Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Isaiah 66:17 - 66:17
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
That the Jews might not think that the judgments threatened concerned only the heathen, he tells them they concerned them, the idol worshippers amongst them; and not idolaters only, but such as broke his laws about meats, which he had prohibited them to eat. Those that sanctified and purified themselves in gardens, gardens in which they worshipped idols, Isa_1:29 65:3,4 1Ki_14:23 15:13: the word translated gardens signifieth such as were thick planted with trees, and had groves in them, where they set their idols, 1Ki_15:13; hence the idol is called the grove, 2Ki_23:6; they had also in these gardens pools, where they washed themselves in a way of preparation for their idol worship, as the priest by God’s ordinance was to bathe himself, Num_19:7.
Behind one tree in the midst; behind one of the trees, or one by one behind the trees. Some think that Achar is here a proper name of an idol, behind which or behind whose temple these idolaters were wont to purify themselves. These gardens were places too as well for brutish lusts as idol worship, as may be learned from 1Ki_14:24 2Ki_23:7, and they by these washings thought to make themselves clean.
Eating swine’ s flesh, forbidden Lev_11:7 Deu_14:8.
And the abomination; either any abominable things, or all those beasts forbidden the Jews for meat, Lev_11:9,10, &c. Some think a particular abominable thing is here meant, and think it is the weasel, which, Lev_11:29, is joined with the mouse, which is here next mentioned. The word which we translate mouse being no where found but there, and here, and 1Sa_6:4,5,11,18, some think it is not that creature we call a mouse, (because a mouse is properly no creeping thing; but the word, Lev_11:29, signifieth a creeping thing,) they therefore think it rather signifieth some serpent. It is a matter of no great consequence. The sense is, that God would not only destroy the open and gross idolaters and superstitious persons, but all those also who had made no conscience of yielding obedience to the law of God in such things as seemed to them of a minute nature, and such as they easily might have yielded obedience to; he saith that they shall all perish together. In the day of judgment, the idolatrous pagan and papist, and the lewd anti disobedient protestant, shall fare alike. It will be a hard thing for a thinking soul to see how baptism, and a membership in the Christian church, should save men from God’s wrath, without holiness, more than circumcision and membership in the Jewish church.