Isaiah 1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:3

The ox … the ass. The ox and the ass are probably selected as the least intelligent of domesticated animals (so Jerome, Rosenmüller, and Gesenius). Yet even they recognize their owner or master. Jeremiah contrasts the brutish stupidity of Israel with the wise instinct of animals that have not been domesticated, as the stork, the turtle-dove, the crane, and the swallow ( Jeremiah 8:7 ). Israel doth not know; i.e. does not acknowledge its Master and Owner, pays him no respect, does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:3

Obligation and interest. I. THE WEIGHTIEST OBLIGATION . Isaiah speaks of ownership as a relation existing between a brute beast and a man; the "ox knoweth its owner." There is a legal and not unimportant sense in which a man may own art animal; the creature is his in so far as this, that no one else can lay an equal claim to its use, and no one can dispute his legal right to employ it in his service. In a far larger sense than this does man belong to God. God has that strong and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

Ah sinful nation. These are the words of Isaiah, not of Jehovah. The prophet, having delivered God's message in verses 2 and 3, proceeds to impress and enforce it on the people by remarks of his own. He begins with a lamentation over their wickedness and impenitence; "Ah sinful nation!" or "Alas for the sinful nation! "the nation called to be holy ( Exodus 19:6 ; Le Exodus 20:26 , etc.), but sunk in sin and wickedness. How sad their condition! How almost hopeless! Laden with iniquity ;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

Children that are corrupters. Here we have a broad light on the mission of Isaiah the prophet. The holy nation had become evil. Plants are more poison-spreading in their corruption than forest trees. It is an old proverb, "The corruption of the best is the worst." "Children that are corrupt." How solemn the emphasis of the prophet's adjuration! " Hear , O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

The course of sin. It is true that both righteousness and sin have very varied manifestations, the course of one good or one bad man's life differing widely from that of another. Yet there is a logical and moral order in which both holiness and iniquity pursue their path from their beginning to their end. The course of sin is not indicated by the sequence of these accusations, but the different steps are included in the prophetic denunciation. I. IT BEGINS IN THE WITHDRAWAL OF... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4-9

The prophet's enforcement of God's charge. God's words are so weighty, that they may well be few; the preacher's enforcement of them must needs be, comparatively speaking, lengthy. Isaiah, in addressing his erring countrymen, aimed at producing in them— I. CONVICTION OF DIN . For this purpose, he begins with an array of seven charges (verse 4), varying, as it were, the counts of the indictment: The first four are general, and seem to be little more than rhetorical variations of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5

Why should ye , etc.? Translate, Why will ye be still smitten , revolting more and more? or, Why will ye persist in rebellion , and so be smitten yet more? The Authorized Version does not express the sense, which is that suffering must follow sin—that if they still revolt, they must still be smitten for it—why, then, will they do so? Compare Ezekiel's "Why will ye die, O house of Israel?" ( Ezekiel 18:31 ). The whole head … the whole heart. Mr. Cheyne translates, "Every head … ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5

The foolishness of increasing Divine judgments. The plea of the prophet appears to be this: "You have run terrible lengths in sin; and you have seriously suffered from the consequences of sin; now why will you bring down fresh judgments upon your head through persisting in your infidelity" (comp. Ezekiel 18:31 )? So serious, indeed, had been the penalties of transgression already that there seemed to be no part of the body politic upon which another stroke might fall; new inflictions must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5-9

Sin in its hopelessness. I. THAT SIN IS MORE OR LESS RECLAIMABLE . Whatever we might have antecedently expected, we find practically, that there are those on whom Divine truth is far more likely to tell than it is on others. Thus Time, pleasure, the misuse of sacred opportunity,—these things indurate the soul and make it far less responsive than it once was; so that there are some that are more hopeless than others. II. THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNCHARGED BY... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:6

From the sole of the foot even unto the head (comp. Job 2:7 ). From top to bottom, the body corporate is diseased throughout—there is no soundness in it (cf. Psalms 38:3 , Psalms 38:7 )—all is one wound, one livid bruise, one festering sore. Note the use of the singular number in the original. They have not been closed ; literally, they have not been pressed ; which is explained to mean (Aben Ezra, Kay) that they have not had the matter formed by suppuration pressed out of them. ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:4-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:5-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:6

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