Isaiah 56

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:5

(5) Even unto them will I give . . .—The words may refer simply to the spiritual blessedness of the faithful (Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:5), but the customs of Eastern temples and of the later synagogues suggest that they may refer primarily to the memorial tablets which were put up in such places in commemoration of distinguished benefactors. For “place” read memorial. We note, of course, the special adaptation of the words “better than of sons and daughters” to the case which the prophet... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:6

(6) Also the sons of the stranger . . .—Proselytes also were to share in the blessings of the wider covenant. The words “to serve him” have been referred to some menial offices like that of the Nethinim, “hewers of wood and drawers of water” (Joshua 9:27; Ezra 8:20). The usage of the word, however, limits it to honourable functions. The germ of Isaiah’s thought appears in Solomon’s dedication prayer (1 Kings 8:41-43). It receives its highest development (in its entire separation from the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:7

(7) Even them will I bring . . .—The words foreshadow the breaking down of the “middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14). Every privilege of the Israelite worshipper is to belong also to the proselyte. It is perhaps assumed that the proselyte is circumcised. The development of truth is in such cases gradual, and it was left for St. Paul to complete the work of Isaiah (Romans 2:26-29; Galatians 6:15). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:8

(8) The Lord God . . . saith.—The phrase is the normal one for introducing an oracle of special importance. This, so to speak, was to be one of the “faithful sayings” of Isaiah. We can hardly fail to find in John 10:16 a deliberate reproduction of Isaiah’s thought. The first clause refers clearly to the gathering of the heathen as following on that of the “outcasts” of Israel. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:9

(9) All ye beasts of the field . . .—The sudden change of tone indicates that we enter on an entirely new section, which extends to the close of Isaiah 57:0. The contents of that section fit in with the assumption of its having been written early in the reign of Manasseh, better than With that of a date after the exile. The opening words summon the enemies of Israel to do their work of punishment, and this is followed naturally by a denunciation of the sins which had made it necessary. For the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:10

(10) His watchmen are blind.—These are the guides of the people, and specially the self-styled prophets, who are “blind” to the signs of the times, who are “dumb,” and give no warning to the people of the real dangers that threaten them, who prophesy for the rewards of divination (Numbers 22:7 :1 Samuel 9:7; Nehemiah 6:12), who are conspicuous for their luxury and intemperance. Given the men who are described in Isaiah 5:22; Isaiah 28:7-8; Isaiah 30:10, and the circumstances of Manasseh’s... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:11

(11) Shepherds that cannot understand . . .—Better, and such are shepherds; they cannot understand. There is no confusion or change of metaphors. What is implied is that the prophets who are not fit to be watch-dogs of the flock, assume the office of its shepherds.From his quarter—i.e., in modern phrase, from his own sphere of influence. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:12

(12) Come ye, say they . . .—The words in italics are necessary to complete the sense; but their absence from the Hebrew is noticeable, and noteworthy as an example of the prophet’s bold use of a dramatic form. He represents the false prophet as giving a feast to his friends, and promising a yet more splendid banquet on the morrow. Here again we note continuity of character (Isaiah 22:13). Comp. Luke 12:19, which reads almost like an echo of this passage. (Comp. the dramatic form of Isaiah... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

7, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8CHAPTER XXIION THE EVE OF RETURNIsaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8ONE of the difficult problems of our prophecy is the relation and grouping of chapters 54-59. It is among them that the unity of "Second Isaiah," which up to this point we have seen no reason to doubt, gives way. Isaiah 56:9-12 is evidently pre-exilic, and so is Isaiah 59:1-21. But in chapters 54, 55, and Isaiah 56:1-8 we have three addresses, evidently dating from the Eve of the Return.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:9

-26BOOK 4THE RESTORATIONWE have now reached the summit of our prophecy. It has been a long, steep ascent, and we have had very much to seek out on the way, and to extricate and solve and load ourselves with. But although a long extent of the prophecy, if we measure it by chapters, still lies before us, the end is in sight; every difficulty has been surmounted which kept us from seeing how we were to get to it, and the rest of the way may be said to be downhill.To drop the figure-the Servant,... read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:6

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:7

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:8

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:9

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:10

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:11

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 56:12

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:9

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