“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool : where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?”
House. This is a prophecy that the temple should be cast off. (Challoner) — Isaias alludes to the return of the captives, as to a figure of the Church. They had flattered themselves with the idea of building a magnificent temple. God regards it not, as long as they follow their own wills and cherish pride. (Calmet) — He is pleased with the piety of his servants, which may be exhibited any where, though the temple is the most proper place. See Acts vii., and xiv. After the gospel, the sacrifices of the law became unlawful. (Worthington)
“He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. lamb: or, kid burneth: Heb. maketh a memorial of”
He. Septuagint, “the wicked who.” (Haydock) — Ox. This is a prophecy, that the sacrifices which were offered in the old law, should be abolished in the new; and that the offering of them should be a crime. (Challoner) — Without the proper dispositions, sacrifice only displeases God. (Calmet) — Brain, or slay. (Haydock) — Incense. To offer it in the way of a sacrifice; (Challoner) or to remind God of his people. The expression is popular, but energetic, Leviticus ii. 2, 9., and vi. 15. — Ways, to please themselves, and to bind me. But I will not have a divided heart, chap. i. 11., and lviii. 3. (Calmet)
“I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. delusions: or, devices”
Mockeries. I will turn their mockeries upon themselves; and will cause them to be mocked by their enemies. (Challoner)
“Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”
Brethren, the Idumeans, &c., or the Jews, who would not believe in Christ.
“A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.”
Lord, who is about to quit the temple, and to abandon the Jews to their internal dissensions, and to the arms of the Romans. Many prodigies announced this judgment. (Calmet) — One Jesus cried for seven years and five months, “Woe to the temple,” &c. At last he cried, “Woe to myself;” when he was shot dead. (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii. 12.) (Tacitus, Hist. v.) — Angels were heard crying in the temple, “Let us go hence.” (Josephus) — There was contradiction in the city, Psalm liv. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)
“Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.”
Before, &c. This relates to the conversion of the Gentiles, who were born as it were all on a sudden to the Church of God. (Challoner) — Sion furnished the first preachers of the Gospel. (Haydock)
“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”
Day. Shall a whole nation be born at once? Twelve fishermen effect the most surprising change in the manners of the world.
“Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. not: or, not beget?”
God. His grace converts the nations. (Calmet)
“Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:”
For her. Ye shall be comforted, (Haydock) when the captives return, and the gospel is propagated.
“For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.”
You. St. Paul fed the weak with milk, 1 Corinthians iii. 2., and Hebrews v. 12., and 1 Peter ii. 2.
“And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.”
Herb, in baptism and the resurrection. — Enemies, the Chaldeans, infidel Jews, and all the reprobate, ver 15. How many miracles were wrought by Christian preachers! Persecutors have come to an untimely end. (Calmet) — Before judgment, the world shall be consumed. (Worthington)
“For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”
Many. Few are chosen. (Haydock) — All the wicked shall perish eternally. (Menochius)
“They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. behind: or, one after another”
Within the court, or gardens, where they purified themselves, foolishly supposing that this would remove their crimes, as the pagans did. (St. Jerome) (Tertullian, Bapt. v.) — Instead of gate, St. Jerome wrote unam, “one,” moon or Hecate, which is obviously derived from Hebrew Achat, chap. lvii. 8., and lxv. 11. Chaldean, Syriac, &c., “gardens, one after another with those who eat,” &c. — Mouse, or “field-rat,” (Bochart) all declared unclean; (Leviticus xi. 7, 29.; Calmet) or, “the dor-mouse,” (St. Jerome) which was looked upon as a delicacy by the Romans. (Varro iii. 15.; Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxvi. 1.)
“For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.”
Gather them, thoughts, &c. All is personified in poetry. The Gentiles shall witness my judgments. (Calmet)
“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.”
Sign; the cross, which Christ left to enlighten us, (Ezechiel ix.; St. Jerome; Worthington) or the gospel, with the power of working miracles. Some Jews shall be saved, and shall preach to others, as God’s servants. — Sea. Hebrew, “Tharsis, to Phul in Thebais, Lud, (Ethiopians.; Bochart) who were expert archers.” Septuagint, “Mosoch.” — Italy. Hebrew, “Thubal;” denoting Italy, Spain, Iberia, &c. — Greece. Hebrew, “Javan;” who peopled Ionia and the Archipelago. Islands, near Asia, (Calmet) and all distant places. (Parkhurst, p. 4.) (Haydock) — Men of all nations shall be converted, and brought by angels to the Church. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)
“And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. litters: or, coaches”
Brethren, as the converts may justly be styled. (Calmet) — Coaches, (carrucis.) Hebrew circaroth, (Haydock) “dromedaries,” (Bochart) “with songs of praise.” (Chaldean, &c.) The precise import is unknown. Truth shall shew its sweet force. — Offering; the first-fruits, brought by all with great solemnity, Deuteronomy xxvi. 4., and 2 Thessalonians ii. 12. (Calmet)
“And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.”
Of them, Gentiles; (ver. 19.) some of whom alone will be properly priests, though all enjoy the title in a figurative sense, 1 Peter ii. 9. The Jews strive in vain to elude this text. (Calmet) — Under the law, one family alone enjoyed this honour: but Christ chooses the most deserving pastors. (Worthington)
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.”
Name. The faith and morals of Christianity shall subsist for ever, like the gospel, which is termed the new heavens, chap. lxv. 17., and Matthew xvi. 18.
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. from one new: Heb. from new moon to his new moon, and from sabbath to his sabbath”
Sabbath. Grotius explains this of the Gentiles, who should come to Jerusalem. But this was never realized before the propagation of the gospel. The Jews came thrice a-year. Christians shall attend the sacred mysteries every week, Exodus xiii. 14., and Malachias i. 11.
“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
Men; rebellious Jews and persecutors, who perish miserably. — Flesh. Josephus (Jewish Wars vi. 16.) describes the horrors of the last siege of Jerusalem. The prophet may allude to the fires kept up in the vale of Hinnon; (chap. xxx. 33.) and our Saviour applies this text to the damned, Mark ix. 43. All shall condemn them. (Calmet)