ALEXANDER

of Thy inheritance. 18. For a little Thy holy people possessed, our enemies trod down Thy Banctuary. 19. We are of old, Thou hast not ruled over them, Thy name has not been called upon them. Oh that Thou wouldst rend the heavens (and) come down, (that) from before Thee the mountains might quake (or flow down), LXIV. 1, as fire kindles brush, fire boils water to make known Thy name to Thine enemies, from before Thee nations shall tremble. 2. In Thy doing fearful things (which) we expect not, (oh that) Thou wouldst come down, (that) the mountains before Thee might flow down. 3. And from eternity they have not heard, they have not perceived by the ear, the eye hath not seen, a God beside Thee (who) will do for (one) waiting for Him.

4. Thou hast met with one rejoicing and executing righteousness; in Thy ways shall they remember Thee; behold, Thou hast been wroth, and we have sinned; in them is perpetuity, and we shall be saved. 5. And we were like the unclean all of us, and like a filthy garment all our righteousness (virtues or good works), and we faded like the (fading) leaf all of us, and our iniquities like the wind will take us up (or, carry us away). 6. And there is no one calling on Thy name, rousing himself to lay hold on Thee; for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast melted us because of (or, by means of) our iniquities.

7. And now, Jehovah, our Father (art) Thon, we the clay and Thou our potter, and the work of Thy hands (are) we all. 8. Be not angry, O Jehovah, to extremity, and do not to eternity remember guilt; lo, look, we pray thee, thy people (are) we all. 9. The holy cities are a desert, Zion is a desert, Jerusalem a waste. 10. Our house of holiness and beauty (in) which our fathers praised Thee has been burned up with fire, and all our delights (or, desirable places) have become a desolation. 12. Wilt Thou for these (things) restrain Thyself, O Jehovah, wilt Thou keep silence and afflict us to extremity?

LXV. [The great enigma of Israel's simultaneous loss and gain is solved by a prediction of the calling of the Gentiles, ver. 1. This is connected with the obstinate unfaithfulness

"When Thou didst terrible things, which we looked not for, Thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at Thy presence."Birks. "To make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, so that nations trembled before Thee, while Thou didst terrible things which we hoped not for: [that Thou didst come down, that the mountains shook at Thy presence] yea, from old men have not heard," &c. -Cheyne, who adopts the suggestion that the words in brackets have been repeated by accident from ver. 1. "The passage gains greatly by their removal."

"Behold, Thou wast wroth, and we were guilty in those is continuance, and we shall be

'DELITZSCH AND MARTIN.

why leadest Thou us astray from Thy ways; hardenest our heart, so as not to fear Thee? Return for Thy servants' sake, the tribes of Thine inheritance. 18. For a little time Thy holy people was in possession. Our adversaries have trodden down Thy sanctuary. 19. We have become such as He who is from everlasting has not ruled over, upon whom Thy name was not called. LXIV. 1. O that Thou wouldst rend the heavens, come down, the mountains would shake before Thy countenance ;-2. (wouldst come down) as fire kindles brushwood, fire causes water to boil; to make known Thy name to Thine adversaries, that the heathen may tremble before Thy face! 3. When Thou doest terrible things which we hoped not for; wouldst come down, (and) mountains shake before Thy countenance!

4. For from olden time men have not heard, nor perceived, nor hath an eye seen, a God beside thee, who acted on behalf of him that waiteth for Him. 5. Thou didst meet him that rejoiceth to work righteousness, when they remembered Thee in Thy ways.

Behold, Thou, Thou art enraged, and we stood as sinners there; already have we been long in this state, and shall we be saved? + 6. We became like the unclean thing, and all our virtues like a garment soiled with blood; and we all faded away together like the leaves; and our iniquities, like the storm, they carried us away. 7. And there was no one who called upon Thy name, who aroused himself to lay firm hold of Thee: for Thou hadst hidden Thy face from us, and didst melt us into the hand of our transgressions.

9.

8. And now, O Jehovah, Thou art our Father: we are the clay, and Thou our Maker; § and we are all the work of Thy hand. Be not extremely angry, O Jehovah, and remember not the transgression for ever! Behold, consider, we beesech Thee, we are Thy people.

10. The cities of Thy holiness have become a pasture-ground; Zion has become a pastureground, Jerusalem a desert. 11. The house of our holiness and of our adorning, where our fathers praised Thee, is given up to the fire, and everything that was our delight given up to devastation. 12. Wilt Thou restrain

saved."-Kay. "Yea, Thou hast been wroth, and we have sinned, and still by these are we preserved from of old."-Birks. "Behold, Thou art wroth (for we have sinned) with Thy people continually!- and shall we be saved?" -Arnold. "Behold, Thou wast wroth when we sinned; [Thou wast] against them of old, and shall we be saved?"-Jones. "Behold, Thou wast wroth, and we sinned; and we went astray."- Cheyne.

"And hast delivered us into the hand of our iniquities."-Cheyne. "And Thou causest us to perish by our iniquities."— R. E. B. § "Our fashioner."-Cheyne.

ALEXANDER.

of the chosen people, ver. 2. They are represented under the two main aspects of their character at different periods, as gross idolaters and as pharisaical bigots, vers. 3-5. Their casting off was not occasioned by the sins of one generation, but of many, vers. 6, 7. But even in this rejected race there was a chosen remnant, in whom the promises shall be fulfilled, vers. 8, 10. He then reverts to the idolatrous Jews, and threatens them with condign punishment, vers. 11, 12. The fate of the unbelieving carnal Israel is compared with that of the true spiritual Israel, vers. 1316. The gospel economy is described as a new creation, ver. 17. Its blessings are represented under glowing figures borrowed from the old dispensation, vers. 18-19. Premature death shall be no longer known, ver. 20. Possession and enjoyment shall no longer be precarious, vers. 21-23. Their very desires shall be anticipated, ver. 24. All animosities and noxious influences shall cease for ever, ver. 25.]

1. I have been inquired of by those that asked not, I have been found by those that sought me not; I have said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation (that) was not called by my name. 2. I have spread (or, stretched) out my hands all the day (or, every day) to a rebellious - people, those going the way not good, after their own thoughts (or, designs) — 3. the people angering me to my face continually, sacrificing in the gardens, and censing on the bricks; 4. sitting in the graves, and in the holes they will lodge, eating the flesh of swine, and broth of filthy things (is in) their vessels; 5. the (men) saying, Keep to thyself, come not near to me, for I am holy to thee,-these (are) a smoke in my wrath, a fire burning all the day (or, every day). 6 and 7. Lo, it is written before me, I will not rest except I repay, and I will repay into their bosom your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, who burned incense on the mountains, and on the hills blasphemed me, and I will measure their first work into their bosom.

8. Thus saith Jehovah, as (when) juice is found in the cluster, and one says, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I do for the sake of my servants, not to destroy the whole. 9. And I will bring forth from Jacob a seed, and from Judah an heir of my mountains, and my chosen ones shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10. And Sharon shall be for (or, become) a home of flocks, and the valley of Achor a lair of herds, for my people who have sought me.

11. And (as for) you, forsakers of Jehovah, the (men) forgetting my holy mountain, the (men) setting for Fortune a table, and the (men) filling for Fate a mingled draught;

DELITZSCH ANd Martin.

thyself in spite of this, O Jehovah, be silent, and leave us to suffer the utmost?

BECOND CLOSING PROPHECY.-CHAP. LXV.

Jehovah's Answer to the Church's Prayer.

1. I was discernible to those who did not inquire, discoverable by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here am I, Here am I," to a nation where my name was not called. 2. I spread out my hands all the day to a refractory people, who walked in the way that was not good, after their own thoughts. 3. The people that continually provoketh me by defying me to my face, sacrificing in the gardens, and burning incense upon the tiles; 4. who sit in the graves, and spend the night in closed places; to eat the flesh of swine, and broken pieces of abominations is in their dishes; 5. who say, Stop! come not too near me; for I am holy to thee: they are a smoke in my nose, a fire blazing continually.

6. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence without having recompensed, and I will recompense into their bosom. 7. Your offences, and the offences of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, that they have burned incense upon the moun tains, and insulted me upon the hills, and I measure their reward first of all into their bosom.

8. Thus saith Jehovah, As when the must is found in the cluster, men say, Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing within it, so will I do for the sake of my servants, that I may not destroy the whole. 9. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and an heir of my mountains out of Judah, and my chosen ones shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10. And the plain of Sharon becomes a meadow for flocks, and the valley of Achor a resting-place for oxen, for my people that asketh for me.

11. And ye, who are enemies to Jehovah, O ye that are unmindful of my holy moun

offered answers to those who have not asked; I have been as hard to those who have not sought me."-Cheyne.

ALEXANDER.

12. and I have numbered you to the sword, and all of you to the slaughter shall bow; because I called and ye did not answer, I spake and ye did not hear, and ye did the (thing that was) evil in my eyes, and that which I desired not ye chose.

13 and 14. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Lo! my servants shall eat and ye shall hunger; lo, my servants shall drink and ye shall thirst; lo, my servants shall rejoice and ye shall be ashamed; lo, my servants shall shout from gladness of heart, and ye shall cry from grief of heart, and from brokenness of spirit ye shall howl. 15. And ye shall leave your name for an oath to my chosen ones, and the Lord Jehovah shall slay thee, and shall call His servants by another name (lit. call another name to tem), 16. (by) which the (man) blessing himself in the land (or, earth) shall bless himself by the God of truth, and (by which) the (man) swearing in the land (or, earth) shall swear by the God of truth, because forgotten are the former enmities (or, troubles), and because they are hidden from my eyes.

17. For lo I (am) creating (or, about to create) new heavens and a new earth, and the former (things) shall not be remembered, and shall not come up into the mind (lit. on the heart). 18. But rejoice and be glad unto eternity (in) that which I (am) creating, for lo, I (am) creating Jerusalem a joy, and her people a rejoicing. 19. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall not be heard in her again the voice of weeping and the voice of crying. 20. There shall be no more from there an infant of days, and an old man who shall not fulfil his days, for the child a hundred years old shall die, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 and 22. And they shall build houses and inhabit (them), and shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them, they shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree (shall be) the days of my people, and the work of their hands my chosen ones shall wear out (or, survive). 23. They shall not labour in vain, and they shall not bring forth for terror; for the seed of the blessed of Jehovah are they, and their offspring with them. 24. And it shall be (or, come to pass), that they shall not yet have called and I will answer, yet (shall) they (be) speaking and I will hear. 25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed as one, and the lion like the ox shall eat straw, and the serpent dust (for) his food. They shall not hurt and they shall not corrupt (or, destroy) in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.

DELITZSCH AND MARTIN.

tain, who prepare a table for Gad, and fill up mixed drink for the goddess of destiny, -12. I have destined you to the sword, and ye will bow down to the slaughter, because I have called, and ye have not replied, I have spoken, and ye have not heard; and ye did evil in mine eyes, and ye chose that which I did not like.

13. Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah : Behold my servants will eat, but ye will hunger; behold my servants will drink, but ye will thirst; behold my servants will rejoice, but ye will be put to shame; 14. behold my servants will exult for delight of heart, but ye will cry for anguish of heart, and ye will lament for brokenness of spirit. 15. And ye will leave your name for a curse to my chosen ones, and the Lord, Jehovah, will slay thee; but His servants He will call by another name. 16. so that whosoever blesseth himself in the and will bless himself by the God of truthfulness, and whosoever sweareth in the land will swear by the God of truthfulness, because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they have vanished from mine eyes.

17. For behold I create a new heaven and a new earth; and men will not remember the first, nor do they come to any one's mind. 18. No, be ye joyful and exult for ever at that which I create: for behold I turn Jerusalem into exulting, and her people into joy. 19. And I shall exult over Jerusalem, and be joyous over my people, and the voice of weeping and screaming will be heard in her no more. 20. And there shall no more come thence a suckling of a few days, and an old man who has not lived out all his days; for the youth in it will die as one a hundred years old, and the sinner be smitten with a curse as one a hundred years old.+

21. And they will build houses and inhabit them, and plant vineyards and enjoy the fruit thereof. 22. They will not build and another inhabit, nor plant and another enjoy; for like the days of trees are the days of my people, and my chosen ones will consume the work of their hands. 23. They will not weary themselves in vain, nor bring forth for sudden disaster; for they are a family of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring are left to them.

24. And it will come to pass before they call, I will answer; they are still speaking, and I already hear. 25. Wolf and lamb then feed together, and the lion eats chopped straw like the ox, and the serpent-dust is its bread.. They will neither do harm nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.

of a hundred years shall be held accursed."-Jones. "There shall no more be any from thence, infant of days or old man, that shall not have fulfilled his days."- Kay.

ALEXANDER.

the change of dispensation, and a description of the difference between them. Jehovah will no longer dwell in temples made with hands, ver. 1. Every sincere and humble heart shall be His residence, ver. 2. The ancient sacrifices, though divinely instituted, will henceforth be as hateful as the rites of idolatry, ver 3. They who still cling to the abrogated ritual will be fearfully but righteously requited, ver. 4. The true Israel cast out by these deluded sinners shall ere long be glorified, and the carnal Israel fearfully rewarded, vers. 5, 6. The ancient Zion may already be seen travailing with a new and glorious dispensation, vers. 7, 9. They who mourned for her seeming desolation, now rejoice in her abundance and her honour, vers. 10-14. At the same time the carnal Israel shall be destroyed, as apostates and idolaters, vers. 14-17. The place which they once occupied shall now be filled by the elect from all nations, ver. 18. To gather these, a remnant of the ancient Israel shall go forth among the Gentiles, ver. 19. They shall come from every quarter, and by every mode of conveyance, ver. 20. They shall be admitted to the sacerdotal honours of the chosen people, ver. 21. This new dispensation is not to be temporary, like the one before it, but shall last for ever, ver. 22. While the spiritual Israel is thus replenished from all nations, the apostate Israel shall perish by a lingering decay in the sight of an astonished world, ver. 23, 24]

1. Thus saith Jehovah, the heavens (are) my throne, and the earth my footstool; where is (or, what is) the house which ye will build for me, and where is (or, what is) the place of my rest? 2. And all these my own hand made, and all these were (or, are), saith Jehovah; and to this one will I look, to the afflicted and contrite in spirit, and trembling at my word.

3. Slaying the ox, smiting a man-sacrificing the sheep, breaking a dog's neckoffering an oblation, blood of swine-making a memorial of incense, blessing vanity also they have chosen their ways, and in their abominations has their soul delighted. 4. I also will choose their vexations, and their fear I will bring upon them; because I called and there was no answering, I spake and they did not hear, and they did evil in my eyes, and that which I delight not in they chose.

5. Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at His word. Your brethren say, (these) hating you and casting you out for my name's sake, Jehovah will be glorified, and we shall gaze upon your joy-and they shall be ashamed. 6. A voice of tumult from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of Jehovah, rendering requital to His enemies!

DELITZSCH AND MARTIN.

THIRD CLOSING PROPHECY.-CHAP. LXVI.

Exclusion of Scorners from the Coming
Salvation.

1. Thus saith Jehovah: The heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What kind of house is it that ye would build me, and what kind of place for my rest? 2. My hand hath made all these things; then all these things arose, saith Jehovah; and at such persons do I look, at the miserable and broken-hearted, and him that trembleth at my word.* 3. He that slaughtereth the ox is the slayer of a man; he that sacrificeth the sheep is a strangler of dogs; he that offereth a meat offering, it is swine's blood; he that causeth incense to rise up in smoke, blesseth idols. As they have chosen their ways, and their soul cherisheth pleasure in their abominations; 4. so will I choose their ill-treatments, and bring their terrors upon them, because I called and no one replied, I spake and they did not hear, and they did evil in mine eyes, and chose that in which I took no pleasure.

5. Hear ye the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at His word: your brethren that hate you, that thrust you from them for my name's sake, say, Let Jehovah get honour, that we may see your joy;" they will be put to shame.

ALEXANDER.

7. Before she travailed she brought forth, before her pain came she was delivered of a male. 8. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things Shall a land be brought forth in one day, or shall a nation be born at once? For Zion hath travailed, she hath also brought forth her children. 9. Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth saith Jehovah. Or am I the one causing to bring forth, and shall I shut up saith thy God.

10. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and exult in her, all that love her; be glad with her with gladness, all those mourning for her, 11. that ye may suck and be satisfied from the breast of her consolations, that ye may milk out and enjoy yourselves, from the fulness (or, the full breast) of her glory. 12. For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I am extending to her peace like a river, and like an overflowing stream the glory of nations; and ye shall suck; on the side shall ye be borne, and on the knees shall ye be dandled. 13. As a man whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and in Jerusalem shall ye be com. forted. 14. And ye shall see, and your heart shall leap (with joy), and your bones like grass shall sprout, and the hand of Jehovah shall be known to His servants, and He shall be indignant at His enemies.

15. For lo, Jehovah in fire will come, and like the whirlwind His chariots, to appease in fury His anger, and His rebuke in flames of fire. 16. For by fire is Jehovah striving and by His sword with all flesh, and multiplied (or, many) are the slain of Jehovah. 17. The (men) hallowing themselves and the (men) cleansing themselves to (or, towards) the gardens after one in the midst, eaters of swine's flesh and vermin and mouse, together shall cease (or, come to an end), saith Jehovah.

18. And I their works and their thoughts it is come-to gather all the nations and the tongues-and they shall come and see my glory. 19. And I will place in them (or, among them) a sign, and I will send of them survivors (or, escaped ones) to the nations, Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, drawers of the bow, Tubal and Javan, distant isles, which have not heard my fame, and have not seen my glory, and they shall declare my glory among nations. 20. And they shall bring all your brethren from all nations, an oblation to Jehovah, with horses, and with chariot, and with litters, and with mules, and with dromedaries, on my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring the oblation in a clean vessel to the house of Jehovah. 21. And also of them will I take for the priests, for the Levites, saith Jehovah. 22.

"But [I will punish] their works and their thoughts; [behold the time] is come that I gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come and see my glory."- Cheyne. Arnold treats the words: "For I know their works

DELITZSCH AND MARTIN.

before pains came upon her, she was delivered of a boy. 8. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen anything like it? Are men delivered of a land in one day? Or is a nation begotten at once? For Zion hath travailed, yea, hath brought forth her children. 9. Should I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah or should I who cause to bring forth, shut up? saith thy God.

13.

10. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and exult over her, all ye that love her; be ye delightfully glad with her, all ye that mourn over her, 11. that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations, that ye may sip and delight yourselves in the abundance of her glory. 12. For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I guide peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like an overflowing stream, that ye may suck; ye shall be borne upon arms, and fondled upon knees. Like a man whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14. And ye will see, and your heart will be joyful, and your bones will flourish like young herbage; and thus does the hand of Jehovah make itself known to His servants, and fiercely does He treat His enemies. 15. For behold Jehovah, in the fire will He come, and His chariots are like the whirlwind, to pay out His wrath in burning heat, and His threatening passeth into flames of fire. 16. For in the midst of fire Jehovah holds judgment, and in the midst of His sword with all flesh; and great will be the multitude pierced through by Jehovah. They that consecrate themselves and purify themselves for the gardens behind one in the midst, who eat swine's flesh and abomination and the field mouse-they all come to an end together, saith Jehovah. 18. And I, their works and their thoughts-it comes to pass that all nations and tongues are gathered together, that they come and see my glory."

17.

19. And I set a sign upon them, and send away those that have escaped from them to the Gentiles, to Tarshish, Phúl and Lûd, to the stretchers of the bow, Tubal and Javanthe distant islands that have not heard my fame and have not seen my glory, and they will proclaim my glory among the Gentiles. 20. And they will bring your brethren out of all heathen nations, a sacrifice for Jehovah, upon horses and upon chariots, and upon litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain, to Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring the meat-offering in a clean vessel to the house of Jehovah. 21. And I will also add some of them to the priests, to the Levites, saith Jehovah. 22. For as the new heaven and the new