies as to the last days, hence the similarity of its sentiments with what went before.
1. 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 ([1Ki 8:27]) in inaugurating the temple of stone; next, as to the temple of the Holy Ghost ([Ac 7:48], ); lastly here, as to "the tabernacle of God with men" ([Is 2:2], ; [Eze 43:4], ; [Re 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 ([Is 57:15]).