Isa 57:5-7 | JFB | STEP | 5. Enflaming yourselves-- burning with lust towards idols [Gesenius]; or else (compare Margin), in the terebinth groves, which the Hebrew and the parallelism favor (see on ) [Maurer]. under ... tree-- ( ). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably made an idolatrous symbol of the heavenly hosts. slaying ... children-- as a sacrifice to Molech, &c. ( ; ; ). in ... valleys-- the valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums (Hebrew, toph) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence the valley was called Tophet ( ; ). under ... clifts-- the gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.

‏ Isaiah 57:5-7

5. Enflaming yourselves--burning with lust towards idols [Gesenius]; or else (compare Margin), in the terebinth groves, which the Hebrew and the parallelism favor (see on Is 1:29) [Maurer].

under ... tree--(2Ki 17:10). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably made an idolatrous symbol of the heavenly hosts.

slaying ... children--as a sacrifice to Molech, &c. (2Ki 17:31; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6).

in ... valleys--the valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums (Hebrew, toph) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence the valley was called Tophet (2Ch 33:6; Jr 7:3).

under ... clifts--the gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.

6. The smooth stones, shaped as idols, are the gods chosen by thee as thy portion (Psa 16:5).

meat offering--not a bloody sacrifice, but one of meal and flour mingled with oil. "Meat" in Old English meant food, not flesh, as it means now (Le 14:10).

Should I receive comfort--rather, "Shall I bear these things with patience?" [Horsley].

7. Upon ... high mountain ... bed--image from adultery, open and shameless (Eze 23:7); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband (Eze 16:16, 25; 23:41).