Isaiah 1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:1

Isaiah 1:1. The vision of Isaiah “It seems doubtful,” says Bishop Lowth, “whether this title belongs to the whole book, or only to the prophecy contained in this chapter. The former part of the title seems properly to belong to this particular prophecy: the latter part, which enumerates the kings of Judah, under whom Isaiah exercised his prophetical office, seems to appropriate it to the whole collection of prophecies delivered in the course of his ministry. Vitringa, to whom the world is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:2

Isaiah 1:2. Hear, O heavens, &c. “God is introduced as entering upon a solemn and public action, or pleading, before the whole world, against his disobedient people. The prophet, as herald, or officer, to proclaim the summons to the court, calls upon all created beings, celestial and terrestrial, to attend and bear witness to the truth of his plea, and the justice of his cause.” Bishop Lowth. See the same scene more fully displayed, Psalms 50:3-4. With the like invocation Moses begins... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:3

Isaiah 1:3. The ox knoweth his owner, &c. In these words the prophet amplifies “the gross insensibility of the disobedient Jews, by comparing them with the most heavy and stupid of all animals, yet not so insensible as they. Bochart has well illustrated the comparison, and shown the peculiar force of it. ‘He sets them lower than the beasts, and even than the stupidest of all beasts; for there is scarce any more so than the ox and the ass. Yet these acknowledge their master; they know... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:4

Isaiah 1:4. Ah, sinful nation The prophet bemoans those who would not bemoan themselves; and he speaks with a holy indignation at their degeneracy, and with a dread of the consequences of it. A people laden with iniquity Laden, not with the sense of sin, as those described Matthew 11:28, but with the guilt and bondage of sin. A seed of evil- doers The children of wicked parents, whose guilt they inherit, and whose evil example they follow; children that are corrupted Hebrew, משׁחיתים... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:5-6

Isaiah 1:5-6. Why should ye be stricken any more It is to no purpose to seek to reclaim you by one chastisement after another; ye will revolt more and more I see you are incorrigible, and turn even your afflictions into sin. The whole head is sick, &c. The disease is mortal, as being in the most noble and vital parts, the very head and heart of the body politic, from whence the plague is derived to all the other members. “The end of God’s judgments, in this world, is men’s... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:7-8

Isaiah 1:7-8. Your country is desolate “The description of the ruined and desolate state of the country, in these verses,” says Bishop Lowth, “does not suit with any part of the prosperous times of Uzziah and Jotham. It very well agrees with the time of Ahaz, when Judea was ravaged by the joint invasion of the Israelites and Syrians, and by the incursions of the Philistines and Edomites. The date of this prophecy is therefore generally fixed to the time of Ahaz.” Strangers devour it in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:9

Isaiah 1:9. Except the Lord had left us a remnant If God, by his infinite power and goodness, had not restrained our enemies, and reserved some of us, we should have been as Sodom The whole nation of us had been utterly cut off, as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were. So great was the rage and power of our enemies, and so utterly unable were we to deliver ourselves. This remnant was “a type of those few converts among the Jews, who, embracing the gospel, escaped both the temporal and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:10

Isaiah 1:10. Hear the word of the Lord I bring a message from your Lord and governor, to whom you owe all reverence and obedience; ye rulers of Sodom So called for their resemblance of them in wickedness. Compare Deuteronomy 32:32; Ezekiel 16:46; Ezekiel 16:48. “The incidental mention of Sodom and Gomorrah in the preceding verse, suggested to the prophet this spirited address to the rulers and inhabitants of Jerusalem, under the character of princes of Sodom and people of Gomorrah. Two... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:11-12

Isaiah 1:11-12. To what purpose, &c., your sacrifices unto me? Who am a Spirit, and therefore cannot be satisfied with such carnal oblations, but expect to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and to have your hearts and lives, as well as your bodies and sacrifices, presented unto me. I delight not in the blood, &c. He mentions the fat and blood, because these were, in a peculiar manner, reserved for God, to intimate that even the best of their sacrifices were rejected by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:13

Isaiah 1:13. Bring no more vain oblations I neither desire, nor will accept of any on these terms. Incense is an abomination to me So far is it from being a sweet savour to me, as you foolishly imagine. The new moons Which were holy to God, and observed with great solemnity; the calling of assemblies At all other solemn times, wherein the people were obliged to meet together. I cannot away with Hebrew, לא אוכל , I cannot endure; it is grievous to me. It is iniquity It is so... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:5-6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:7-8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:10

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:11-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:13

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