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58:1–14 Religious rituals done irresponsibly and with improper motives do not gain divine favor. The criticism of empty rituals echoes the indictment of 1:10–20.

58:1 Call with the throat The prophet is commanded to boldly inform Israel that they are still continuing along a path of sin, especially when it comes to justice and fair treatment for the less advantaged.

the house of Jacob Refers to Israel; see 43:1.

58:2 a nation that practiced righteousness Israel was going through the motions of religious rituals they believed God required. They were being righteous by their standards, but the empty ritualism displeased God.

58:3 on the day of your fast While fasting was an appropriate act of worship, their motives for fasting were self-serving. They claimed to have humbled themselves, but their actions are motivated by pride.

Fasting as a religious observance is marked by temporarily abstaining from food. The only fast day prescribed by ot law was on the Day of Atonement (see Lev 16:29), but other fasts could be declared for a variety of reasons (1 Sam 14:24). The instructions in Jer 36:6 for the delivery of his message on a fast day suggest there may have been other religious fasts besides those mentioned in the Law. Other fast days were added to Jewish practice after the Exile (Ezra 8:21–23; Neh 9:1; Zech 8:19). By nt times, fasting had become a well-established part of Jewish religion. In Mark 2:18–22, Jesus is questioned as to why His disciples did not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist or the Pharisees. Fasting originally appears to have been a sign of repentance and preparation for seeking divine favor. It later became a sign of devotion and worship.

Fast, Fasting TBD

Fast ISBE

and you oppress all your workers Their outward religious observances were meaningless if they did not experience the change of heart that would inspire them to treat others justly. Compare Isa 1:11–17.

58:6 to untie the ropes of the yoke Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos.

58:9 and Yahweh himself will answer Genuine repentance is evidenced by their behavior—how they treat the poor and hungry. Genuine repentance will lead to genuine blessing. Fasting without genuine repentance was useless (see note on v. 3).

58:10 your light shall rise in the darkness Overcoming darkness with light was a motif connected with the rise of the Messiah (see 9:1–7; 51:4 and note).

58:12 they shall rebuild ancient ruins Destruction caused by war regularly necessitated that ruined cities be rebuilt. The restoration of Jerusalem is promised also in 44:28 and 61:4.

Nehemiah’s mission as governor over Jerusalem and the surrounding Persian province was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 2:1–8). The rebuilding of cities and temples was commemorated in elaborate building inscriptions, where kings such as the Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser I expected divine favor since they had rebuilt the city of their deity. Babylon was destroyed three times by Assyria and rebuilt each time—larger than before.

The rebuilding of ancient cities in Syria-Palestine created large layered hills, which archaeologists call tells. City sites were selected for their strategic locations, usually on hills or other high ground. Since the location was desirable, a destroyed city would often be rebuilt directly on top of the previous city. When archaeologists excavate a tell, they often dig a trench to get a cross section of the different layers or strata of the site. These layers allow them to estimate when, by whom, and for how long the city was inhabited.

Ziklag, Tel Sera, from east BIL

58:13 you hold your foot back from the Sabbath, from The people were accustomed to going about their own business on the Sabbath, essentially trampling over the sanctity of the day (see Isa 56:2).

Nehemiah observes the people openly profaning the Sabbath and literally trampling the day by treading the winepresses and engaging in other agricultural work (Neh 13:15–21).

58:14 I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth Alludes to the miraculous provision of exodus, using the same poetic image as Deut 32:12–13.

the mouth of Yahweh has spoken Echoes the end of the opening poem of Isa 1 (see 1:20).

	About Faithlife Study Bible Faithlife Study Bible (FSB) is your guide to the ancient world of the Old and New Testaments, with study notes and articles that draw from a wide range of academic research. FSB helps you learn how to think about interpretation methods and issues so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the text.
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