Isaiah 63:18 - Exposition

The people of thy holiness ; or, thy holy people (comp. Isaiah 62:9 ; Isaiah 63:15 : Isaiah 64:11 ). Some critics read har , "mountain," instead of 'am , "people," and translate, "But for a little while have they" ( i.e. thy servants) "had possession of thy holy mountain." The general meaning is the same in either case. "Israel, God's people, has held Palestine but for a little while"—a few centuries—and now the heathen have been allowed to make themselves masters of it, (comp. Ezra 10:8 ).