The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 335

palace of the King of Babylon (2 Kings xx. oumcisiou nor uncircumcision, but 11. CO!Ik 18), Daniel, Hnnaniab, Misboel, and AzB- munity where all are brethren and all have riah were such persons (Dan. i. 3-6), and equal privileges. there may have been others. By the letter Ver. 7.-111.y house of prayer. In Solo- of the Law (Dent. xxiii. I), they were cut mon's address to God at the dedication of oft' from the congregation, bat practically it the tem pie, its character, as a house of would seem that during the Captivity they prayer, is abundantly laid down (I Kings were ou a par with other Israelites. These viii. 29-53). And no doubt it wna used for persons feared, with more reo.son than tlJe the purpose of prayer, e.s well as for the foreign proselytes, that, .in the return of purpose of sacrifice, from its first erection to Israel to their own land, a stricter practice its final destruction. But the purpose of wou!J be established than had prevniled sacrifice so far predomio11.ted, in fact, over during the Captivity, o,nd the letter of the the other, that the expression, "my house of Law would be enforced o,gainst them. I am prayer," comes upon us in this place to some a dry tree. Therefore useless, and entitled ex tent o.s a surprise. The prophet seems to to no considern.tion o,t all. anticipate the time when the temple should Ver. 4.-The eUJ1uohs that ... to.ke hold be emphatically a ,rpoo-eux~. the legal sacri- of my covenant, The law of Dent. xxiii. 1 fices having received their ful61ment (eh. shall be abrogated under the new condition !iii. 10), e.nd being thenceforth superfluous of things, for such as "take hold of God's and out of place. For all people; rather, covenant." for all the peoples. All the ends of the earth Ver. 5.-In mine house; i.e. "in my were to see the salvation of God (Ps. xcviii. Church" (comp. I Tim. iii. 15). Within my 3); " All nations were to fall down before walls. Within the we.lla of my "holy city" him ; all people to do him service " (Ps. (see above, eh. !iv. 11, 12; Ix. 14; !xii. 12). lxxii. 11). A plaoe and a no.me ; or, a memorial and a Ver, 8.-The Lord God; rather, the Lord name; i.e. honouro,ble mention, like that pro- Jehovah-Adonai Jehovah. An unusual mised to the woman who anointed Christ phrase. Which gathereth together the out- for his burial (Matt. xxvi. 13). Such men- oe.sts of Israel; i.e. the Lord who has pledged tion is found in Matt. :tlx. 12; Acts viii. himself to bring back Israel from Ct>ptivity, 27-30. and to gather together Isruel's outcasts from Ver. 6.-Also the sons of the stranger all regions (eh. xi. 11; x.xvii. 12, l 3; xiii i. (comp. ver. 3). The proselytes shall not be 5, 6, etc.). This same Lord now promises treated as they fear. On the contrary, God something further : " He will gather others will treat them in exactly the same way as also to Israel, besides his own gathered ones." his original people-will conduct them to Introduced with such emphasis and formality, Palestine, settle them in his "holy moun- this was probably, when delivered. a new tain," admit them to tha temple services, revelation. In the present Brrangemeut of accept their burnt offerings and their sacri- the prophecies. however, it Bnnounces no fices. All this will be a foretaste of their novelty. The addition of Gentile members position in the Christian Church, where there to the Israelite community has been decln.reJ will be neither Jew nor Gentile, neither cir- frequently (see eh. xliv. 5; Iv. 5, etc.). SECTION V. A WARNING TO THE W10KED (en. LVL 9-Lvn.). Vere. 9- I 2.-TBE BLIJ!.'D GutDES OF lsRAEL Ver. 9.-:Beasts of the field . , . beasts in REBUKED. A sudden change of style marks the forest; i.e. "oil wild bee.sts of whntovc•r the introduction of an entirely new prophecy. kind "-all the enemies of GoJ's flock (sei, Jer. xii. 9; Ezek. xxxiv. 8). Come to devour. The eye of the prophet, apparently, goes M11ke haste, now is your opportunity, The back from the period of the exile, which he people hl\VO none to protect them, an<l will has been so long contemplating, to his own be an easy proy. Come,set to work; devour. de.y, or e.t any rate to the pre-exile period, Ver. 10.-His watohmen are blind. Israel's and rests npon Israel in their own land. "watchm"ln" are his guides and teachers, He sees them misled by their teachers (vers. the prophets(Jer. vi.17; Ezek. iii. 17; He.b. ii. 1, etc.). At the time of which Iso.inh 10-12), given to idolatry (oh. !vii. 3-9), speaks, they are "blind" (eh. :nix. 18; e.nd offering thomsel ves a ready prey to x:.xxv. 5; xiii. 7, 16, 18, 19; xliii. S, etc.), or their enemies (eh. lvi. 9). Many modern without knowledge-like the" blind guides" oritios regard the passnge as the composition of the Gospel (Matt. xv. 14; Lu!ie vi. 39, of an unknown prophet belonging to the eto.). They hnve not the spiritual di~cern- ment which would enl\ble !hew to lead tho time of Mnnaeseh. But there is no suffi- people aright. Further, they are dumb dogs. oient evidence of this. The propheoy has Instead or acting as faith fol watch-Jogs, w hn IU6IIY lse.ian ohare.oterilltica, give warning of the approaoh of danger liy  346 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET !SAi.AH. [oH. LVI. 1-12.