Ibn Ezra on Isaiah

הוי Ho ! It is the sign of the vocative. Ho, every one that thirsteth, etc. With these words the Lord will address those who will then be desirous to accept the Law. And he that hath no money to buy, that is, that has not the means required for study. Buy and eat the wisdom. Comp. Eat this roll, (Ez. 3:1). Wisdom is demanded by the soul as the food is demanded by the body. Come ye unto me, Buy for nothing, And eat without paying. Wine and milk. Each serves both for food and drink, as medical authorities assert. Wine and milk are mentioned because the Law is compared with them.

Wherefore do you spend money, etc. Wherefore will you labour in profane science which is of no use to you. בדשן In fatness. Comp. דשן (30:23). Let your soul delight itself in fatness, that is, in that happiness which the soul enjoys after its separation from the body by death.

ולכו אלי And come unto me. Lit., Go away from your place toward me; comp. סורה אלי turn in to me (Jud. 4:18). And your soul shall live. That is, your soul shall live for ever after the death of the body, or you will receive new life through Messiah, when you will return to the Divine Law. An everlasting covenant, that will never expire. The sure mercy of David, that is, like the covenant which I made with David and the kindness which I showed to him, promising him my mercy will I keep for him for evermore, etc. (Ps. 89:29). It is also possible, that by David in this verse Messiah is meant, who will be of the family of David; as the prophet is sometimes called Israel for the same reason; and the meaning of הנאמנים חסדי דוד is in that case: for the kindness of Messiah is sure. This explanation is supported by the next verse.

Behold, I have given him, namely, Messiah. לאמים The people, the ל being radical; or to the people, the ל being a preposition. For a witness. Messiah will testify, that there is no other king, no other ruler of the world, than God. ומצוה And one that issues commands.

A nation, that thou knowest not, which thou hast not known hitherto, thou shalt call to come unto thee; comp. I called my servant, etc. (Job 19:16). And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee. This proves my explanation to be correct. פארך He hath glorified thee. It is irregular; there is no other instance of a perfect verb having this form; but there is one of the weak verb: עׇנׇךְ He hath answered thee (30:19)

Seek ye the Lord. This appeal is made to the contemporaries of the prophet, telling them to seek the Lord, since they knew that they would be redeemed from Babylon, and after that again from all other nations. While He may be found by those that seek Him. God is certainly everywhere at all times; but the meaning of this phrase is, while the decree is not yet resolved upon: in a similar way the phrase, while He is near is to be explained, namely, while He permits His glory to rest upon the temple.

Let the wicked forsake, etc. This is the explanation of Seek ye the Lord, etc. His way. The way which he is accustomed to go. ואיש און מחשבתיו And the unrighteous man his thoughts. Supply יעזב let him forsake. The principal points, the thought and the deed are mentioned by the prophet. He will abundantly pardon the iniquities.

For my thoughts are not yours. You thought that I should punish you even after your return to me; but your thoughts are not mine; my intention is to do good to you. Neither are your ways my ways. My ways are righteous; comp., Are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal ? (Ez. 18:19)

For as the heavens, etc., so are my ways higher, etc. This is a figurative expression.

For as the rain cometh down, etc. The rain watereth the earth, in coming down from heaven; for that purpose God sends it down, in order that seed may be given to the sower and bread to the eater.

So shall my word, etc. I shall fulfil all I spake to the prophets.

For you shall go out with joy. You will go out from the exile joyfully. And be led forth with peace to your land on horses and mules. If this passage be referred to the Babylonian exile, it was indeed literally fulfilled. But if it is understood to allude to a future redemption, in that case comp. And they shall bring all your brethren upon horses, etc. (66:20). Some refer it to both. ימחאו Shall clap. This verb is frequently met with in the Chaldee. ומחה and shall reach (Num. 34:11) is of the same root.

הנעצוץ The thorn. Comp. הנעצוצים the thorns (7:19). The fir is undoubtedly better than the thorn. סרפד The brier. A kind of thorn. And it shall be to the Lord for a name, etc. He will perform wonders, in providing the wilderness with rivers, when Israel will return to Zion, and this will be to the Lord An everlasting sign, a miracle that will remain for ever.