That maketh an oblation, [offereth] swine's blood;
That burneth incense, blesseth an idol :

Yea, they themselves have chosen their own ways; And in their abominations their soul delighteth. 4 I will also choose their calamities;

And what they dread, I will bring upon them;
Because I called, and no one answered;
I spake, and they would not hear:

And they have done, what is evil in my sight; And that, in which I delighted not, they have chosen. 5 Hear ye the word of JEHOVAH, ye that revere his word:

Say ye to your brethren, that hate you;

And that thrust you out, for my name's sake:
JEHOVAH will be glorified, and he will appear:
To your joy [will he appear], and they shall be con-
founded.

6 A voice of tumult from the city!, a voice from the temple!

7

The voice of JEHOVAH! rendering recompense to his enemies.

Before she was in travail, she brought forth:

Before her pangs came, she was delivered of a male. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like of these things?

Is a country brought forth in one day?

Is a nation born in an instant?

For no sooner was Sion in travail, than she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith JEHOVAH:

Shall I, who beget, restrain the birth? saith thy
God.

10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and exult on her account, all

ye that love her;

Be exceedingly joyful with her, all
over her:

ye

that mourn

11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied, from the breast of her consolations;

12

That ye may draw forth the delicious nourishment, from her abundant stores.

For thus saith JEHOVAH:

Behold, I spread over her prosperity, like the great river;

And like the overflowing stream, the wealth of the nations:

And ye shall suck at the breast;

Ye shall be carried at the side;

And on the knees shall ye be dandled. 13 As one, whom his mother comforteth, So will I comfort you:

And in Jerusalem shall ye receive consolation. 14 And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice; And your bones shall flourish, like the green herb: And the hand of JEHOVAH shall be manifested to

his servants;

And he will be moved with indignation against his enemies.

15 For, behold! JEHOVAH shall come, as a fire;
And his chariot, as a whirlwind :

To breathe forth his anger in a burning heat,
And his rebuke in flames of fire.

16 For by fire shall JEHOVAH execute judgment;
And by his sword, upon all flesh;

17

And many shall be the slain of JEHOVAH.

They who sanctify themselves, and purify themselves,

In the gardens, after the rites of Achad :

In the midst of those, who eat swine's flesh, And the abomination, and the field-mouse; Together shall they perish, saith JEHOVAH. 18 For I know their deeds, and their devices:

And I come to gather all the nations and tongues together;

And they shall come and shall see my glory. 19 And I will impart to them a sign;

And of those that escape I will send to the nations:
To Tarshish, Phul, and Lud, who draw the bow;
Tubal, and Javan, the far distant coasts:
To those, who never heard my name;
And who never saw my glory:

And they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren,

From all the nations, for an oblation to JEHOVAH;
On horses, and in litters, and in counes;
On mules, and on dromedaries;

To my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith JEHOVAH.
Like as the sons of Israel brought the oblation,
In pure vessels, to the house of JEHOVAH.
21 And of them will I also take,

For priests, and for Levites, saith JEHOVAH.

22 For like as the new heavens,

And the new earth which I make,

Stand continually before me, saith JEHOVAH; So shall continue your seed, and your name. 23 And it shall be, from new moon to new moon, And from sabbath to sabbath;

All flesh shall come to worship before me, saith

JEHOVAH,

24 And they shall go forth, and shall see,

The carcasses of the men, who rebelled against me.
For their worm shall not die,

And their fire shall not be quenched;

And they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.

NOTES.

ISAIAH exercised the prophetical office during a long period of time, if he lived to the reign of Manasseh; for the lowest computation, beginning from the year in which Uzziah died, when some suppose him to have received his first appointment to that office, brings it to sixty-one years. But the tradition of the Jews, that he was put to death by Manasseh, is very uncertain; and one of their principal Rabbins (Aben Ezra, Com. in Isa. i. 1.) seems rather to think, that he died before Hezekiah; which is indeed more probable. It is however certain, that he lived at least to the fifteenth or sixteenth year of Hezekiah: this makes the least possible term of the duration of his prophetical office about forty-eight years. The time of the delivery of some of his prophecies is either expressly marked, or sufficiently clear from the history to which they relate that of a few others may with some probability be deduced from internal marks; from expressions, descriptions, and circum-. stances interwoven. It may therefore be of some use in this respect, and for the better understanding of his prophecies in general, to give here a summary view of the history of his time.

The kingdom of Judah seems to have been in a more flourishing condition during the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, than at any other time after the revolt of the ten tribes. The former recovered the port of Elath on the Red Sea, which the Edomites had taken in the reign of Joram: he was successful in his wars with the Philistines, and took from them several cities, Gath, Jab

neh, Ashdod; as likewise against some people of Arabia Deserta; and against the Ammonites, whom he compelled to pay him tribute. He repaired and improved the fortifications of Jerusalem; and had a great army well appointed and disciplined. He was no less attentive to the arts of peace; and very much encouraged agriculture, and the breeding of cattle. Jotham maintained the establishments and improvements made by his father; added to what Uzziah had done in strengthening the frontier places; conquered the Ammonites, who had revolted, and exacted from them a more stated and probably a larger tribute. However, at the latter end of his time, the league between Pekah king of Israel, and Reitsin king of Syria, was formed against Judah; and they began to carry their designs into execution.

But in the reign of Ahaz his son, not only all these advantages were lost, but the kingdom of Judah was brought to the brink of destruction. Pekah king of Israel overthrew the army of Ahaz, who lost in battle 120,000 men; and the Israelites carried away captives 200,000 women and children; which however were released, and sent home again, upon the remonstrance on the prophet of Oded. After this, as it should seem, (see Vitringa on chap. vii. 2.) the two kings of Israel and Syria, joining their forces, laid siege to Jerusalem; but in this attempt they failed of success. In this distress Ahaz called in the assistance of TiglathPileser king of Assyria; who invaded the kingdoms of Israel and Syria, and slew Retsin: but he was more in danger than ever from his too powerful ally; to purchase whose forbearance, as he had before bought his assistance, he was forced to strip himself and his people of all the wealth he could possibly raise, from his own treasury, from the temple, and from the country. About the time of the siege of Jerusalem, the Syrians took Elath, which was never after recovered. The Edo-.