turned away," from y used neuterally, in Hophal. Some MSS. give ny. I confess this use of the verb as a neutral is rare, and the insertion of between the formative of the person and the first radical is irregular. The best account I can give of it is, that this verb yw often takes the form of yw. Verse 6. "But we are all❞— rather, "Therefore we are all".

"as an unclean thing" rather, "as one unclean," i. e. as a leper. "Leprosi spirituales sunt excommunicati a Deo et ecclesiâ-sentis leprosos figuram verissimam sustinere Judæorum, in incredulitate et errore capitali obstinatorum, succumbentium tristi Dei judicio, eâque de causâ exclusorum commercio Dei et Sanctorum, et hanc notam Divini judicii per orbem circumgerentium." Vitringa, vol. ii, 882, 2.

-"as filthy rags;" properly, "a menstruous rag, which is therefore called a rag of testimonies, as attesting and notifying the disease. Or perhaps the phrase may more especially denote the linen cloths, which after the wedding night afforded legal evidence of the bride's virginity. So St Jerome seems to have understood it.

CHAP. LXV.

Verse 1. "I am sought of them that asked not for me;" rather, "I have given oracular advice to them that consulted me not." The Niphil of signifies actively to give oracular answers, as the verb in Kal signifies to consult the oracle.

Verse 4." and lodge in the monuments;" rather," in the consecrated precincts.", i. e.

ἐν τεμενεσι.

בכליהם read כלים in their vessels. For

See Bishop Lowth.

Verses 3, 4. It may seem extraordinary that idolatrous rites should be mentioned among the crimes of the Jewish nation which occasioned their rejection, since they were not generally addicted to idolatry at the time when our Lord appeared among them, "Respondeo primo (says Vitringa) Jesaiam omnes transgressiones et rebelliones gentis Judææ complexè sumptas respici velle, ut causam extremi illius et gravissimi judicii, quod Deus, tandem, in die salutis, in hunc populum executus est sed ecstaticum et a spiritu validissimè affectum, modo hoc, modo illud genus peccati ac superstitionis, quod ipso illo tempore ob oculos ponebatur, arripuisse, ut illius

fœditatem hac occasione detegeret, et populum defectorem ab eo abduceret. Quòd autem speciem illam criminum, quæ versabatur circa superstitionem atque idololatriam antiquam, sæpius in medium proferat, ratio est planissima; quod conciones suas, et propheticas quoque, quantum pote voluerit accommodare ad usum ecclesiæ Judææ sui, et sequuturi, temporis. Secundò,-Vates hic non tantum incedit per plures peccati species, quæ, per articulos temporum hanc gentem maximè polluerent, et complementum suum acciperent in delicto omnium gravissimo repulsi regni Dei; verum ipsum quoque illud turpissimum flagitium circa religionem commissum, in Messia rejecto, contempto, illuso, ejusque, ac ministrorum ipsius, sanguine effuso, quod flagitium gentem contaminatissimam et foedissimam reddidit coram Deo, proponit sub figurâ metaphoricâ ejusmodi superstitionum detestabilium, quæ cultores maximè, secundum ritum legalem polluebant." Vitringa in Is. vol. ii, 891, 2; 892, 1.

"Cum-hic

Verse 5. "Which say-thou." ratio detur electarum Gentium, reprobata majore parte populi Judæi; spiritus postquam recensuisset fœdissima crimina et turpem circa Syriaca tempora apostasiam a Deo:mox introducit pessimum

genus hypocritarum, qui circa tempus manifestandi regni Dei præ se ferrent cum fastu singularem sanctimoniam puritatemque legalem, eo usque ut alios, eosque veriores Dei cultores, a communione suâ se pararentet imaginariâ justitiâ operum misci, puritatisque legali fidentes, regnum Dei repellerent.” Vitringa, vol. ii, 897, 1.

Verse 6. Expunge the full stop at the end of this verse; and in the following verse, for ➡y and , read, with the LXX, Houbigant, and

.אבותיהם and עונתיהם ,Bishop Lowth

I will even requite, in their bosom, their iniquities,
And the iniquities of their fathers together.

Verse 8. "As the new wine," &c.

As when a good grape is found in the unripened cluster,
It is said, &c.

See Houbigant.

-" for my servant's sake, that I may not destroy them all;" rather, " for the sake of my servant [the Messiah] not to destroy the whole."

Verse 9. "And"

rather "But"

Verse 11. " for that troop-unto that number;"

rather, "for Gad-unto Meni," proper names of heathen deities: Gad, the Sun; Meni, the Moon; according to Vitringa.

Herodotus thus describes the table of the Sun, in Ethiopia, south of Egypt: ή δε τραπεζα του Ήλιου τοιηδε τις λεγεται εἶναι. Λειμων ἐστι ἐν τῷ προαστειῳ, ἐπιπλεος κρεων έφθων παντων των τετραποδων· ἐς τον τας μεν νυκτας ἐπιτηδευοντας τιθεναι τα κρέα τους ἐν τελεῖ ἑκαστους έοντας των άστων, τας δε ήμερας δαιννυασθαι προσιόντα τον βουλομενον· φαναι δε τους ἐπιχωρίους ταυτα την γην αὐτην ἀναδιδοναι ἑκαστοτε. Thalia, 18. Vitringa seems to think a similar custom might prevail among other nations of the east.

σε the

" furnish the drink - offering;” rather, mixed drink." "Est autem in cunctis urbibus, et maxime in Ægypto et in Alexandriâ, idololatriæ vetus consuetudo, ut ultimo die anni et mensis eorum qui extremus est, ponant mensam refertam varii generis epulis, et poculum mulso mixtum; vel præteriti anni, vel futuri, fertilitatem auspicantes. Hoc autem faciebant et Israelitæ, omnium simulacrorum portenta venerantes." Hieron. ad locum.

For the import of the names 7 and ", see Parkhurst and Bates.

Verses 13-15. "Nihil tam obvium est, quàm ut hæc intelligantur de ultimâ clade Judæorum, cum undecies centena millia hominum, urbe Jerusalem clausa, fame perierunt, Christianis Judais, qui Pel