More of the reprobation of the Jews, and of the call of the Gentiles.
66:1. Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my
footstool: what is this house that you will build to me? and what is
this place of my rest?
What is this house, etc.... This is a prophecy that the temple should
be cast off.
66:2. My hand made all these things, and all these things were made,
saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is
poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my
words?
66:3. He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that
killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that
offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine’s blood; he that
remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things
have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their
abominations.
He that sacrificeth an ox, etc.... 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.—Ibid. Remembereth
incense.... Viz., to offer it in the way of a sacrifice.
66:4. Wherefore I also will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon
them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none that
would answer; I have spoken, and they heard not; and they have done
evil in my eyes, and have chosen the things that displease me.
I will choose their mockeries.... I will turn their mockeries upon
themselves; and will cause them to be mocked by their enemies.
66:5. Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word: Your
brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name’s sake, have said:
Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy: but they shall
be confounded.
66:6. A voice of the people from the city, a voice from the temple, the
voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies.
66:7. Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came
to be delivered, she brought forth a man child.
Before she was in labour, etc.... This relates to the conversion of the
Gentiles, who were born, as it were, all on a sudden to the church of
God.
66:8. Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to
this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be
brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath
brought forth her children?
66:9. Shall not I that make others to bring forth children, myself
bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I, that give generation to others,
be barren, saith the Lord thy God?
66:10. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love
her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her.
66:11. That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her
consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the
abundance of her glory.
66:12. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were
a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the
Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts,
and upon the knees they shall caress you.
66:13. As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you
shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
66:14. You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall
flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his
servants, and he shall be angry with his enemies.
66:15. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and his chariots are
like a whirlwind, to render his wrath in indignation, and his rebuke
with flames of fire.
66:16. For the Lord shall judge by fire, and by his sword unto all
flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
66:17. They that were sanctified, and thought themselves clean in the
gardens behind the gate within, they that did eat swine’s flesh, and
the abomination, and the mouse: they shall be consumed together, saith
the Lord.
66:18. But I know their works, and their thoughts: I come that I may
gather them together with all nations and tongues: and they shall come
and shall see my glory.
66:19. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send of them that
shall be saved, to the Gentiles into the sea, into Africa, and Lydia
them that draw the bow: into Italy, and Greece, to the islands afar
off, to them that have not heard of me, and have not seen my glory. And
they shall declare my glory to the Gentiles:
66:20. And they shall bring all your brethren out of all nations for a
gift to the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on
mules, and in coaches, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord,
as if the children of Israel should bring an offering in a clean vessel
into the house of the Lord.
66:21. And I will take of them to be priests, and Levites, saith the
Lord.
66:22. For as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make to
stand before me, saith the Lord: so shall your seed stand, and your
name.
66:23. And there shall be month after month, and sabbath after sabbath:
and all flesh shall come to adore before my face, saith the Lord.
66:24. And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that
have transgressed against me: their worm shall not die, and their fire
shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all
flesh.