Isaiah 56:3 - Exposition

The son of the stranger ; i.e. the foreigner, who has become a proselyte. During the depression of the Captivity these are not likely to have been many. Still, there were doubtless some; and these, who had embraced Judaism under such unfavourable circumstances, were entitled to special consideration. As Messianic hopes prevailed, and the time of restoration to Palestine drew near ( Isaiah 56:1 ), they might naturally be afraid that they would not be looked upon as equals by the native Israelites, but would be made into a lower grade, if not even excluded. The Lord hath utterly separated me ; rather, the Lord will utterly separate me. They do not suppose it done, but think it will be done. The eunuch . Isaiah had prophesied to Hezekiah that a certain number of his seed should serve as eunuchs in the royal palace of the King of Babylon ( 2 Kings 20:18 ). Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were such persons ( Daniel 1:3-6 ), and there may have been others. By the letter of the Law ( Deuteronomy 23:1 ), they were cut off from the congregation, but practically it would seem that during the Captivity they were on a par with other Israelites. These persons feared, with more reason than the foreign proselytes, that, on the return of Israel to their own land, a stricter practice would be established than had prevailed during the Captivity, and the letter of the Law would be enforced against them. I am a dry tree. Therefore useless, and entitled to no consideration at all.