Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 59

Verse 2

Iniquities. The history of Susanna shews that the captives were not all free from sin, which alone prevented their liberation, Lamentations iii. 44. (Calmet) [Daniel xiii.] --- God is willing and able to save. He punishes for sin, to cause us to repent, ver. 20. (Worthington)

Verse 4

Justice. They arraign unjustly. None call upon the just God, but trust in idols. --- Iniquity. They kill themselves, while they strive to injure others, Psalm vii. 15., and Micheas ii. 1.

Verse 5

Basilisk, or viper. (Calmet) --- The young ones "burst through the viper’s sides." (Pliny, [Natural History?] x. 62.) --- So the works of the wicked are useless or destructive.

Verse 8

Peace, or prosperity. They quarrel with all, and ruin themselves, Psalm xiii.

Verse 9

Therefore. The wicked Jews nevertheless confess that their sins prove their destruction.

Verse 10

Dead. The Jews will not recognize Christ, notwithstanding the prophecies and miracles.

Verse 11

Judgment, that God would avenge us, (ver. 9.) and regard our fasts, chap. lviii. 3.

Verse 14

CHAPTER LIX.

In. Where truth is disregarded, there can be no justice.

Verse 16

Himself, to arrest his arm, stretched out to chastise his son; or to second him. There is nothing in man to stop God’s vengeance. He therefore pardons out of his own goodness, chap. lix. 2., and lxiii. 4. (Calmet) --- He became man to redeem us, as no pure mortal could do it. (Worthington)

Verse 17

Justice. None can blame his conduct.

Verse 19

On. Hebrew, "is standard-bearer." (Aquila) (St. Jerome) --- Cyrus, the figurative redeemer, proceeds rapidly.

Verse 20

To Sion. Septuagint, "from Sion, and will turn away iniquity from Jacob. (21.) And this," &c. (Haydock) --- St. Paul hence proves that the Jews will at last be converted, Romans xi. 26. The return of the captives prefigured this event. (Calmet)

Verse 21

Covenant. Note here a clear promise of perpetual orthodoxy to the Church of Christ. (Challoner) --- She hath still the spirit of truth. (Worthington) (Matthew xxviii. 20.) --- None will apply this to the synagogue, which is visibly in the dark, and abandoned. (Calmet)