כֹּה אָמַר ה' הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי וְהָאָרֶץ הֲדֹם רַגְלָי אֵי זֶה בַיִת אֲשֶׁר תִּבְנוּ לִי! וְאֵי זֶה מָקוֹם מְנוּחָתִי!

The prophet delivers additional rebuke and a description of the forthcoming retribution in the Messianic Era. So said the Lord: The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; accordingly, what house could you build for Me and what place could be My resting place? It should be impossible to construct a house for God, as King Solomon stated at the inauguration of the First Temple: “For will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You, certainly not this House that I have built.”

וְאֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה יָדִי עָשָׂתָה וַיִּהְיוּ כָל אֵלֶּה נְאֻם ה' וְאֶל זֶה אַבִּיט – אֶל עָנִי וּנְכֵה רוּחַ וְחָרֵד עַל דְּבָרִי

My hand made all these, the heavens and earth, My throne and footstool, and all these exist – the utterance of the Lord. Everything in the world was created by Me, while nothing can contain My presence. But even though everything is subject to Me, to this I will look, to the poor and the dispirited but fervent for My word. Some believe that they can bring joy to God by building Him grand palaces and other such superficial actions, but these are insignificant in His eyes. Rather, a destitute or dispirited person who nevertheless takes care to fulfill God’s word is precious to Him. Other commentaries explain that the purpose of the Temple and the redemption is not to serve a need of God’s. The redemption and rebuilding of the Temple will take place for Israel, a poor nation with a contrite spirit.

שׁוֹחֵט הַשּׁוֹר מַכֵּה אִישׁ זוֹבֵחַ הַשֶּׂה עֹרֵף כֶּלֶב מַעֲלֵה מִנְחָה דַּם חֲזִיר מַזְכִּיר לְבֹנָה מְבָרֵךְ אָוֶן גַּם הֵמָּה בָּחֲרוּ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם נַפְשָׁם חָפֵצָה

Unlike those who fulfill the word of God, one who slaughters an ox as an offering is considered in God’s eyes as though he smites a man; one who sacrifices a sheep is like one who beheads a dog, an act that provides no benefit and contains no aspect of sanctity. Likewise, one who presents a meal offering upon the altar, it is considered as though he offered the blood of a swine; one who burns frankincense is comparable to one who bestows iniquity. Those who bring these offerings, they too chose their evil ways, and their soul desires their detestable things. They think that their acts of worship exempt them from any other obligation. However, these acts are heinous in God’s eyes, not because there is any inherent shortcoming in the offerings themselves, but because after bringing the offerings those people continue along the same evil paths. Some commentaries interpret the entire passage as referring to the pagan nations.

גַּם אֲנִי אֶבְחַר בְּתַעֲלֻלֵיהֶם ומְגוּרֹתָם אָבִיא לָהֶם יַעַן קָרָאתִי – וְאֵין עוֹנֶה דִּבַּרְתִּי – וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הָרַע בְּעֵינַי וּבַאֲשֶׁר לֹא חָפַצְתִּי בָּחָרוּ

Therefore, I too will choose their exploits, I will focus on their inappropriate actions, and I will bring their fears upon them, because I called and none answered, I spoke and they did not hear and accept My statements. They performed evil in My eyes and chose that which I did not desire. I will punish those who spend their time on superficial matters while ignoring the important issues.

שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר ה' הַחֲרֵדִים אֶל דְּבָרוֹ אָמְרוּ אֲחֵיכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם מְנַדֵּיכֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמִי יִכְבַּד ה'וְנִרְאֶה בְשִׂמְחַתְכֶם וְהֵם יֵבֹשׁוּ

Hear the word of the Lord, those who are fervent for His word and who truly listen to Him: Your brethren, who are sometimes those who hate you, or your ostracizers, who do not want you to join them and excommunicate you (65:5), have said: For the sake of my name, in our merit, the Lord will be glorified. They believe that everything depends on them and their offerings, while they demean others for their deeds and their omissions. But ultimately, we will see your joy, and they will be shamed.

קוֹל שָׁאוֹן מֵעִיר קוֹל מֵהֵיכָל קוֹל ה' מְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְאֹיְבָיו

The punishment alluded to at the conclusion of the previous verse will occur in the following manner: The sound of a din is to emerge from the city, Zion, a sound emanating from the Sanctuary; it is the Lord who pays recompense to His enemies. The punishment at the time of the redemption will be accompanied by a great noise.

בְּטֶרֶם תָּחִיל – יָלָדָה בְּטֶרֶם יָבוֹא חֵבֶל לָהּ – הִמְלִיטָה זָכָר

The prophet describes the redemption process in metaphorical terms: Before she, Zion, begins to feel the pains of labor, she will already give birth; before a pang comes, she will deliver a male child. The redemption will arrive swiftly and suddenly, like a birth that was not preceded by labor.

מִי שָׁמַע כָּזֹאת! מִי רָאָה כָּאֵלֶּה! הֲיוּחַל אֶרֶץ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד! אִם יִוָּלֵד גּוֹי פַּעַם אֶחָת! כִּי חָלָה גַּם יָלְדָה צִיּוֹן אֶת בָּנֶיהָ

Who has heard of something like this supernatural redemption? Who has seen something like these? Will a land complete labor in one day? Is it possible for an entire land to conceive and give birth in one day? Is a nation born at one time? For Zion has labored and has also given birth to her children all at once. The development of a nation is generally a lengthy process.

הַאֲנִי אַשְׁבִּיר וְלֹא אוֹלִיד יֹאמַר ה' אִם אֲנִי הַמּוֹלִיד וְעָצַרְתִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהָיִךְ

Will I set Zion on the birthing stool and not help cause birth? said the Lord. Will I, who causes the birth of everything, prevent it, Zion, from giving birth? said your God. I have initiated these processes and will ensure that they are completed.

שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְגִילוּ בָהּ כָּל אֹהֲבֶיהָ שִׂישׂוּ אִתָּהּ מָשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הַמִּתְאַבְּלִים עָלֶיהָ

Rejoice with Jerusalem at the birth of its children, and all who love it and are currently suffering together with the city in its misery, be happy with it; all who mourn for it in its state of destruction be gladdened in gladness with it.

לְמַעַן תִּינְקוּ וּשְׂבַעְתֶּם מִשֹּׁד תַּנְחֻמֶיהָ לְמַעַן תָּמֹצּוּ וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶם מִזִּיז כְּבוֹדָהּ

Participate in its celebration, so that you may nurse and be satisfied from the breast of its consolation. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will be like infants who will be consoled by nursing from their mother, Jerusalem. So that you may suck and delight from the aura of its glory. Following the imagery, this phrase is alluding to the nipples of its breast.

כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה' הִנְנִי נֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר – שָׁלוֹם וּכְנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף כְּבוֹד גּוֹיִם וִינַקְתֶּם עַל צַד תִּנָּשֵׂאוּ וְעַל בִּרְכַּיִם תְּשָׁעֳשָׁעוּ

For so said the Lord: Behold, I will direct peace to her, Jerusalem, like a river, as I will grant Jerusalem the perfect blessing, and I will bring the wealth or importance of the nations like a flowing stream and you will nurse, nourished from this abundance. You will be borne on the side, like small children, and dandled on the knees, in the manner of infants. You will return to Zion like young children, with innocent joy, without any worries or cares.

כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִמּוֹ תְּנַחֲמֶנּוּ כֵּן אָנֹכִי אֲנַחֶמְכֶם וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם תְּנֻחָמוּ

Like a man whose mother comforts him with tender words upon experiencing a distressing event, perhaps her departure, so will I comfort you; and in and through Jerusalem, for which you mourned, you will be comforted.

וּרְאִיתֶם וְשָׂשׂ לִבְּכֶם וְעַצְמוֹתֵיכֶם כַּדֶּשֶׁא תִפְרַחְנָה וְנוֹדְעָה יַד ה' אֶת עֲבָדָיו וְזָעַם אֶת אֹיְבָיו

You will see the redemption and your heart will be gladdened and your bones will flourish like grass. This image of one’s bones being reinvigorated expresses youthful renewal and joy, as opposed to the shriveling and drying of an aging body. And the hand of the Lord will be known to His servants, and conversely, He will rage at His enemies. He will support his servants and take vengeance on their behalf.

כִּי הִנֵּה ה' בָּאֵשׁ יָבוֹא וְכַסּוּפָה מַרְכְּבֹתָיו לְהָשִׁיב בְּחֵמָה אַפּוֹ וְגַעֲרָתוֹ בְּלַהֲבֵי אֵשׁ

For behold, at the end of days the Lord will come and reveal Himself in fire, and His chariots will be like a storm to discharge with fury His wrath, or respond to his enemies with wrath and fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.

כִּי בָאֵשׁ ה' נִשְׁפָּט וּבְחַרְבּוֹ אֶת כָּל בָּשָׂר – וְרַבּוּ חַלְלֵי ה'

For the Lord will judge with fire, and with His sword all flesh, and the slain of the Lord will be many.

הַמִּתְקַדְּשִׁים וְהַמִּטַּהֲרִים אֶל הַגַּנּוֹת אַחַר אַחַת בַּתָּוֶךְ אֹכְלֵי בְּשַׂר הַחֲזִיר וְהַשֶּׁקֶץ וְהָעַכְבָּר יַחְדָּו יָסֻפוּ נְאֻם ה'

Those who prepare themselves for ritual worship and purify themselves for idolatry in the gardens (65:3) following the one in the center, where the idol was placed, those who are eaters of the flesh of swine, detestable creatures, and mice, all forbidden foods, will perish together – the utterance of the Lord.

וְאָנֹכִי מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֵיהֶם בָּאָה לְקַבֵּץ אֶת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם וְהַלְּשֹׁנוֹת וּבָאוּ וְרָאוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי

God declares: And as for Me, their actions and their thoughts, the plots of the idol worshippers against Jerusalem, are coming to be, in order to gather all the nations and the tongues that will come and see My glory.

וְשַׂמְתִּי בָהֶם אוֹת וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי מֵהֶם פְּלֵיטִים אֶל הַגּוֹיִם תַּרְשִׁישׁ פּוּל וְלוּד מֹשְׁכֵי קֶשֶׁת תֻּבַל וְיָוָן הָאִיִּים הָרְחֹקִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֶת שִׁמְעִי וְלֹא רָאוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי וְהִגִּידוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי בַּגּוֹיִם

I will place a sign upon them, the nations that will assemble, as an indication that I am responsible for this redemption, and I will send their survivors to send a message to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, nations living near the Mediterranean Sea who are drawers of the bow, archers, and also to Tuval and Yavan, the distant lands of the sea that have not heard of My fame and did not see My glory, and they, these messengers, will tell My glory among the nations. Yavan is probably Greece and was considered distant from the Land of Israel.

וְהֵבִיאוּ אֶת כָּל אֲחֵיכֶם מִכָּל הַגּוֹיִם מִנְחָה לַה' בַּסּוּסִים וּבָרֶכֶב וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים וּבַכִּרְכָּרוֹת עַל הַר קָדְשִׁי יְרוּשָׁלִַם אָמַר ה'כַּאֲשֶׁר יָבִיאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַמִּנְחָה בִּכְלִי טָהוֹר בֵּית ה'

When coming to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, they, the other nations, will bring all your brethren from all the nations in the Diaspora as a gift to the Lord. They will arrive by all possible methods of transportation, on horses and in chariots and in fancy coaches and on mules and on camels, to the mountain of My holiness, Jerusalem, said the Lord, when the children of Israel bring the offering in a pure vessel to the House of the Lord. Those of Israel who were dispersed among the nations will be brought speedily and honorably. The nations returning Israel to Zion is analogous to bringing an offering to God in purity and with joy.

וְגַם מֵהֶם אֶקַּח לַכֹּהֲנִים לַלְוִיִּם אָמַר ה'

And from them too, those returning exiles who are found to be priests and Levites, will I again take as priests and as Levites, said the Lord. Some explain that God will take people from the other nations to serve the priests, or He will take some of the wagons for the priests’ use.

כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים וְהָאָרֶץ הַחֲדָשָׁה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה עֹמְדִים לְפָנַי נְאֻם ה' כֵּן יַעֲמֹד זַרְעֲכֶם וְשִׁמְכֶם

For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I will make (see 65:17) will remain before Me – the utterance of the Lord – so your descendants and your name will remain forever.

וְהָיָה מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ וּמִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ יָבוֹא כָל בָּשָׂר לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לְפָנַי אָמַר ה'

It shall be that on each and every New Moon and on each and every Sabbath all flesh, every living person in the world, will come to prostrate themselves before Me, said the Lord. They will not all come at the same time; rather, different people will come on each New Moon and Sabbath, as the entire world will honor the God of Israel.

וְיָצְאוּ וְרָאוּ בְּפִגְרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הַפֹּשְׁעִים בִּי כִּי תוֹלַעְתָּם לֹא תָמוּת וְאִשָּׁם לֹא תִכְבֶּה וְהָיוּ דֵרָאוֹן לְכָל בָּשָׂר

When they arrive, they will emerge and they will see the corpses of the people who have betrayed Me, as their worm, which eats these carcasses, will not die and their fire that burns them will not be extinguished, and they will be a disgrace for all flesh. The punishment and disgrace of the sinners will be an eternal sign to all.