"18. But be you glad and rejoice for ever "in that which I create: for behold, I "create Jerusalem a rejoicing (p), and her

people a joy. 19. And I will rejoice in "Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and "the voice of weeping shall be no more "heard in her, nor the voice of crying. "20. There shall be no more thence an "infant of days (q), nor an old man that "hath not filled his days: for the child "shall die an hundred years old, but the "sinner being an hundred years old shall "be accursed. 21. And they shall build "houses, and inhabit them; and they shall "plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. "22. They shall not build (r), and another "inhabit; they shall not plant, and ano"ther eat for as the days of a tree, are "the days of my people, and mine elect

"shall long enjoy the work of the "23. They shall not labour in va "bring forth for trouble: for the "the seed of the blessed of the L "their offspring with them. 24 "shall come to pass, that bef "call (t), I will answer; and wh "are yet speaking, I will hear. "wolf (u) and the lamb shall feed " and the lion shall eat straw like : "lock: and dust (x) shall be the s "meat. They shall not hurt nor dest "in all my holy mountain (z), Sa "LORD."

(p) v. 18. "Jerusalem a rejoicing," i. e. (probably) "such a church or system as shall "be free from all the burthens of the Mosaic ❝institutions, such as shall deserve the name "the christian dispensation has received, "a "perfect law of liberty." See James i. 25. -Rom. viii. 1.-Gal. v. 1.

(q) v. 20. "An infant of days," rather a short-lived infant ;" and in the latter part of the verse, Bp. Lowth reads, "and he that "dieth at 100 years, shall die a child; and the "sinner, that dieth at a hundred years, shall "be deemed accursed" meaning probably, that the ordinary time of life should be so far prolonged, that he who died at 100 should be deemed a child, and cut off by God's judgment. The Sept. may be rendered, "for one "of a hundred years shall be young, and he "who dieth at a hundred years shall be a ❝sinner and accursed."

(r) v. 22. Not build, &c." This was one of the denunciations for disobedience, Deuter. xxviii. 30. "Thou shalt build an "house, and thou shalt not dwell therein; thou "shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather "the grapes thereof."

"they

(s) v. 23. "For they are, &c." or "shall be a seed blessed, &c." Bp. Lowth. (t) v. 24. "Before they call, &c." such will be God's readiness to meet their wishes.

(u) v. 25. "The wolf, &c." figuratively, "all fierceness and virulence shall be sup"pressed." See ante, 605, note on Isaiah xi. 6.

(*) v.25. "Dust, &c." Satan, the great "adversary of man, the inciter to sin, shall be 66 put down: the curse upon him, Gen. iii. 14.

"Dust shalt thou eat all the days d "shall be accomplished."

(y) v. 25. "They shall not hur i.e." there shall be no molestan :"struction."

(x) v. 25. “In all my holy monza (perhaps) amongst the member "church."

(a) Of the inefficacy of local and worship, and the merit of that which tual; of the success God shall vouche true religion; the protection he shall its followers, and the vengeance h upon its opponents. The chapter ward to the times of the Messiah, a is about 698 years before the birth of Ch

(b) v. 1. "The heaven, &c." It w ter of confidence and spiritual pride the Jews that the only temple for the of the true God was at Jerusalem; mi ject here probably was, to check the and to intimate, that in the times to w prophet was looking, that God, to w whole heaven was merely a throne. whole earth a footstool, might be w in any and every place. Agreeably to Saviour told the woman of Samaria, "hour cometh, when ye shall neither "mountain (Gerizim) nor yet at je "worship the Father; but the hour e "and now is, when the true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in tre John iv. 21. 23. without regard to plact ceremonial institutions.

(c) v.1. "Where," or rather "what" what value? Sept. and it is so cited Acts (

« house (c) that ye build unto me ? and where(b) is the place of my rest? 2. For all those things hath mine hand made (d), le and all those things have been (e), saith in the Lord: but to this man (f) will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my ly word. 3. He (g) that killeth (b) an ox, is as if he slew (i) a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut (i) off a dog's neck (k); he that offereth an oblation, - as if he offered (i) swine's blood (k); he that burneth incense as if he blessed (i) f an idol: yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in 1 their abominations. 4. I also will choose their delusions (4), and will bring their

I. 27.

(d) v. 2. "Hath mine hand made," so that supply the materials. So in speaking of the d temple, Haggai ii. 8. " The silver is mine, ، and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts. (e) v. 2. "Have been," i. e. (probably) * are perishable; come to an end." Sept. reads, are mine."

(f) v. 2. "This man," i. e. indefinitely, any man of a poor and contrite spirit: with such a one will I dwell, rather than in any temple you can make." So our Saviour says, John . 23. "If a man love me, my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." And there are other assages in the New Testament, where the chrisan converts are called "the temple of God." Cor. iii. 16. 17.-2 Cor. vi. 16.

(g) v. 3: "He that killeth, &c." i. e. " the

ceremonious acts of the wicked, their sacrifices, &c. are as offensive to me as their sins." Agreebly to Prov. xv. 8. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord;" d Is. i. 13. "Incense is an abomination unto me, it is iniquity, even your solemn meeting." (5) . . " Killeth, i. . “ for sacrifice." (i) v. 3. "Is as if he slew," " as if he cut, &c." Another rendering is, "will slay," "will cut," "will offer," and "will bless;" "the compliance with the ceremonious acts of re

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"fears upon them; because when I called 66 none did answer; when I spake, they "did not hear: but they did evil before "mine eyes, and chose that in which I "delighted not. 5. Hear the word of the "LORD, ye that tremble at (m) his word; your brethren (2) that hated you, that "cast you out for my name's sake (0), "said "Let (p) the LORD be glorified:" o but he shall appear (9) to your joy. "and they shall be ashamed. 6. A "voice of noise from the city, a voice "from the temple, a voice of the LORD "that rendereth recompence to his ene، mies. 7. Before she travailed she "brought forth (r): before her pain came "she was delivered of a man-child,

(k) v. 3. "Cut off a dog's neck," and "of"fered swine's blood," both abominations. (1) v. 4. "Their delusions," i. e. "what "shall delude them, and bring them into "trouble."

(m) v. 5. "Tremble at," i. e. "fear, respect, reverence."

(n) v. 5. "Your brethren, &c." a prediction (the past tense being used for the future) that it should be by their brethren they should be hated and cast out: our Saviour made a like intimation: "The brother shall deliver up the "brother to death, and the father the child." Matt. x. 21.-Mark xiii. 9. And it was by the unbelieving Jews that the earliest persecutions were carried on against their brethren, the Jewish converts.

(o) v. 5. "For my name's sake," i. e. " for

your attachment to my religion." This accords with our Saviour's predictions, "ye shall "be hated of all men for my name's sake,” Matt. x. 22.-Matt. xxiv. 9.-Luke xxi. 12. 17.

(p) v. 5. Let, &c." insultingly, like the scoffers, 2 Peter iii. 4. ،، where is the promise "of his coming?"

(q) v.5. "He shall appear, &c." and at the destruction of Jerusalem, 40 years after the crucifixion, this prediction was signally verified.

(r) v.7." She brought forth," this and the next verse probably refer to the rapid progress of the gospel, as much beyond human expectation, as if a woman were to bring forth before she was in labour, as if the earth yielded ripe produce the very day it was sown, or as if a nation were in a state of perfection the very moment it was founded. The reason is assigned in verse 9. "because it is God's work."

U U

"8. Who hath heard such a thing? who "hath seen such things? shall the earth "be made to bring forth in one day, or "shall a nation be born at once? for as "soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth "her children. 9. "Shall I bring (s) to the "birth, and not cause to bring forth?" saith "the LORD: "shall I cause to bring forth, "and shut the womb ?" saith thy God. "10. Rejoice(t) ye with Jerusalem (u), and "be glad with her, all ye that love her: "rejoice for joy with her all ye that "mourn for her: 11. That ye may suck(x), " and be satisfied with the breasts of her ، consolations: that ye may milk out, and "be delighted with the abundance of her "glory. 12. For thus saith the LORD, ""Behold, I will extend (y) peace (z) to "her like a river, and the glory of the "gentiles (z) like a flowing stream: then "shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her « sides, and be dandled upon her knees. 66 13. As one whom his mother comfort« eth, so will I comfort you : and ye shall ، be conforted in Jerusalem. 14. And "when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, "and your bones shall flourish like an herb:

(x) v. 11. 12. "Suck, &c." i. e. " be treated as children."

(y) v. 12. "Extend, &c." i. e. (probably) "she shall be blessed with peace and the glory "of the gentiles as land is blessed by a river "and flowing stream."

(x) v. 12. "Peace" and "the glory of the "gentiles," i. e. probably, "the blessings of christianity."

(a) v. 15. ، The Lord will come, &c." This and the following verse refer either to the destruction of Jerusalem, or (more probably) to some judgement not yet inflicted.

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(b) v. 17. They that sanctify themselves, &c." i. e." the apostates and disobedient of "after times:" describing them by what were

"and the hand of the LORD shall be known "towards his servants, and his indignation ،، towards his enemies. 15. For behol "the LORD will come (a) with fire, and "with his chariots like a whirlwind, t "render his anger with fury, and his r ، buke with flames of fire. 16. For m "fire, and by his sword, will the Lo ، plead with all flesh : and the slain of the "LORD shall be many. 17. They th ،، sanctify themselves (b) and purify then "selves in the gardens (c), behind one "in the midst, eating swine's flesh ، and the abomination, and the mousa "shall be consumed together, saith "LORD. 18. For I know their works "and their thoughts: it shall come, the "I will gather all nations and tongues, « and they shall come and see my glory. 19. And I will set a sign (e) among “ them, and I will send those that escape ،، of them, unto the nations, to Tarshish fin "Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal "and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have "not heard my fame (g), neither have seen

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my glory; and they shall declare my "glory (b) among the gentiles. 20. And

then the marks of apostacy and disobe dience.

(c) v.17. bidden.

"In the gardens," which was for

(d) v. 17. "Swine's flesh," " and the mouse," contrary to the injunctions, Levit. xi. 7. 29.

(c) v. 19. "A sign." Our Saviour gave his followers a sign to warn them to escape from Jerusalem before its destruction. "When

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ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies "then know that the desolation thereof is "nigh: then let them which are in Judea fe "to the mountains, &c." Luke xxi. 20.2 "and see Matt. xxiv. 15. 16.—Mark. xii The Christian converts availed themselves of

intimation, and it is supposed that not one of them perished at the destruction of Jerusalem. See Mede 891. The giving that sign might be a fulfilment of this prophecy, unless the prophecy refers to times not yet arrived.

(f) v. 19. "To Tarshish, Pul, &c." i.. "to all parts, and quarters." The places named were at different distances and in different direc tions from Jerusalem.

(g) v. 19. "Fame," or "name.”

(b) v. 19. "They shall declare my glory, &c." The departure of the Christian convera

7 shall bring all your brethren (i) for offering (k) unto the LORD out of all ons, upon horses and in chariots (4), in litters, and upon mules, and upon ft beasts to my holy mountain Jerum (m), saith the LORD, as the chiln of Israel bring an offering in a clean sel, into the house of the LORD.

And I will also take of them for ests, and for Levites, saith the LORD. For as the new heavens, and the w earth (n) which I will make, shall

CHAP. V.

UN ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and

Jerusalem before its destruction would e them to circulate in the places to h they went, an account of the Christian ensation: and their indefatigable exertions a full completion of this prophecy, as far referred to that period.

v. 20. "Your brethren," i. e. probably, e Jews;" perhaps looking forward to times yet come.

) v. 20. "For an offering," i. e. " pure, d without blemish, as the Jewish offerings ere to be."

) v. 20. "Upon horses and in chariots, c." "In all ways," to intimate their numand their various ranks.

1) v. 20. "To my holy mountain Jerusam," i. e. probably, not to the place, but "to he true faith and worship God prescribed to he Christian church :" signifying the true gion of after times, by referring to that e in which alone in Isaiah's time the true gion was practised.

n) v. 22. The new heavens and the new arth," i. e. "the new religious establishnent, the Christian dispensation."

o) v. 23. "From one new moon to anoher, &c." i. e. " at the stated times:" sigying the times to be fixed among Christians reference to those which were fixed amongst : Jews.

(p) v.23.

"All flesh." Without distinc

on of nation or people.

(q) v. 24. "They," i. e. perhaps indeitely "men;" whoever shall go forth, shall e, &c. The obiect of this verse probably is, to

"know, and seek in the broad places there"of, if ye can find a man, if there be any "that executeth judgment, that secketh

intimate that the apostates, those who will not qualify themselves for the blessings of Christianity, shall not merely be cut off, but shall continue in a state of the utmost degradation and misery as much dishonoured, as those who are denied the rites of burial, and as wretched as the stings of conscience, the pains of burn ing, and the contempt and abhorence of all mankind can make them. Our Saviour probably refers to this passage, Mark ix. 44. 46. 48. where he speaks of hell as a place, "where "the worm of those who are cast into it "dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

(a) Jeremiah prophesied from the 13th year of the reign of Josiah king of Judah, through the reigns of Jehoahaz or Shallum, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, to the 11th year of Zedekiah, from about 626 years to 586 years before Chrift, a period of 40 years. It was during this period that the carrying Judah captive into Babylon commenced, and was completed. It began in the 3d year of Jehoiakim, 606 years before Christ, when the prophet Daniel was taken. There was a 2d carrying away upon Jehoakim's death, 598 years before Christ, when the prophet, Ezekiel is supposed to have been included; and the third and last carrying away was in the 11th year of Zedekiah, about 587 years before Christ. See Dan. i. 1 to 4.-2 Kings xxiv. 10. 14. 15. and ch. xxv. Jeremiah therefore began to prophesy at least 72 years after Isaiah ceased. The prophecy in this chapter is supposed to have been delivered in the latter end of Josiah's reign, 6 years before the commencement of the captivity, before Christ 612. It notices the

"the truth; and I will pardon it(b). 2.And "though they say, "The LORD liveth (c);" "surely they swear falsely. 3. O LORD, "6 are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou "hast stricken them (d), but they have not "grieved; thou hast consumed them, but "they have refused to receive correction : "they have made their faces harder than 66 a rock; they have refused to return. "4. Therefore I said, "Surely these are "poor; they are foolish; for they know "not (e) the way of the LORD, nor the "judgement of their God. 5. I will get me "unto the great men, and will speak unto "them; for they have known the way of "the LORD, and the judgement of their "God: but these (f) have altogether broken "the yoke, and burst the bonds. 6. Where"fore a lion (g) out of the forest shall slay "them, and a wolf of the evenings shall "spoil them, a leopard shall watch over "their cities: every one that goeth out "thence shall be torn in pieces: because "their transgressions are many, and their "backslidings are increased. 7. How

"shall I pardon thee for this? thy chil"dren have forsaken me, and sworn (h)

corrupt state of the Jewish nations, and denounces against them some impending judgment for their sinfulness.

(b) v. 1. "Pardon it," so that the fate of a nation may depend upon the goodness even of a single individual. See ante, 494. Gen. xviii. 23 to 33.

(c) v.2. "The Lord liveth,&c." i. e. "though "they invoke the name of the Lord, they dare "to swear what is false; or how can it be said "that God liveth, when he tolerates such a "total want of goodness."

(d) v. .3. "Stricken them," to give them warning.

(e) v.4." For they know not,"i.e. "they are "such as know not, such as have scarcely had "the means of knowing, the lowest and most "ignorant of the people."

(ƒ) v.5. "These," i. e. "the great men,” altogether" "in like manner, or still more." (g) v. 5. "A lion, &c." figuratively, "they "shall meet with enemies as savage, and irre"sistible as the fiercest beasts of prey."

(b) v. 7. "Sworn, &c." according to Exod. xxiii. 13. they were not even to make mention of the name of other gods.

(i). 7." Fed them to the full," i. e. “ "them all temporal blessings."

gave

"by them that are no gods: when "them to the full (i), they then c "adultery, and assembled thems "troops in the harlots' houses. " were as fed horses in the morning "one neighed after his neighbor 9. Shall I not visit for these "saith the LORD: and shall not = "be avenged on such a nation "10. Go ye up (k) upon her w. "destroy; but make not a full er 66 away her battlements; for they "the LORD'S. 11. For the house c " and the house of Judah have de "treacherously against me, saith the "12. They have belied the LORD, E ""It is not he (1); neither shall e "" upon us; neither shall we se "nor famine: 13. And the prophe: "become (m) wind, and the word: "them(): thus shall it be doneu (6 14. Wherefore thus saith the Li "of hosts, "Because ye speak "behold, I will make my words "mouth fire, and this people a "it shall devour them. 15. Lo, "a nation (p) upon you from far,C

(k) v. 10. "Go ye up, &c." a that this commission would be given t God's instruments, as it was within a to the Babylonians.

(1) v. 12. "It is not he ;" denying ticular calamity is one of God's jud (m) v. 13. "Shall become” or “are Ca a continuation of the 'speech begun i

(n) v. 13. The word is not in th i. e. "They have no authority for saya "shall it be done unto them." They a "commissioned to predict what they prac Blayney.

(0) v. 14.

"Thy," i. e. Jeremiah's (p) v. 15. "A nation, &c." i "Babylonians" who were distant; En was four months in going from Babyrusalem) ancient; (Babylon having be blished by Nimrod about 100 years flood, Gen. x. 10. Mic. v. 6.) of a lang ordinary Jews did not understand; : xviii. 26, and their arms were chiefly bo arrows. See Is. v. 28.-2 Hales 133 Babylonians accordingly came against Jes lem and besieged it about six years after prophecy.