Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 47:6
I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
6. Jehovah speaks, charging Babylon with pitiless inhumanity towards His people when they were delivered to her for chastisement (for the thought cf. Zec 1:15).
I was wroth with my people ] Cf. Isa 54:9, Isa 57:16 f., Isa 64:5; Isa 64:9.
I have polluted (R.V. I profaned) mine inheritance ] Cf. Isa 43:28. “Profane” is the opposite of “holy;” as “holy to Jehovah” Israel was inviolable (Jer 2:3), but when this relation ceased she passed under the power of the heathen.
upon the ancient ] Better, as R.V.: upon the aged. Although the word is sing., there can be no doubt that it is used literally of the old men on whom the hardships of captivity fell most heavily (cf. Lam 4:16; Lam 5:12). The idea that Israel as a nation is meant is not to be entertained (see on ch. Isa 46:4). We have little knowledge of the circumstances of the Israelites in exile, but there is nothing improbable in the supposition that some of them were put to forced labour, and that cases of exceptional barbarity may have occurred.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I was worth with my people – In this verse and the following, a reason is assigned why God would deal so severely with her. One of the reasons was, that in executing the punishment which he had designed on the Jewish people, she had done it with pride, ambition, and severity; so that though God intended they should be punished, yet the feelings of Babylon in doing it, were such also as to deserve his decided rebuke and wrath.
I have polluted mine inheritance – Jerusalem and the land of Judea see the notes at Isa 43:28). He had stripped it of its glory; caused the temple and city to be destroyed; and spread desolation over the land. Though it had been done by the Chaldeans, yet it had been in accordance with his purpose, and under his direction Deu 4:20; Psa 28:9.
Thou didst show them no mercy – Though God had given up his people to be punished for their sins, yet this did not justify the spirit with which the Chaldeans had done it, or make proper the cruelty which they had evinced toward them. It is true that some of the Jewish captives, as, e. g., Daniel, were honored and favored in Babylon. It is not improbable that the circumstances of many of them were comparatively easy while there, and that they acquired possessions and formed attachments there which made them unwilling to leave that land when Cyrus permitted them to return to their own country. But it is also true, that Nebuchadnezzar showed them no compassion when he destroyed the temple and city, that the mass of them were treated with great indignity and cruelty in Babylon. See Psa 137:1-3, where they pathetically and beautifully record their sufferings:
By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down,
Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song;
And they that wasted us rcquired of us mirth.
Saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
Thus also Jeremiah Jer 1:17 describes the cruelty of their conquerors: Israel is a scattered sheep – the lions have driven him away; this Nebuchadnezzar hath broken his bones (see also 2Ki 25:5, 2Ki 25:6, 2Ki 25:27; Jer 51:34; Lam 4:16; Lam 5:11-14).
Upon the ancient – That is, upon the old man. The idea is, that they had oppressed, and reduced to hard servitude, those who were venerable by years, and by experience. To treat the aged with veneration is everywhere in the Scriptures regarded as an important and sacred duty Lev 19:32; Job 32:4-6; and to disregard age, and pour contempt on hoary hairs, is everywhere spoken of as a crime of an aggravated nature (compare 2Ki 2:23-25; Pro 30:17). That the Chaldeans had thus disregarded age and rank, is a frequent subject of complaint among the sacred writers:
They respected not the persons of the priests,
They favored not the elders.
Lam 4:16
Princes are hanged up by their hand.
The faces of eiders were not honored.
Lam 5:12
Laid the yoke – The yoke in the Bible is an emblem of slavery or bondage Lev 26:13; Deu 28:48; of afflictions and crosses Lam 3:27; of punishment for sin Lam 1:14; of Gods commandments Mat 11:29-30. Here it refers to the bondage and affliction which they experienced in Babylon.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. I was wroth with my people] God, in the course of his providence, makes use of great conquerors and tyrants as his instruments to execute his judgments in the earth; he employs one wicked nation to scourge another. The inflicter of the punishment may perhaps be as culpable as the sufferer; and may add to his guilt by indulging his cruelty in executing God’s justice. When he has fulfilled the work to which the Divine vengeance has ordained him, he will become himself the object of it; see Isa 10:5-12. God charges the Babylonians, though employed by himself to chastise his people, with cruelty in regard to them. They exceeded the bounds of justice and humanity in oppressing and destroying them; and though they were really executing the righteous decree of God, yet, as far as it regarded themselves, they were only indulging their own ambition and violence. The Prophet Zechariah sets this matter in the same light: “I was but a little angry and they helped forward the affliction;” Zec 1:15. – L.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have polluted mine inheritance; I cast them away as an unclean thing; I stained their glory; I removed them from the Holy Land, and from the place of my presence and worship, which alone made them a holy and peculiar people; I banished them into a polluted land, amongst uncircumcised and unclean persons, by whom they were many ways defiled; I rejected them from being my people, and so were in my sight no better than the rest of the heathen nations.
Given them into thine hand, to punish them, and deal with them as thou sawest fit.
Thou didst show them no mercy; thou hast exceeded the bounds of thy commission, and instead of that compassion which humanity teacheth men to show to such as are in misery, thou didst add to their afflictions.
Upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid the yoke; who besides their common calamity were afflicted with the miseries of old age, and therefore did require both pity and reverence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. reason for God’s vengeance onBabylon: in executing God’s will against His people, she had done sowith wanton cruelty (Isa 10:5;Jer 50:17; Jer 51:33;Zec 1:15).
polluted my inheritance(Isa 43:28).
the ancientEven oldage was disregarded by the Chaldeans, who treated all alike withcruelty (Lam 4:16; Lam 5:12)[ROSENMULLER]. Or, “theancient” means Israel, worn out with calamities in the latterperiod of its history (Isa 46:4),as its earlier stage of history is called its “youth”(Isa 54:6; Eze 16:60).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I was wroth with my people,…. The people of Israel, for their sins and transgressions, particularly their idolatries. Here begin the reasons and causes of the destruction of Babylon, and the first mentioned is their cruelty to the people of God; for though he was angry with them himself, yet he resented their being ill used by them:
I have polluted mine inheritance; the Jews, who, as they were his people, were his portion and inheritance, as he was theirs: these he is said to pollute, by suffering the Heathen to enter into the land, and defile their city and sanctuary, and carry them captive into an unclean and idolatrous country:
and given them into thine hand; to correct and chastise, but in measure, not to kill and destroy:
whereas thou didst show them no mercy; used them very cruelly, and exceeded the commission given:
upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke; whose age should have commanded reverence and respect, and whose weakness and infirmities called for compassion; but nothing of this kind was shown; they were not spared because of age, but had insupportable burdens laid upon them; and if not they, then much less young men; see La 5:12.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. I was angry with my people. This is an anticipation, by which he forewarns the Jews, as he has often done formerly, that the distressing condition of captivity was a scourge which God had inflicted; because, if it had proceeded from any other, there was no remedy in the hand of God. In order, therefore, that they might be convinced that he who had struck them would heal their wounds, he bids them attribute it to their sins that they were so terribly oppressed. Yet he exhorts them to cherish favorable expectation, because God intends to set a limit to the chastisement; and he even mentions this as the reason why the Babylonians shall be destroyed, that God, who is the just avenger of savageness and cruelty, will much more avenge the injuries done to his people.
Thou didst not shew compassion to them. In the former clause he calls the Jews to repentance, because by their own crimes they drew down upon themselves so many calamities. Next, he accuses the Babylonians of having seized this occasion for exercising cruelty, just as if one were to become the executioner of a child whom a father had put into his hands to be chastised. Hence it follows that the Babylonians have no right to be proud, as if by their own power they had subdued the Jews and carried them into captivity; but, on the contrary, because they have wickedly abused the victory and cruelly treated the captives, he will justly punish them.
I profaned my heritage. When he says that he “was angry,” and that this was the reason why he “profaned his heritage,” let us not imagine that he had changed his purpose, and was offended so far as to cast away the care of his people and the remembrance of his covenant. This is evident both from the event itself and from his deigning still to call them “his people,” though the greater part of them were estranged from him, and though he had the best reasons for “profaning” them. But he has respect to his covenant when he speaks in this manner; for he looks at their source and foundation, that they who were the descendants of Abraham may be accounted the people of God, though very few of them actually belonged to him, and almost all boasted of an empty title.
Thus the word amger, in Scripture, must not be supposed to refer to any emotion in God, who desires the salvation of his people, but to ourselves, who provoke him by our transgressions; for he has just cause to be angry, though he does not cease to love us. Accordingly, while he “profanes” his Church, that is, abandons her, and gives her up as a prey to her enemies, still the elect do not perish, and his eternal covenant is not broken. And yet, in the midst of anger, the Lord remembers his mercy, and mitigates the strokes by which he punishes his people, and at length even inflicts punishment on those by whom his people have been cruelly treated. Consequently, if for a time the Lord “profanes” his Church, if she is cruelly oppressed by tyrants, let us not lose courage, but betake ourselves to this promise, “He who avenged this barbarous cruelty of the Babylonians will not less avenge the savageness of those tyrants.”
It ought also to be carefully observed that no one should abuse victory so as to be cruel to captives, which we know is often done; for men, when they see that they are stronger, lay aside all humanity, and are changed into wild beasts, and spare neither age nor sex, and altogether forget their condition. After having abused their power, they shall not at length pass unpunished; for
“
judgment without mercy shall be experienced by those who shewed no mercy.” (Jas 2:13.)
But it is asked, “How could the Babylonians go beyond the limit which God had assigned to them, as if their lawless passions were laid under no restraint?” And what will become of that promise,
“
Not a hair shall fall from your head without the appointment of your Father?” (Luk 21:18.)
The answer is easy. Though it was not in their power actually to go beyond the limit, yet he looked at their cruelty, because they endearvored utterly to ruin unhappy persons who had surrendered at discretion. Thus Zechariah complains of the unbridled rage of the Gentiles, because, when “he was angry with his people for a little,” they rushed forward with violent fury to destroy them. (Zec 1:15.)
On the old man. He states an aggravation of their guilt, that they did not spare even “the old men,” for whom age naturally procures reverence; and hence he draws an inference, how savage was their cruelty towards armed foes.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) I was wroth with my people . . .The sin of Babylon was that she had gone beyond her commission as the chastiser of Israel, casting off all reverence for age, and making even the old men do the hard tasks of bond-slaves (Lam. 4:16; Lam. 5:12). (Comp. Zec. 1:15.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. I was wroth with my people Angry with his people, Jehovah suffered them to be treated as polluted. I
polluted mine inheritance
And given them into thine hand Into the hand of the Chaldeans or Babylonians, who showed them no mercy. See 2Ch 36:17.
Upon the ancient Meaning the aged ones of Israel, a class of persons for whose welfare Jehovah had usually tenderly cared.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“I was angry with my people,
I profaned my inheritance and gave them into your hand.
You showed them no mercy.
You have very heavily laid your yoke on the aged.’”
At certain stages Babylon fronted for Assyria in oppressing God’s people. It was to Babylon that Manasseh was taken in chains. But that was only the outward manifestation of an oppression that had been going on for years. And in Isa 39:6-7 Isaiah had demonstrated that Judah and Jerusalem were to be invaded by Babylon and stripped of their wealth because Hezekiah had been unable to resist showing it off. To God it was as though that also had already happened. But as ever with invaders they would overplay their hand and exact more than was reasonable. They would make the heaviest of demands extracting heavy tribute, and also possibly forced labour, from the old. The old were one of the classes for which God had a special care, and He expected the same attitude from others. ‘The aged’ may, however, represent the distinguished leaders. This particular form of inhumanity is blamed on the Babylonians by Jeremiah twice in Lam 4:16; Lam 5:12, and in both cases he connects the word with a parallel term denoting rank or office, viz. priests and princes.
It should again be noted that there is no reference to the exile of the large numbers of citizens that did in fact take place, indicating that this was written before the event.
‘I was angry with my people.’ That is He felt it necessary to punish their sins as they deserved. ‘I profaned my inheritance.’ He allowed unclean Babylon to invade the land that was His inheritance. His own people had rendered it unclean, so He magnified its uncleanness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Isa 47:6. I was wroth with my people The metaphor in this verse is taken from a father, who being angry with his children delivers them up to chastisement; but his anger soon subsiding, and his affection reviving, he turns his indignation against those who had executed his commands, in such a manner as to punish them immoderately and severely. The cruelty of the Babylonians is expressed by the strongest term, namely, their oppression of the ancient, the old and feeble, whose venerable grey hairs should be their sufficient protection.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I pray the Reader to remark, with me, how graciously the Lord speaks, even when describing the degeneracy of his people. Though they had rebelled, and though the Lord was wroth with them, yet he calls them still his people. Precious thought! The Apostle Paul makes a blessed observation upon it, Rom 11:1-2 ; and the Prophet Isaiah hath another, which, shows the Lord’s care over his people, even when in their captive state; for though outcasts, yet were they still the Lord’s outcasts; Isa 16:4 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
Ver. 6. I was wroth. ] See on Zec 1:15 .
I have polluted mine inheritance.
Thou didst show them no mercy.
Upon the ancient.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
no mercy. Compare 2Ki 25:5, 2Ki 25:6, 2Ki 25:26. Jer 50:17, &c.
ancient = elder. Compare Lam 4:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
wroth: Isa 10:6, Isa 42:24, Isa 42:25, 2Sa 24:14, 2Ch 28:9, Psa 69:26, Zec 1:15
I have polluted: Isa 43:28, Lam 2:2, Eze 24:21, Eze 28:16
thou didst: Isa 13:16, Isa 14:17, Oba 1:10, Oba 1:16, Mat 7:2, Jam 2:13
upon: Deu 28:50
Reciprocal: Lev 25:43 – rule Deu 28:48 – a yoke Deu 29:25 – Because Jos 9:25 – we are 1Ki 12:10 – My little finger 1Ch 21:13 – but let me 2Ch 10:4 – Thy father 2Ch 10:11 – I will put Psa 79:1 – into Isa 9:4 – For thou hast broken Isa 14:6 – who smote Isa 21:2 – all the Isa 52:5 – make Isa 54:8 – a little Isa 58:3 – labours Jer 2:3 – all that Jer 10:16 – Israel Jer 21:7 – he shall Jer 30:16 – General Jer 50:7 – We offend Jer 50:11 – ye destroyers Jer 50:17 – this Jer 50:33 – and all Jer 50:42 – they are cruel Jer 51:24 – General Jer 51:36 – I will plead Lam 1:14 – yoke Lam 5:12 – General Eze 22:16 – take thine inheritance in thyself Hab 2:8 – the violence Eph 6:9 – ye 1Ti 6:1 – servants
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
47:6 I was angry with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and given them into thy hand: thou didst show them no {h} mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
(h) They abused God’s judgments, thinking that he punished the Israelites, because he would completely cast them off, and therefore instead of pitying their misery, you increased it.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Babylon had not been kind to the Israelites whom Yahweh had handed over to her. She had not really conquered Judah; God had given the Judahites over to the Babylonians. The Babylonians had been unmerciful toward the Israelites and had made life hard even for their elderly, those who deserved mercy simply because of their age. The Babylonians were not as hard on the Israelites as the Egyptians and the Assyrians had been. It was their arrogance more than their physical cruelty that made them unmerciful.