Isaiah 66

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:5

Isaiah 66:5. Hear, &c. The prophet here, forbearing to proceed in denouncing judgments against the hypocrites and formalists among the Jews, now turns his discourse to such as feared God, whose religion is described by their trembling at his word, as in Isaiah 66:2. Such apostrophes, or diversions of his speech to other persons, we had Isaiah 50:10; Isaiah 51:1; Isaiah 51:7. The same addresses, it must be observed, belong not to saints and presumptuous sinners. It is highly probable,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:6

Isaiah 66:6. A voice of noise from the city, &c. This is an expression of a prophetical ecstasy, in which the prophet hears the noise of the ruin of the city and temple sounding in his ears. This voice of noise comes not from the city only, but from the temple, wherein these formalists had so much gloried, and reposed so much confidence. There is a noise of soldiers slaying, and of the poor people shrieking or crying out. A voice of the Lord Not in thunder, which is sometimes called... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:7-8

Isaiah 66:7-8. Here begins a new paragraph of the prophet’s discourse, containing a description of the sudden and great increase of the Christian Church, upon God’s rejecting the Jews, and destroying their temple and worship: “the very destruction of the Jewish polity making way for the reception and spread of the gospel, inasmuch as it abated that opposition which the Jewish zealots all along made to its progress; and the abolishing the Jewish worship contributed very much to the abrogating... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:9

Isaiah 66:9. Shall I bring to the birth Shall I disappoint and render abortive a design of which I myself was the author, when every thing is ripe for execution, and the effect just ready to be produced? Shall I begin a work and not perfect it? Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb That there should not be a continual succession of converts in all ages? Zion shall not bring forth once only, but she shall continue to be fruitful: her womb shall not be shut: she shall every day... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:10-11

Isaiah 66:10-11. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem Let all that wish her well congratulate her for the favours God hath conferred upon her, and particularly let the Gentiles rejoice with the Jewish Church, for her advancement shall redound to their benefit. Thus Moses, (Deuteronomy 32:43,) referring probably to the very events here predicted by Isaiah, Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people; for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:12-13

Isaiah 66:12-13. For, behold, I will extend Or am extending, peace to her That is, all good; like a river That runs in a constant stream, still increasing till it is swallowed up in the ocean. The gospel brings with it, wherever it is received in its power, peace, which proceeds forward like a river, supplying the souls of believers with all good, and making them fruitful as a river doth the lands through which it passes: such peace as the springs of this world’s comforts cannot send... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:14

Isaiah 66:14. And when ye see this To what a happy state the church is restored; your heart shall rejoice The peace of the church, and the extension of the kingdom of Christ, are always causes of real joy to such as fear God. And your bones shall flourish like an herb The bones that were dried and withered, the marrow of them being quite exhausted, shall recover a youthful strength and vigour, and shall flourish like an herb in the spring, whose verdure and beauty in the winter were... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:15-16

Isaiah 66:15-16. For, behold, &c. Here the prophet comes more particularly to show the nature of that indignation which should be exercised toward God’s enemies. The passage, it must be observed, is metaphorical, “exhibiting God as about to take vengeance on the enemies of his church, under the figure of a commander and warrior, as well as of a judge, armed at all points, severely to punish those who have provoked his indignation: see Isaiah 63:1, &c.; Revelation 18:8; and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:17

Isaiah 66:17. They that sanctify themselves, &c. “Behold,” says Vitringa, “the reason of the great severity above mentioned, namely, a base and abominable departure from God, represented under a certain kind of idolatry and detestable superstition, of all others the most odious and contrary to the institutions of the ancient religion.” It is evident the passage is to be understood figuratively, like those in Isaiah 66:3, and in Isaiah 65:3-4; Isaiah 65:11, on which see the notes. And... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:18-20

Isaiah 66:18-20. For I know their works and their thoughts Of idolatry, superstition, and other wickedness. The word know not being in the Hebrew, some apply the ellipsis thus: I have observed their works, &c. Others consider the clause as a question, and read, Should I endure their works, &c.? No: it shall come, that I will gather, &c. My threatened judgments shall come upon them, and I will gather all nations and tongues to see my glorious holiness and justice... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:7-8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:10-11

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:12-13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:15-16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:18-20

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