Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 65:12
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose [that] wherein I delighted not.
12. Render with R.V. I will destine you to the sword &c. There is a play upon words between the verb for “destine” ( mnh) and Mn in Isa 65:11.
because when I called &c. ] Cf. Isa 65:1-2.
but did evil before mine eyes &c. ] Exactly as ch. Isa 66:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Therefore will I number you to the sword – There is undoubtedly an allusion here to the idol Meni mentioned in Isa 65:11, and a play upon the name, in accordance with a custom quite common in the sacred Scriptures. The word maniytiy, I will number, is derived from manah, the same word from which meny, is derived. The idea is, since they worshipped a god whose name denoted number – perhaps one who was supposed to number or appoint the fates of people – God would number them. He would determine their destiny. It would not be done by any idol that was supposed to preside over the destinies of people; not by blind fate, or by anyone of the heavenly bodies, but it would be by an intelligent and holy God. And thus numbering or determining their lot would not be in accordance with their expectations, imparting to them a happy fortune, but would be devoting them to the sword; that is, to destruction. The allusion is, probably, to the calamities which God afterward brought on them by the invasion of the Chaldeans.
And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter – This is evidently strong, and probably hyperbolic language, meaning that a large portion of the nation would be cut off by the sword. The allusion here is, I think, to the slaughter of the Jewish people in the invasion of the Chaldeans. The evil of idolatry prevailed, in the time of Isaiah, under the reign of Manasseh; and in the time of Zedekiah it had increased so much even in Jerusalem, that it was said, All the chief priests and the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the pagan; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem …. And they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, until there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young people with the sword, in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age; he gave them all into their hand 2Ch 36:14, 2Ch 36:16-17. It is possible, also, that this is intended to express a more general truth, and to intimate that when his people forsake him he will punish them; but the primary reference, it is proable, was to the slaughter caused by the Babylonians when they destroyed Jerusalem.
Because when I called – When I called you by the prophets to repentance and to my service (see Pro 1:24 ff.)
Ye did not answer – You showed the same disregard and contempt which a child does who suffers a parent to call him, and who pays no attention to it. One of the chief aggravations of human guilt is, that the sinner pays no attention to the calls of God. He pretends not to hear; or he hears to disregard it. No more decided contempt can be shown to the Almighty; no deeper proof of the stupidity and guilt of people can be furnished.
But did evil before mine eyes – (See the notes at Isa 65:3).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 65:12-14
Therefore will I number you to the sword.
–
The declaration of God against the disobedience of Israel
I. THE ACCUSATION. A guilty inattention to the voice of God.
II. THE THREAT (Isa 65:13-14). (R. G. Buddicomb, M. A.)
Gods call despised
I. THE GRACIOUS CALL OF GOD.
II. THE IMPENITENCE OF MANY.
III. THE INEVITABLE RESULT. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. Therefore will I number you] Referring to Meni, which signifies number. “Rabbi Eliezar said to his disciples, Turn to God one day before you die. His disciples said, How can a man know the day of his death? He answered, Therefore it is necessary that you should turn to God to-day, for possibly ye may die to-morrow.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
You have offended in number, worshipping a multitude, a troop of idols; there shall be a great number of you perish by the sword; or possibly the term
number may refer to all in the next phrase, to let them know that none of them should escape. God saith he will number them, tell them out one by one to the sword.
You shall all bow down to the slaughter; as you have bowed down to idols, Isa 44:17, (which are mine enemies,) I will make you bow down to your enemys swords. I called you by my prophets, Zec 7:7,11,12; you did not answer by doing the things which I by them spoke to you for; but not considering that I saw you, or if considering it, yet not regarding it, you impudently did evil; yea, you sinned deliberately, choosing sinful courses, the things which I hated, which are (here as often) expressed by it meiosis, and called the things in which God delighteth not. In matters of worship we ought to choose nothing wherein God delighteth not; and reason as well as Scripture will assure us he can delight in nothing of that nature which himself hath not directed. It is observable, that ruin is here threatened to this people, not for their immoralities or lewd lives, but for their errors and superstitions in Divine worship. Other sins provoke God to wrath, but those of this nature alone are enough to ruin souls and nations.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. number“doom”you. Alluding to the “number,” as Meni (Isa65:11) means. Retribution in kind, the punishment answering tothe sin (compare 2Ch36:14-17).
I called, ye . . . notanswer“I called,” though “none had called”upon Me (Isa 64:7); yet eventhen none “answered” (Pr1:24). Contrast with this God and His people’s mutual fellowshipin prayer (Isa 65:24).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore will I number you to the sword,…. There is an elegancy in the expression, alluding to Meni, that number, they furnished a drink offering for, or trusted in; and since they did, God would number them, or appoint a number of them to the sword; or suffer them to be slain in great numbers, even from one end of their land to another, Jer 12:12, they should be numbered and told out, or care taken that none of them should escape the sword of the Romans, or not be taken by them:
and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; be obliged to submit to the conqueror, and lay down their necks to be sacrificed by him:
because, when I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear; when Christ called unto them personally, to come and hear him, they turned a deaf ear to this charmer, charming so wisely, and would not attend upon his ministry, Pr 1:24, and when he called to them in the ministry of his apostles, they rejected him and his word with contempt; they put it away from them, contradicting and blaspheming it, Ac 13:45. The Targum is,
“because I sent my prophets, and ye turned not; they prophesied, and ye did not receive them:”
but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not; adhered to the traditions of the elders, and taught for doctrines the commandments of men; and which they chose and preferred to the word of God, and the Gospel of Christ; and these were things the Lord delighted not in, yea, abhorred; and their embracing and cleaving to them were evil in his sight; see Mt 15:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. Therefore I will number you to the sword. He alludes to the number of the gods; and the Lord declares that he will easily ascertain how numerous they are, for he “will number them to the sword.” And hence we see that the Prophet, in the preceding verse, does not speak of the two planets, Jupiter and Mercury, as some think, but means that they were not satisfied with one God, and collected for themselves various idols. It is an idle conjecture that the word מני ( meni) denotes Mercury, because מנה ( manah) signifies “to number,” and Mercury presided over numbers and merchants. (210) The design of the Prophet is manifest, who declares that the people “shall be numbered to the sword,” because they delighted in a vast number of gods, and did not choose to rely on one God.
Because I called, and ye did not answer. He heightens the extent and heinousness of that treason, by saying that the Jews sinned through deliberate malice, and on purpose, rather than through ignorance. They had been often instructed and warned, but had disdainfully rejected all warnings, and consequently were far less excusable than others, to whom no prophets were sent; for although ignorance cannot be pleaded as an excuse by any man, yet much less can it be pleaded by the Jews and those to whom the word of God is proclaimed, and who, on that account, will be condemned and punished more severely than others.
I spake, and ye did not hear. He describes the manner of calling, namely, that he exhorted the people by the prophets; for by the word “speak” he twice repeats the same thing, as we have already stated to be the custom of Hebrew writers. To “hear” the Lord is to obey his word; for it would be a trivial matter to lend our ears, if we did not submit to the word; and it would then be with us as the proverb says, “They listen with the ears of an ass.” (211) God wishes to be heard sincerely, and does not approve of a pretended hearing; and he shews how it came that they rejected the calling. It was because they shut their ears to the doctrine of the prophets; for the beginning of obedience is to bring a desire to learn.
And ye did evil before mine eyes. The phrase, “before mine eyes,” is of the same import as “to my face;” a mode of expression which he made use of a little before. (Verse 3.) All men, indeed, sin “before the eyes” of the Lord, and none can withdraw from his presence. But in a peculiar sense we are said to sin “before his eyes,” when, having been called by him, we do not dread his presence; for he approaches nearer to those whom he calls by the prophets, and, so to speak, exhibits himself as present to them. Far more detestable, therefore, and worthy of severe chastisements, is the impiety of those who, laying aside all shame, despise and scorn God when he draws near to call and invite them.
And chose the things in which I took no pleasure. From this concluding clause of the verse it is evident that they are condemned, not for gross crimes, but for foolish devotions, by which they corrupted the worship of God. Although they zealously devoted themselves to sacrifices contrived by themselves, because they thought that in this way they would become entitled to the favor of God; yet he declares that he abhors their wicked practices. It is not permitted that any person shall have a free choice to follow whatever he thinks fit, but all must observe what God approves, and must not turn aside from it in any way whatever. Now we see that it was not a fault peculiar to a single age that men should follow their own caprice in the worship of God, and should adore their own inventions instead of God; but whatever “pleasure” men “take in these things,” the Lord solemnly declares that he condemns and abhors them.
(210) “ Et que Mercure estoit le dieu des marchans qui out leurs livres de contes.” “And because Mercury was the god of merchants, who have their account-books.”
(211) “ Comme aux asnes qui font signe d’oreilles.” “As with asses that make a show of ears.” Greek proverbs of the same kind are still more abundant. ́̓Ονῳ τὶς ἔλεγε μῦθον· ὁ δὲ τὰ ὦτα ἐκίνει “One told a story to an ass, and he pricked up his ears.” ́̓Ονος λύρας ἀκοῦων κίνει τὰ ὦτα “An ass, listening to a lyre, pricks up his ears.” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
DISCOURSE: 1020
DANGER OF DISREGARDING GOD
Isa 65:12-14. Because when I called, ye did not answer; when T spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not; therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
IN every age, and every place, God is the same: he is the Governor of the universe, and expects obedience from all his creatures, and will deal with them in a way of approbation or displeasure, according as they conduct themselves towards him. Whatever his people do, either in a way of obedience or of disobedience, he will notice it, in Order to a suitable retribution; taking into the account every thing which, on the one hand, may either extenuate or aggravate the guilt of the disobedient, or, on the other hand, enhance or detract from the services of the obedient. This is evident in the passage before us, where he specifies his own unwearied kindness to his people as greatly aggravating the guilt of their neglect, and as forming a ground for his executing the heavier judgments upon them.
Let us consider,
I.
The evil laid to their charge
This was indeed heinous beyond measure: for, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of successive prophets whom God sent to warn them of their guilt, they forsook the Lord, and forgot his holy mountain, where they ought to have worshipped him: and offered sacrifices to a whole troop of worthless idols. In this respect we, through mercy, stand on higher ground than they. Yet, though free from gross idolatry, we have acted altogether on the same rebellious principle as they, in that,
1.
We have followed, every one of us, our own evil ways
[We have not all acted in precisely the same way; some have run into the grosser sins of drunkenness and uncleanness, whilst others have been more decorous in their habits of life: but we have all neglected to choose the things wherein God did delight, and have chosen the things wherein he delighted not. To fear him, to love him, to serve him, to glorify him, these are the things which God would have approved: but how far have they been from being the objects of our choice! A life of carelessness and indifference, of worldliness and vanity, and of an idolatrous attachment to the things of time and sense, this is hateful in the sight of God: and this has been our habit from our youth up even until now ]
This we have done notwithstanding Gods incessant endeavours to reclaim us
[How constantly has he spoken to us in his blessed word! With what warnings, and invitations, and promises, and expostulations has he followed us all our days! How often has he spoken to us in his providential dealings, and how often by his Holy Spirit in our own consciences! yet all in vain: we have turned a deaf ear to every admonition; we have pulled away the shoulder; we have refused to return Our Lord may well complain of us, How often would I have gathered you, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!
Now all this has greatly aggravated our guilt. As our blessed Lord said of the Jews, If I had not come unto them and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin, so it may be said of us: indeed of us it may be said in a peculiar manner, because of the plainness and fidelity with which the whole counsel of God has been for so many years declared unto you: verily we have in that respect been distinguished as Capernaum of old; and may expect to be distinguished also like that city in our punishment, if we continue to abuse the privileges with which we are so highly favoured.]
From the evil which they committed, we proceed to notice,
II.
The judgments denounced against them
Under the Jewish dispensation, the commands of God were enforced with temporal rewards and punishments: but to us he holds forth rather such as are spiritual and eternal. Certain it is that God will put a difference between those who serve him, and those who serve him not.
He will do it in this world
[The servants of God, as to external things, may be, and for the most part are, in a state inferior to others: nevertheless they have in reality an infinitely bettor portion than the greatest or happiest of Gods enemies. The very blessings of his enemies are cursed to them, so that in the midst of their sufficiency they are in straits: but the Lords people have even their afflictions sanctified to them, so that they are enabled to glory in their tribulations, and to take pleasure in their distresses. They have meat to eat which the world knows not of: and so refreshing are their draughts from the Fountain of living waters, that they never thirst again for the polluted streams which this world affords. Their minds are tranquil and at ease, whilst the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest; they live in higher regions, where the storms and tempests of this lower world can scarcely reach; and enjoy in the light of Gods countenance a very foretaste of heaven itself ]
He will do it in the world to come
[O! who can conceive how different from that of the ungodly will be the lot of Gods servants there? The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus will serve to give us some idea of it. Here the Rich Mans state appeared to have in it all that was desirable, whilst the destitution of Lazarus was extreme: but how different their condition there! the one banqueting at the table of his Lord, and drinking of the rivers of pleasure which are at Gods right hand; the other wanting a drop of water to cool his tongue! the one exalted in glory on his Saviours throne, and filled with a complete fruition of his God; the other weeping and wailing, and gnashing his teeth, in anguish, which no words can utter, no imagination can conceive! Verily the words of my text will then have their full accomplishment; and then shall every soul understand what is comprehended in this sentence, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.]
Address
1.
Those who disregard the warnings of their God
[What excuse have you for this rebellious conduct? Is there any thing unreasonable in his commands? Is he not worthy to be feared, and loved, and served, and honoured? and would not your own happiness be promoted by conforming to his will? Or have you any doubt whether there be a day of future retribution, when he will give to every man according to his works? You cannot doubt of this. Why then will you not lay to heart the warnings and the exhortations which he sends to you from time to time? I pray you think of the judgments here denounced against those who are disobedient to his word; and flee, whilst yet ye may flee, to the refuge that is set before you ]
2.
Those who obey him in spirit and in truth
[We cannot but observe with what peculiar delight God contemplates the happiness of his obedient servants. No less than four times does he repeat the words, Behold, my servants; as though he had said, These are the people whom I delight to honour; and the whole universe shall see, that they are above all others the blessed of the Lord. To you then I say, think of the blessings which are here accorded to you; and labour night and day to secure them. In particular, consult the sacred records, and see what those things are in which your God delights. Does he delight to honour his only dear Son? Let your whole soul engage in this blessed work, looking to him for all that you want, receiving every thing out of his fulness, and devoting yourselves in body, soul, and spirit, to his service. Does God delight in holiness? Seek it in its utmost heights, that ye may be holy as he is holy, and perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose [that] wherein I delighted not.
Ver. 12. Therefore I will number you to the sword. ] Est elegans paronomasia: I will give you up to the sword by number and tale, to the end that none of you may escape. God usually retaliateth, and proportioneth number to number. So, choice to choice; Isa 66:3-4 jealousy to jealousy, provocation to provocation; Deu 32:21 device to device; Mic 2:1 ; Mic 2:3 frowardness to frowardness. Psa 18:26
And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter.
Because when I called, ye did not answer.
But did evil before mine eyes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
number = destroy. Hebrew. manithi. Figure of speech Paronomasia, with the name of the god, Meni.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
will I: Isa 3:25, Isa 10:4, Lev 26:25, Deu 32:25, Jer 18:21, Jer 34:17, Eze 14:17-21, Zep 1:4-6, Mat 22:7
because: Isa 50:2, Isa 66:4, 2Ch 36:15, 2Ch 36:16, Pro 1:24-33, Jer 7:13, Zec 7:7, Zec 7:11-13, Mat 21:34-43, Mat 22:3, Joh 1:11
did evil: Isa 65:3, Isa 1:16, Jer 16:17
and did: Isa 66:3, Isa 66:4, Pro 1:29
Reciprocal: Jos 24:20 – he will turn Isa 29:17 – Lebanon Isa 65:15 – the Lord Isa 66:14 – the hand Jer 7:27 – also Jer 35:17 – because Zec 13:8 – two Mat 24:21 – General Mar 13:19 – in those Luk 21:22 – all Rom 11:10 – and bow
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 65:12. Therefore will I number you to the sword Here the allusion to meni, which signifies number, is obvious. And you shall all bow down to the slaughter As you have bowed down to idols, which are my enemies, I will make you bow down to your enemies swords; because when I called Namely, by my prophets, you did not answer by doing the things that I enjoined. But did evil before mine eyes You sinned deliberately, choosing sinful courses, the things which I hated. It must be observed here, that though the Jews, in the time of Christ and his apostles, (the period, it seems, referred to,) were not guilty of such idolatries as those above mentioned, yet, as they manifested the same spirit of rebellion, perverseness, and enmity to God, he therefore threatens that he would number them to the sword, as criminals ordered for execution, which he accordingly did, sending the Roman armies to desolate their country, lay their cities level with the ground, and almost extirpate their whole nation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
65:12 Therefore will I {p} number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I {q} spoke, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose [that] in which I delighted not.
(p) Seeing you cannot number your gods, I will number you with the sword.
(q) By my prophets, whom you would not obey.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
These Israelite hypocrites would be the objects of His judgment because when He had called, they had not responded with obedience (cf. Isa 64:12). Far from controlling their own fortune and destiny, Yahweh would control it. They had chosen the things in which the Lord did not delight-they had rebelled-so He would bring discipline on them (cf. Mat 22:7; Mat 23:37; Luk 19:27; Act 13:46).