Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. The righteous perisheth-dba qdxh hatstsadik abad. There is an emphasis here which seems intended to point out a particular person. See below. Perisheth-As the root dba abad signifies the straying of cattle, their passing away from one pasture to another, I feel inclined to follow the grammatical meaning of the word "perish, "pereo. So the Vulpate, justus periit, from per, BY or THROUGH, and eo, to GO. In his death the righteous man may be said to have passed through life, and to have passed by men, i.e., gone or passed before them into the eternal world. A similar mode of speech is used by our Saxon ancestors to express death: , he went out of sight; and [A.S.], he went away; and [A.S.], to fare forth, to die.
There are very few places in Isaiah where Jesus Christ is not intended; and I am inclined to think that He is intended here, THAT Just One; and perhaps Stephen had this place in view, when he thus charged the Jews, "Ye denied ton agion kai dikaion, that HOLY and JUST One, "Acts iii. 14. That his death was not laid to heart by the wicked Jewish people, needs no proof.
Merciful men] If the first refers to Christ, this may well refer to the apostles. and to others of the primitive Christians, who were taken away, some by death and martyrdom, and others by a providential escape from the city that they knew was devoted to destruction.
The evil to come.] That destruction which was to come upon this disobedient people by the Romans.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- A charge to keep the Divine precepts. (Is. 56:1,2) Blessings promised (Is. 56:3-8) Reproof to the careless watchmen, the teachers and ruler of the Jews. (Is. 56:9-12)
Is. 56:1,2 The Lord tells us what are his expectations of duty from us Be honest and just in all dealings. Also strictly observe the sabbat day. To have the blessing of God upon employments all the week, make conscience of keeping the sabbath holy. Have nothing to do with sin Blessed is the man that keeps his hand from all things displeasing to God and hurtful to his own soul. Those who, through the Spirit, wai for the hope of righteousness by faith, will be found walking in way of holy obedience.
Is. 56:3-8 Unbelief often suggests things to discourage believers against which God has expressly guarded. Spiritual blessings ar unspeakably better than having sons and daughters; for children are care, and may prove a grief and shame, but the blessings we partake of in God's house, are comforts which cannot be made bitter. Those wh love the Lord truly, will serve him faithfully, and then his commandments are not grievous. Three things are promised. Assistance: will not only bid them welcome, but incline them to come. Acceptance and comfort: though they came mourning to the house of prayer, the shall go away rejoicing. They shall find ease by casting their care and burdens upon God. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer. The Gentiles shall be one body with the Jews that, as Christ says, John 10:16, there may be one fold and on Shepherd. Thanks be to God that none are separated from him except be wilful sin and unbelief; and if we come to him, we shall be accepte through the sacrifice of our great High Priest.
Is. 56:9-12 Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuk of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to othe ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to sen us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, tha we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily adde to the church _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew הצדיק6662 אבד6 ואין369 אישׁ376 שׂם7760 על5921 לב3820 ואנשׁי376 חסד2617 נאספים622 באין369 מבין995 כי3588 מפני6440 הרעה7451 נאסף622 הצדיק׃6662
