And there shall be month after month, and sabbath after sabbath: and all flesh shall come to adore before my face, saith the Lord.

“מדי חדש Whenever new moon will be. מדי has nearly the same meaning as בכל עת whenever (Est. 5:13). Comp. מדי עברו whenever he passed (2 Kings 4:8). חדש בחדשו a new moon on the day appointed for it. Comp. דבר יום ביומו the task of every day on the day appointed for it (Ex. 5:13). From this verse the ancients derived that the wicked had to suffer the future punishment for twelve months; they explain the word מדי to signify one year. The meaning of מדי שבת בשבתו I have explained in my commentary on the chapter concerning the seven weeks. 25:1-13. The words מדי שבת בשבתו are explained in neither of the two passages. I. E. is perhaps of opinion that the expression שבת, used here by the prophet, includes also the festivals, and he refers therefore to his remark on Lev. 23:11, in which he proves that the word שבת in the phrase ממחרת השבת refers to the first day of Passover.”

“Thus says the Lord. Here he determines the manner of the execution of the sentence already given: and first specifically as regards the Jews; second universally as regards all: but I, their works and thoughts. The first is divided into two: in the first he excludes false confidence; second he sets forth and determines the sentence given, as to the manner of its execution: Hear the word of the Lord. Concerning the first there are two parts. First he excludes false confidence in the holiness of the temple, showing that the temple is not the place of God: both from the greatness of God, who fills all things — whose seat heaven is called, because it shares abundantly in his goodness, just as a seat holds the greater part of the one sitting; while earth is his footstool, because the earth shares least in his goodness, just as the outermost part reaches only to the footstool — or by heaven the saints are meant, and by earth the earthly-minded. 3 Kings 8: if heaven and the heaven of heavens do not contain you. Jeremiah 23: I fill heaven and earth. Acts 17: not in the hand-made things of the temple. Then from rest: because each thing rests in the place that is its own place; but God does not rest in anything, rather all things rest in him, as made by him. And what is his place? Above, ch. 40: lift up on high. And he gives a useful remedy: but to whom — the poor one, that is, the humble man who considers himself small as to the present; the contrite, as to past sins; the trembling, as to his resolve concerning what is to be done in the future. Ecclesiasticus 15: his eyes are upon those who fear him. Second, he excludes the confidence they had conceived from the rite of sacrifices: and first he sets down their reprobation: he who sacrifices an ox — as if he were to say: their sacrifices are so abominable, as if they were doing something against the law, because they were offering the same things to idols. He who blesses — that is, praises and venerates. Above, ch. 1: do not offer sacrifice any more. Second, he shows the reason for the reprobation, first setting down their fault: they have chosen all these things — namely, the sacrifices — walking in their own ways, evil ones. Proverbs 2: they rejoice when they have done evil, and exult in the worst of things. Second, he threatens punishment: hence, and I — Proverbs 3: he himself will mock the mockers. Job 3: the fear that I feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. Third, he charges the sinners with hardness of heart: because I called — Proverbs 1: I called, and you refused. Hear the word of the Lord. Here he carries out the manner of executing the sentence already given: and first as to the rewards of the good; second as to the punishments of the wicked: and it shall be known. The first is in two parts. First he rouses attention: you who tremble, out of reverence for his words. Ecclesiasticus 2: you who fear the Lord, believe in him. Second, he pursues the promise: and first as to vengeance upon the mockers, setting down their mockery: your brothers have said. Let him be glorified — as if to say: let the glory of the Lord appear, which you expect — as if to say: it will never appear. Above, ch. 5: he will come quickly and swiftly, he will not fail nor grow weary in it. And foretelling their confusion: but they shall be confounded, in this way: a voice of the people, fearing; a voice of the Lord, as to the tumult of enemies. Zephaniah 1: the voice of the day of the Lord is bitter. Second, he carries out the promise as to the abundance of good things: and first as to the reuniting of the people, setting down the promise: before she was in labor — that is, suddenly, and at once, the children of Jerusalem shall be gathered to her, just as if a woman should suddenly bring forth a son, with no labor going before. Above, ch. 37: the children have come as far as the birth. Mystically it is expounded of the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin, and of the childbearing of the Church in the conversion of the faithful, and of the bringing-forth of the eternal generation. And he introduces a question of wonder: who has ever heard such things? Above, ch. 49: who has begotten for me? And he sets down the answer in the person of the Lord: shall not I myself bring forth? — gathering the Jews, or converting the faithful, or the Son from eternity. Similarly, Psalm 93: he who planted the ear, shall he not hear? Or he who formed the eye, does he not consider? And these arguments hold, if that which is of perfection in creatures is attributed to him, with everything that belongs to imperfection removed. Second, he promises immense consolation to those gathered. And first he invites others to rejoice with them: rejoice with Jerusalem — in her, as in the object of joy — setting down the condition of those who rejoice together, as to affection: you who love. Canticle of Canticles 5: eat, O friends, and drink, and be inebriated, dearest ones. As to the sign of affection: you who mourn. Matthew 5: blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. And the fruit of that shared rejoicing, as to the sharing of gladness, or of peace: that you may suck — Canticle of Canticles 1: your breasts are better than wine. As to the sharing of glory: that you may milk it out, as those who milk out milk. Job 22: then you shall abound in delights over the Almighty. Second, he promises a copious bestowal of peace: for thus says the Lord: I will turn — so that it may be called an overflow, like a river which, though it comes down with great force, does not overflow. And of glory, and as it were a torrent. Above, ch. 48: it would have been made like a river. Third, he promises the full reception of consolation. First as to the administering of the nations: which you shall suck — unto the glory of the nations, because the kings of the nations themselves shall comfort you, and shall sustain you. Hence there follows, at the breasts. Mystically he speaks of the apostles, who rejoiced in the glory of the nations swiftly converted, and carried them, as it were, to the breasts by gentle admonitions. Above, ch. 60: you shall suck milk. Second, as to the divine protection: as if to someone, a mother. Hebrews 12: you have forgotten the consolation. Third, as to the enjoyment of good things: you shall see — the good things given you by God; your bones — you who in adversity were like dry bones. Ezekiel 37: dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Or, you shall see the divine essence. Ecclesiastes 11: light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun. Bones, unto the resurrection. And it shall be known. Here he promises punishments to the wicked: and first he threatens punishment, setting down the indignation of the judge: the hand, afflicting the wicked among his servants. Or, the hand of consolation, among his servants, through its effect. Above, ch. 27: there is no indignation in me. He also sets down the greatness of the punishment: for behold, the Lord — in fire, by which the city was to be burned, or by which the world was to be purged. Chariots — the army of the Chaldeans, in which God comes, as it were; or the Angels who will come with him to judgment. Psalm 96: fire shall go before him. Amos 9: they shall perish by the sword of God. He also sets down the multitude of those punished: they shall be multiplied. Above, ch. 34: for the victim of the Lord is in Bosra, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Second, he reproaches their guilt: who were sanctifying themselves, thinking to cleanse themselves from uncleanness by waters, or even by the sacrifices of idols, in the gardens, in which they worshipped idols, or gave themselves over to pleasure, after one, coupling with women after the manner of beasts. Or, behind the door — literally, the mouse, the dormouse, against the law, Leviticus 11. Above, ch. 65: they eat swine's flesh, and unclean broth. But I. Here he pursues the manner of the discernment as regards all in common: and first he proclaims the universal judgment: their works and thoughts — judging, as it were, for both together; I come, on the day of judgment. Or, the various kingdoms of your enemies, and destroying the wicked among you. They shall come, to Jerusalem after your return, or to judgment, or to the faith. Joel 3: behold, I will raise them up out of the place in which you sold them. Second, he sets down the summons: and I will set among them — that is, among the Jews who shall be with Zerubbabel and the other leaders — a sign, the edict of Cyrus, to the nations, to which the Jews had been scattered; to Lydia, those who hold the arrow, because they are good archers; my glory, which shall appear in your deliverance. Above, ch. 11: he shall lift up a sign among the nations. Or, he sets the sign of the cross among the apostles, that all may be turned to God, as it were preparing them for judgment. Third, he sets down the preparation of those who are to be judged: and first as to the good; second as to the wicked: and they shall go forth, and shall see. The first is in two parts. First, as to the Jews, setting down their honorable return: they shall bring them on horses — by which are signified the aids which those returning had from the Gentiles. Baruch 5: the Lord shall bring these to you. Or there are signified the various conditions of those who are converted to the faith, as the Gloss expounds. Second, the exaltation of their return, first as to dignity: and I will take — which was fulfilled literally in the Jews, and also in the apostles. Above, ch. 61: you shall be called the priests of the Lord; it shall be said of you, ministers of our God. Second, as to the preservation of their offspring: for as the new heavens, as above, ch. 65 — so shall it stand, forever. Jeremiah 31: if these laws shall fail before me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall fail. Or, the saints shall stand forever, renewed like heaven and earth. Third, as to the duration of their glory: and it shall be month — as though month shall succeed month, and feast shall succeed feast, in your prosperity. Above, ch. 29: year has been added to year, and the solemnities have run their course. Mystically, the Church after the end; spiritual rest after carnal. Second, as to the Gentiles: and all shall come — because from the various nations they came to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Psalm 85: all the nations shall come and shall adore before you, O Lord. Or, on the day of judgment: and they shall go forth. Here he sets down the second judgment, as regards the wicked: and first the outflow of the punishment: and they shall go forth, coming to Jerusalem, and they shall see, in the ancient tombs, and in the fields, the bones of their dead fathers. Above, ch. 34: their slain shall be cast out, and from their carcasses a stench shall rise. Or, the saints shall see the damned falling into damnation. Second, he sets down the duration of the punishment: their worm — of conscience, by which even the dead shall be tormented; and fire — of hell. Judith 16: he will give fire and worms into their flesh. Third, the delight taken in these punishments, as regards those who see them: and they shall be unto satiety to all flesh — that is, to the saints. Psalm 57: the just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge. From these punishments may he free us, who has granted both to begin and to complete. And thus ends the sentence and the literal exposition on Isaiah according to Brother Thomas Aquinas, which Brother Iacobinus of Asti, of the province of Lombardy, at that time a student in the general house of studies at Naples, transcribed into legible letters, completing the authorities. He also arranged collations at certain places upon each of the lectures, and this he did for the benefit of the friars of our order, and that copies of the said writings might be had. Therefore, praise be to him who granted both to begin and to complete. Amen.”

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another,.... Or, "from month in its months" (q), The Targum is, "in the time of the beginning of the "month in its month";'' that is, in every day of the month; or rather every month: and from one sabbath to another; the form of expressions the same as before; and in like manner paraphrased in the Targum; and signifies either every day in the week; or rather every sabbath, or first day in the week; for we are not to imagine that new moons and Jewish sabbaths, that is, seventh day sabbaths, shall now be observed, which have been long abolished, Col 2:16 but, as New Testament officers of churches are, in the preceding verses, called by Old Testament names; so here the times and seasons of Gospel worship are expressed in Old Testament language; and the sense is, that the people of Christ and members of churches, in the latter day, shall constantly attend church meetings; shall assemble together every month to celebrate the Lord's supper; and every Lord's day, to hear the word, pray and sing praises together; hereby enjoying much spiritual peace and rest, and increasing in evangelical light, signified by the new moons and sabbaths; and especially this will have a fuller accomplishment in the New Jerusalem state, when there will be a perfect sabbatism, which now remains for the people of God, and when their light will be exceeding great and glorious; and so the Jews (r) interpret this of the world to come, which is all sabbath or rest; that is, from all toil and labour, from sin and sorrow, from Satan's temptations, and the world's persecutions; but not from the worship and service of God; though that will be in a different and more perfect manner than now it is; as follows: all flesh shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord; that is, men of all nations, and persons of each sex; not Jews only, and their males, as formerly, but men and women; not every individual, but all that will be converted, which will be many, shall come to the places of public worship, where the saints meet together for that purpose, and join together in it; and this they shall do continually and without intermission, as the first Christians did, Act 2:42. The Talmud (s) interprets this of such whose heart is become as flesh; see Eze 36:26 these shall not only worship in the presence of God, and in the view of him the omniscient God, and by his assistance, and to his glory; but him himself, Father, Son, and Spirit, with reverence and devotion, in spirit and in truth, and that constantly, in the New Jerusalem, and ultimate glory, in the utmost perfection and purity. (q) "a tempore mensis in mense ejus"; Montanus; "de mense in mensem suum", Forerius. (r) Midrash Tillim in Psal. xc. 15. apud Galatia de Arcan, Cathol. Ver. l. 11. c. 8. p. 691. (s) T. Bab. Sota, fol. 5. 1.”

“"And it will come to pass: from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh will come, to worship before me, saith Jehovah." New moons and Sabbaths will still be celebrated therefore; and the difference is simply this, that just as all Israel once assembled in Jerusalem at the three great feasts, all flesh now journey to Jerusalem every new moon and every Sabbath. דּי (construct דּי) signifies that which suffices, then that which is plentiful (see Isa 40:16), that which is due or fitting, so that (שׁבת) חדשׁ מדּי (with a temporal, not an explanatory min, as Gesenius supposes) signifies "from the time when, or as often as what is befitting to the new moon (or Sabbath) occurs" (cf., Isa 28:19). If (בשׁבת) בחדשׁ be added, בּ is that of exchange: as often as new moon (Sabbath) for new moon (Sabbath) is befitting, i.e., ought to occur: Sa1 7:16; Zac 14:16 (cf., Sa1 1:7; Kg1 10:25; Ch1 27:1 : "year by year," "month by month"). When we find (בּשׁבּתּו) בּחדשׁו as we do here, the meaning is, "as often as it has to occur on one new moon (or Sabbath) after the other," i.e., in the periodical succession of one after another. At the same time it might be interpreted in accordance with Kg1 8:59, בּיומו יום דּבר, which does not mean the obligation of one day after the other, but rather "of a day on the fitting day" (cf., Num 28:10, Num 28:14), although the meaning of change and not of a series might be sustained in the passage before us by the suffixless mode of expression which occurs in connection with it.”