Isa 56:10-12 | JFB | STEP | 10. His watchmen-- Israel's spiritual leaders ( ; ). dumb dogs-- image from bad shepherds' watchdogs, which fail to give notice, by barking, of the approach of wild beasts. blind-- ( ). sleeping, lying down-- rather, "dreamers, sluggards" [Lowth]. Not merely sleeping inactive, but under visionary delusions. loving to slumber-- not merely slumbering involuntarily, but loving it.

‏ Isaiah 56:10-12

10. His watchmen--Israel's spiritual leaders (Is 62:6; Eze 3:17).

dumb dogs--image from bad shepherds' watchdogs, which fail to give notice, by barking, of the approach of wild beasts.

blind--(Mt 23:16).

sleeping, lying down--rather, "dreamers, sluggards" [Lowth]. Not merely sleeping inactive, but under visionary delusions.

loving to slumber--not merely slumbering involuntarily, but loving it.

11. greedy--literally, "strong" (that is, insatiable) in appetite (Eze 34:2, 3; Mi 3:11).

cannot understand--unable to comprehend the wants of the people, spiritually: so Is 56:10, "cannot bark."

look to ... own way--that is, their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the people (Jr 6:13; Eze 22:27).

from his quarter--rather, "from the highest to the lowest" [Lowth]. "From his quarter"; that is, from one end to the other of them, one and all (Ge 19:4).

12. fetch wine--language of the national teachers challenging one another to drink. Barnes translates, "I will take another cup" (Is 5:11).

to-morrow, &c.--Their self-indulgence was habitual and intentional: not merely they drink, but they mean to continue so.