The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 456

L-Ord. And forget my holy mountain ; i.e. The religious exiles would return to the land eithl'r. literally, forget Zion, being absent of promise o.e soon as permitted, o.nd would from it so long (Ps. oxxxvii. 5), or, possibly, there prosper in o. worldly sense-ho.ve abun- ,,eglect Zion, though you might worship there dance to e11t and drink, rejoic.e, and sing for if you pleased. That prepare a table for joy (Ezra iii. 11-18). The irreligioll8, re- that troop; rather, that prepare a tabl.e for maining in Babylonio., would suffer hunger Gad. There is ground for believing that e.nd thirst, endure shame, cry e.nd howl for "Gud" was a Phamician deity, perhaps sorrow e.nd vex11t.ion of spirit. This would "the god of good fortune" (Cheyne), though be one fulfilment of the prophecy ; but there this is not clearly ascertained; sometimes would also be another. God's servants at a.II worshipped ns an aspect of Bae.I, whence the times and in all places would ho sustained name. Baal-Gad (Josh. xL 17; xii. 7); some- with spiritual food, and "rejoice e.nd sing times connected with other deities, e.s Moloch for joy of heart." His e.d verse.ries would and Asbtoreth. The practice of" prepariug everywhere feel e. ore.Ying for the "meat" tables" for the heathen gods was a common and "drink,'' which a.lone satisfy the soul, one, and app0ars in Herod., i. 181 ; in Baruch and would be oppressed with care, and with vi. 30; in Bel and the Dragon, ver. 11 ; and e. sense of she.me, and suffer anguish of in the Roman lect.isternia. The table& pre- spirit. pared for the dead in Egyptian tombs were Ver. 15.-Ye shall leave your name for a not very different, and implied e. qualified curse (comp.Jar. xxix.22). In their formulas worship of ancestors (Rawlinson, 'History of imprecation the Jews were in the habit of of Ancient Egypt,' vol. i. pp. 423, 424; vol. saying, " The Lord make thee like" this or ii. p. 39). And that furnish the drink offer- that person, or this or that class of persons. ing nnto that number; rather, and that fill up The name of the exiles should be used in mixed drink for M'ni. M'ni appears, like this manner. lJnto my chosen(see the com- Gad, to have been e. Syrian deity, the name ment on ver. 9). The Lord God shall slay Ebed-M'ni, "servant of M'ni," occurring on thee (see the comment on ver. 12). Some, Arammo-Persian coins of the Achmmenian however, take the words e.s po.rt of the for- period (Riidiger, in 'Addenda to Gesenius' mula. of imprecation. And oe.11 his servants These.mus,' p. 97). The word may be sus- by another name (compare what is said of pected to be cognate to the Are.hie "Me.nit," "new name" in eh. I.xii. 2). a god recognized in the Koran as e. media.tor Ver. 16.-That he who blesseth himself; with Allah ; but ce.n scarcely have any con- rather, so that he who blesses himself. The nection with the .Arran names for the moon sequence of the argument is not altogether deity, Mt/11, M771171, Mena, and the like. Its clear. Perhaps it is meant that God will call root is probably the Semitic manah, "to them by his own Name (Amos ix.12)-" the nnmber" or "apportion," the word designat- people of God" (Heh. iv. 9); e.nd thence it ing e. deity who" apportions" men's fortunes will become natural for them to use no other to them (nx11, LXX.). name, either when they call for a blessing Ver. 12.-Therefore will I number you; or, on themselves, or have to confirm a covenant apportion you (manithi}- play upon the with others. In the God of truth; literally, in name of M'ni The sword . . . &laughter. the God of the Amen; i.e. the God who keeps Not, perhaps, intended literally. Wicked covenant and promise, to which the strongest men are God's sword (Ps. xviL 13), and de- formula. of consent was the word "Amen" (see liverance into their band would be deliver- Numb. v. 22; Deut. xxvii.15-26; 1 Kings ance to the sword and slaughter. The exiles i. 36, etc.). Similo.rly, St. John ea.Us our suffered grievonsly at the hands of their Lord " the Amen, the Faithful and True Bab\'lonian masters (eh. x:lvii. 6; ilix. 17, Witness" (Rev. iii.14). Because the former etc.f The character of their sufferings is troubles are forgotten, When the blessed given in the ensuing verses (vers. 13, 14). time has come wherein men call themselves When I called, ye did not answer (see 2 by the Name of the Lord, and know of only Chron. xx.xvL 15, 16; Prov. i. 20-25; eh. one God as the Source of blessing and the I.xvi. 4). confirmation of e.n oath, then the former state Ver. 13.-Therefore thus saith the Lord of human affairs, with e.11 its "troubles," God; rather, tltiu Baith the Lord Jehovah will have passed away, and the new ere. will (comp. eh. vli. 7 ; xxv. B ; xxviii. 16 ; xxx. be inaugurated, which the prophet proceeds 15; xl. 10; x:lviii.16; xlix.22; I. 4,5,7,9; to describe e.t length (vers. 17-25). liL 4 ; l vi. 8 ; lxi. 1, etc.). My servants Vera. 17-25.-A PROMISE OF NEW shall eat, but ye ■hall be hungry, etc. This HEAVENS .AND A NEW EARTH. The final entire series of contre.ste may be understood answer of God to the complaint o.nd prayer in two we.ye; literally, of the two classes of his people (eh. !xiv.) is now given. The of exiles, the religious e.nd the irreligious; metaphorically, of God's servants and his entire existing state of things is to pass adversaries at all times and in e.11 places. away. God will create a new heaven and an. LXV. 1-25.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET 18.AI.AB. 473