26. As the degeneracy had shown itself most in the magistrates ( :-), so, at the "restoration," these shall be such as the theocracy "at the first" had contemplated, namely, after the Babylonish restoration in part and typically, but fully and antitypically under Messiah (Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 52:8; Jeremiah 33:7; Matthew 19:28). faithful—no longer "an harlot." read more
4. Israel’s response 1:21-31While God’s invitation to repent was genuine (Isaiah 1:16-20), the nation had so thoroughly departed from Him that repentance was not forthcoming and discipline was inevitable. The prophet bemoaned the depth of Israel’s apostasy and announced that the Lord would have to purify His people in the furnace of affliction before they would become what He intended them to be. The structural form of Isaiah 1:21-26 is palistrophic, with Isaiah 1:23-24 forming the center and... read more
The announcement of judgment 1:24-26Isaiah’s unusual three-fold description of God as the sovereign (Lord) God of armies (hosts), who is the Mighty God of Israel, boded ill for Judah. Isaiah crowded together more names of God in Isaiah 1:24 than he did anywhere else (cf. Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 3:15; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 10:33; Isaiah 19:4). The specter of God arising to judge His people for their sins just mentioned is a fearful prospect (cf. Hebrews 12:29). God judges sin wherever He finds it,... read more
Jehovah’s Arraignment of His PeopleThis chapter is general in character, and much of it (e.g. Isaiah 1:10-17) might refer to almost any period. This general character of the prophecy renders it especially suitable as an introduction, and may account for its position at the beginning of the book. It gives us a picture of the internal condition of Judah in Isaiah’s age, and not only brings out his characteristic teaching, but more than any other OT. passage indicates the general line of prophetic... read more
(25) I will turn my hand upon thee.—The phrase, like the English “visit,” presents both a severe and a gracious aspect. Of the former we have instances in Psalms 81:14, Amos 1:8; of the latter in Zechariah 13:7. The context here inclines to the latter meaning. Jehovah punishes that He may save, and smites that He may heal.Purely purge away thy dross.—Better, will smelt away thy dross with lye, or potash, which was used in the smelting process. The imagery of Isaiah 1:22 is resumed. The great... read more
(26) I will restore thy judges as at the first.—The prophet looks back to the good old days, the time probably of David, or the early years of Solomon (1 Kings 10:9)—as Englishmen look back to those of Elizabeth—when judges were faithful, and princes upright, and the people happy—to such an ideal polity as that of Psalms 15, 24.The city of righteousness, the faithful city.—The two nouns are not the same, and the second has rather the meaning of “citadel,” the acropolis of Jerusalem. There is... read more
CHAPTER ITHE ARGUMENT OF THE LORD AND ITS CONCLUSIONIsaiah 1:1-31 -His General PrefaceTHE first chapter of the Book of Isaiah owes its position not to its date, but to its character. It was published late in the prophet’s life. The seventh verse describes the land as overrun by foreign soldiery, and such a calamity befell Judah only in the last two of the four reigns over which the first verse extends Isaiah’s prophesying. In the reign of Ahaz, Judah was invaded by Syria and Northern Israel,... read more
Analysis and Annotations The reader will find that every chapter has been analyzed as to its contents. We have not made copious annotations, because the three lectures on the book of Isaiah as found at the close of the analysis cover the contents of this book in such a manner that detailed annotations for a study of the book can be omitted. We suggest that all who desire to study this great prophecy in a closer way read carefully the introduction, and after that the three lectures on “The... read more
1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, {k} and take away all thy tin:(k) Lest the faithful among them should be overcome with his threatening he adds this consolation. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:25
25. turn . . . hand—not in wrath, but in grace ( :-), "upon thee," as Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 1:27 show; contrasted with the enemies, of whom He will avenge Himself (Isaiah 1:27- :). purely—literally, "as alkali purifies." thy dross—not thy sins, but the sinful persons (Isaiah 1:27- :); "enemies" (Isaiah 1:27- :); degenerate princes (see on Isaiah 1:27- :), intermingled with the elect "remnant" of grace. tin—Hebrew, bedil, here the alloy of lead, tin, &c., separated by smelting from the silver.... read more