Isaiah 1:23 - Exposition

Thy princes are rebellious ; i.e. "rebels against their true King, Jehovah." Companions of thieves . Leagued with those who are engaged in filching away the inheritance of the widow and the orphan by chicane in the law courts (see above, Isaiah 1:15-17 ; and compare the Homiletics on Isaiah 1:16-20 ). Gifts … rewards ; i.e. "bribes, "given and taken on the condition of their perverting justice (comp. Jeremiah 22:17 ; Ezekiel 22:12 ; Micah 3:11 ; Micah 7:3 ). They judge not the fatherless , etc. They dismiss the orphan's complaint without hearing it, and are so noted for perversion of justice that the widow does not even bring her cause before them.