They held him to be the highest and greatest of the gods, and to be the same with Jupiter and the sun; and the name Adad, says Macrobius, signifies one; as likewise does the word Achad in Isaiah. Many learned men therefore have supposed, and with some probability, that the prophet means the same pretended deity. dja achad, in the Syrian and Chaldean dialects, is dj chad; and perhaps by reduplication of the last letter to express perfect unity, it may have become ddj chadad, not improperly expressed by Macrobius Adad, without the aspirate. It was also pronounced by the Syrians themselves, with a weaker aspirate, ddh hadad, as in Benhadad, Hadadezer, names of their kings, which were certainly taken from their chief object of worship. This seems to me to be a probable account of this name.

But the Masoretes correct the text in this place. Their marginal reading is tja achath which is the same word, only in the feminine form; and so read thirty MSS. (six ancient) and the two oldest editions. This Le Clerc approves, and supposes it to mean Hecate, or the moon; and he supports his hypothesis by arguments not at all improbable. See his note on the place.

Whatever the particular mode of idolatry which the prophet refers to might be, the general sense of the place is perfectly clear. But the Chaldee and Syriac, and after them Symmachus and Theodotion, cut off at once all these difficulties, by taking the word dja achad in its common meaning, not as a proper name; the two latter rendering the sentence thus: opisw allhlwn en mesw esqiontwn to kreav to coireion; "One after another, in the midst of those that eat swine's flesh. " I suppose they all read in their copies dja dja achad achad, one by one, or perhaps dja rja dja achad achar achad, one after another. See a large dissertation on this subject in Davidis Millii Dissertationes Selectae, Dissert. vi. - L.

I know not what to make of this place; it is certain that our translation makes no sense, and that of the learned prelate seems to me too refined.

Kimchi interprets this of the Turks, who are remarkable for ablutions.

"Behind one in the midst " he understands of a large fish- pond placed in the middle of their gardens. Others make dja achad a deity, as above; and a deity of various names it is supposed to be, for it is Achad, and Chad, and Hadad, and Achath, and Hecat, an Assyrian idol. Behynd the fyrst tree or the gate withine forth. - Old MS. Bible.

Is. 66:1-4 The Jews gloried much in their temple. But what satisfactio can the Eternal Mind take in a house made with men's hands? God has heaven and an earth of his own making, and temples of man's making; but he overlooks them, that he may look with favour to him who is poor in spirit and serious, self-abasing and self-denying; whose heart trul sorrows for sin: such a heart is a living temple for God. The sacrific of the wicked is not only unacceptable, but a great offence to God. An he that now offers a sacrifice after the law, does in effect set asid Christ's sacrifice. He that burns incense, puts contempt upon the incense of Christ's intercession, and is as if he blessed an idol. Me shall be deceived by the vain confidences with which they deceiv themselves. Unbelieving hearts, and unpurified consciences, need n more to make them miserable, than to have their own fears brought upo them. Whatever men put in the place of the priesthood, atonement, an intercession of Christ, will be found hateful to God.

Is. 66:5-14 The prophet turns to those that trembled at God's word, to comfort and encourage them. The Lord will appear, to the joy of the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and persecutors When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth from Zion multitudes were converted in a little time. The word of God, especiall his promises, and ordinances, are the consolations of the church. The true happiness of all Christians is increased by every convert brough to Christ. The gospel brings with it, wherever it is received in it power, such a river of peace, as will carry us to the ocean of boundless and endless bliss. Divine comforts reach the inward man; the joy of the Lord will be the strength of the believer. Both God's merc and justice shall be manifested, and for ever magnified.

Is. 66:15-24 A prophetic declaration is given of the Lord's vengeanc on all enemies of his church, especially that of all antichristia opposers of the gospel in the latter days. Is. 66:19,20, set forth the abundance of means for conversion of sinners. These expressions ar figurative, and express the plentiful and gracious helps for bringin God's elect home to Christ. All shall be welcome; and nothing shall be wanting for their assistance and encouragement. A gospel ministry shal be set up in the church; they would have solemn worship before the Lord. In the last verse the nature of the punishment of sinners in the world to come is represented. Then shall the righteous and wicked be separated. Our Saviour applies this to the everlasting misery an torment of impenitent sinners in the future state. To the honour of that free grace which thus distinguishes them, let the redeemed of the Lord, with humility, and not without holy trembling, sing triumphan songs. With this affecting representation of the opposite states of the righteous and wicked, characters which include the whole human race Isaiah concludes his prophecies. May God grant, for Christ's sake, tha our portion may be with those who fear and love his name, who cleave to his truths, and persevere in every good work, looking to receive from the Lord Jesus Christ the gracious invitation, Come, ye blessed of m Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew