The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 345

EXPOSITION. cxv. 17), bnt into "peace," or, as the CHAPTER LVII. word might be renderecl (Cheyne), " a state Vere. 1, 2.-THE EARLY DEATH OF RIGHT• of peace." There is, no doubt, primarily, EOUS MEN ACCOUNTED FOR. The Hebrews "a contrast to the awful troubles which the were given to expect the.t long life should, survivors will have to encounter" (Heng- etenberg); but perhaps this contrast is not as e. general rule, accompany righteousness e.11 that is meant. The " peace" is positive (Exod. xx. 12; 1 Kings iii. 14; Pe. xci. 16; rather than negative, or it wonld scarcely be Prov. iii. 1, 2, etc.); e.nd under the Mosaical a consolation to any one. They shall rest in dispensation we must suppose that it did so. their beds ; or, upon their beds. This ex- But there were exceptions to the rule. pression seems to imply a consciousness of rest, and so a certain enjoyment of it. Each Wicked persecutors, like Ahab, Jezebel, and one walking in his uprightness ; rather, ioho- Athaliah, cut off the righteous ere they soever hath walked uprightly, or in a straight had seen he.If their days. So probably did path (see Prov. iv. 25-27). The phrase is an Manasseh (2 Kings xxiv. 8, 4). And God equivalent for" the righteous" of ver. 1, and sometimes removed the righteous from earth refers to the life on earth of those who ho.ve by a natlll'8.l death before they had gtown gone down into silence, not to their life after they have reached the silent shore. Of that old (Eccles. vii. 15; viii. 14). At the time life the evangelical prophet is not commis- of which Isaiah is here speaking there had sioned to give us any information. been such remove.ls; and of this he takes Vera. 8-14.-ISllAEL SEVERELY REBUKED note, partly to rebuke those who lightly FOR IDOLATRY. Though Hezekiah had passed·over the phenomenon,pe.rtly to justify me.de a greo.t reformation of religion when God's we.ye to such as were perplexed by it. be asconded the throne (2 Kings xviii. -! ; Ver. 1.-The righteous perieheth. The 2 Chron. xxix. 8-19), and had done his w01·d tre.nele.ted "pcrisheth" does not imply e.ny violence; but the context implies e. pre- best to put down idolatry, yet it was still mLLture death. The righteous dise.ppear- dear to large numbers among the people, 8..l'tl taken from the earth before their natural and we.s easily revived by Manasseh in the time. Yet no man layeth it to heart ; i.e. earlier portion of his reign (2 Chron. x:uiii. no one asks whe.t it means-no one is dis- 2-9). Ise.iah now rebukes various kindd of tUl'bed, no one grieves. The general feeling idolatrous praoticee, and shows the vanity was either one of indifference, or of relief e.t the departure of one whose life was e. re- of them. proach to hie neighbours. Meroifnl men; Ver. 8.-Dra.w nee.r hither. Approaoh, rather, godly men, or pious men (comp. Micah to hear the reprimand which ye so well vii. 2). Are taken e.way; literally, are deserve. Ye sons of the soroeress; mther, gathered in. Compare the phrase so fre- of a sorceress. Judah herself, the nation, is q_uently _used, "gathered to ..his fathers" the" sorceress" and" adulteress,'' whose in- (Gen. xhx. 29; Numb. xxvu. 18; Judg. dividual children are summonecl to clro.w ii. 10; 2 Kings xxii. 20; 2 Chron. xxxiv. near. She is an adulteress; for sho has 28). From the evil; or, out of the way of the transgressed agRinst the mystio marriage-tie evil-iu order tho.t he may esc1tpe it (comp. which bouucl her to Jehovah (see eh. liv. 5, 2 Kings xxii. 20, where Josiah is promised and the comment ad loc.). She is Riso a that he shall be 1?1tthered to his fnthers "sorceress,'~ since sbo has bewitched her (prematurely), in order that he may escape chilJren, and given herself up to niagical the sight of the evil that WRs coming on as well flS to idolo.trous practices (:! Chron. J eruso.lem soon after his decease. xxxiii. 6). Seed of the adulterer and the Ver. 2.-He shall enter into peaoe. Not whore; mthcr, seed of an arlu.lteress, and merely into " stillness " or " silence " (Ps. that lh!Jself ccnnmittest whoredom. The con•  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [en. LVII, 1-21.