Jerome, on the place, gives an account of this idolatrous practice of the apostate Jews, of making a feast, or a lectisternium, as the Romans called it, for these pretended deities. Est in cunctis urbibus, et maxime in AEgypto, et in Alexandria, idololatriae vetus consuetudo, ut ultimo die anni, et mensis ejus qui extremus est, ponant mensam refertam varii generis epulis, et poculum mulso mixtum; vel praeteriti anni vel futuri fertilitatem auspicantes. Hoc autem faciebant et Israelitae, omnium simulachrorum portenta venerantes; et nequaquam altari victimas, sed hujusmodi mensae liba fundebant. "In all cities, and especially in Egypt and Alexandria, it was an ancient idolatrous custom on the last day of the year, to spread a table covered with various kinds of viands, and a goblet mixed with new wine, referring to the fertility either of the past or coming year. The Israelites did the same, worshipping all kinds of images, and pouring out libations on such tables, "&c. See also Le Clerc on the place; and on lxvi. 17, and Dav. Millii Dissert. v.

The allusion to Meni, which signifies number, is obvious. If there had been the like allusion to Gad, which might have been expected, it might perhaps have helped to let us into the meaning of that word. It appears from Jerome's version of this place, that the words tw daimoniw, to a demon, (or daimoni, as some copies have it,) and th tuch, to fortune, stood in his time in the Greek version in an inverted order from that which they have in the present copies; the latter then answering to dg gad, the former to ynm meni: by which some difficulty would be avoided; for it is commonly supposed that dg gad signifies tuch, Fortune. See Gen. xxx. 11, apud Sept. This matter is so far well cleared up by MSS. Pachom. and i. D. II., which agree in placing these two words in that order, which Jerome's version supposes. - L.

My Old MS. Bible translates: That putten the borde of fortune; and offreden licours upon it; and so the Vulgate.

Æetoimazontev tw daimoniw trapezan, kai plhrountev th tuch kerasma. Preparing a table for the demon, and filling up, or pouring out, a libation to fortune." -Septuagint.

Ye have set up an aulter unto fortune And geven rich drink offeringes unto treasure. COVERDALE.

Is. 65:1-7 The Gentiles came to seek God, and find him, because the were first sought and found of him. Often he meets some thoughtles trifler or profligate opposer, and says to him, Behold me; and a speed change takes place. All the gospel day, Christ waited to be gracious The Jews were bidden, but would not come. It is not without cause the are rejected of God. They would do what most pleased them. The grieved, they vexed the Holy Spirit. They forsook God's temple, an sacrificed in groves. They cared not for the distinction between clea and unclean meats, before it was taken away by the gospel. Perhaps thi is put for all forbidden pleasures, and all that is thought to be gotten by sin, that abominable thing which the Lord hates. Chris denounced many woes against the pride and hypocrisy of the Jews. The proof against them is plain. And let us watch against pride an self-preference, remembering that every sin, and the most secre thoughts of man's heart, are known and will be judged by God.

Is. 65:8-10 In the bunch of unripe grapes, at present of no value, the new wine is contained. The Jews have been kept a distinct people, tha all may witness the fulfilment of ancient prophecies and promises God's chosen, the spiritual seed of praying Jacob, shall inherit his mountains of bliss and joy, and be carried safe to them through the vale of tears. All things are for the display of God's glory in the redemption of sinners.

Is. 65:11-16 Here the different states of the godly and wicked, of the Jews who believed, and of those who persisted in unbelief, are se against one another. They prepared a table for that troop of deitie which the heathen worship, and poured out drink-offerings to tha countless number. Their worshippers spared no cost to honour them which should shame the worshippers of the true God. See the malignit of sin; it is doing by choice what we know will displease God. In ever age and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil, an despise the call of the gospel. God's servants shall have the bread of life, and shall want nothing good for them. But those who forsake the Lord, shall be ashamed of vain confidence in their own righteousness and the hopes they built thereon. Wordly people bless themselves in the abundance of this world's goods; but God's servants bless themselves in him. He is their strength and portion. They shall honour him as the God of truth. And it was promised that in him should all the families of the earth be blessed. They shall think themselves happy in having his for their God, who made them forget their troubles.

Is. 65:17-25 In the grace and comfort believers have in and from Christ, we are to look for this new heaven and new earth. The forme confusions, sins and miseries of the human race, shall be no mor remembered or renewed. The approaching happy state of the church i described under a variety of images. He shall be thought to die in his youth, and for his sins, who only lives to the age of a hundred years The event alone can determine what is meant; but it is plain tha Christianity, if universal, would so do away violence and evil, a greatly to lengthen life. In those happy days, all God's people shal enjoy the fruit of their labours. Nor will children then be the troubl of their parents, or suffer trouble themselves. The evil disposition of sinners shall be completely moritified; all shall live in harmony Thus the church on earth shall be full of happiness, like heaven. Thi prophecy assures the servants of Christ, that the time approaches wherein they shall be blessed with the undisturbed enjoyment of all that is needful for their happiness. As workers together with God, le us attend his ordinances, and obey his commands __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew