in ... midst--namely, of the garden (see on [Is 65:3], ).
mouse--legally unclean ([Le 11:29]) because it was an idol to the heathen (see on [Is 37:36]; [1Sa 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 ([Is 66:19]) shall "see God's glory" ([Zec 12:8], ; [14:1-3], ).
tongues--which have been many owing to sin, being confounded at Babel, but which shall again be one in Christ ([Da 7:14]; [Zep 3:9]; [Re 7:9], ).
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 ([Is 5:26]; ; ).
those that escape of them--the Gentile survivors spared by God (see on [Is 66:18]; [Zec 14:16]). [Is 2:2], ; [Mi 5:7]; and [Zec 14:16-19] 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 ([Ge 10:13]), Ludim being son of Mizraim (Egypt): an Ethiopian people famous as bowmen ([Jr 46:9]): employed as mercenaries by Tyre and Egypt ([Eze 27:10]; ).
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 ([Ge 10:2-4]).
my glory ... Gentiles--(Mal 1:11).
20. they--the Gentiles ([Is 66:19]).
bring ... your brethren--the Jews, back to the Holy Land ([Is 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 [Ro 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 ([1Pe 2:9]; [Re 1:6]).
22. ([Is 65:17]; [2Pe 3:13]; [Re 21:1]).
23. Literally, "As often as the new moon (shall be) in its own new moon," that is, every month ([Zec 14:16]).
sabbath--which is therefore perpetually obligatory on earth.
all flesh--([Psa 65:2]; ).
before me--at Jerusalem ([Jr 3:16], ).
24. go forth, and look--as the Israelites looked at the carcasses of the Egyptians destroyed at the Red Sea ([Ex 14:30]; compare [Is 26:14-19]; [Psa 58:10]; ; Mal 4:1-3).
carcasses, &c.--([Is 66:16]), those slain by the Lord in the last great battle near Jerusalem ([Zec 12:2-9; 14]:2-4); type of the final destruction of all sinners.
worm ... not die--([Mr 9:44], 46, 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 ([Is 30:33]). It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on God's vengeance on the wicked ([Re 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!