Isaiah 56:10

“His watchmen are blind, &c.] A sad character of watchmen; who, of all men, ought to have good sight, to see who is coming, to discover an enemy, to discern approaching danger, and so be capable of giving notice thereof. This some apply to the Scribes and Pharisees, who are often called blind guides, and blind leaders of the blind, (<401514>Matthew 15:14 23:16,17,19,24,26) and well suits the character of the Popish clergy, bishops, and priests, those ecclesiastical watchmen, whose business should be to look after the souls of men, and feed them with knowledge and understanding; but very ill qualified for it, being blind and ignorant as to the knowledge of things divine and spiritual. The…”

“His watchmen--Israel's spiritual leaders (Isa 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-- (Mat 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.”

“His watchmen - The prophet proceeds to specify the sins which had thus induced God to send the desolating armies of foreign nations. The first is specified in this verse, the apathy, indifference, and unfaithfulness, which prevailed among those who were appointed to guard their interests and defend the cause of truth. The word rendered ‘his watchmen’ (צפוּ tsophâv) is derived from צפה tsâphâh, “to look about; to view from a distance; to see afar.” It is applied appropriately to those who were stationed on the walls of a city, or on a tower, in order that they might see the approach of an enemy 1Sa 14:16; 2 Samuel 13:34; 2 Samuel 18:24. It is then applied to prophets, who are as it were…”

“His - Israel's. Watchmen - Priests and teachers; he mentions only the teachers, because ignorance was most shameful in them, but hereby he supposes the gross ignorance of the people. Bark - They are also slothful and negligent in instructing the people, and do not faithfully reprove them for their sins. Isaiah 56:11”

“56:10 The leaders of Israel failed to guide and protect God’s people from the sins that led to the Exile. • sleeping and dreaming: See 29:10.”

“watchmen: Isa 52:8; Eze 3:17 are blind: Isa 29:10; Jer 14:13, Jer 14:14; Hos 4:6, Hos 9:7, Hos 9:8; Mat 15:14, Mat 23:16-26; Luk 6:39, Luk 6:40 they are all dumb: Isa 58:1; Jer 6:13, Jer 6:14, Jer 23:13, Jer 23:14; Eze 3:15-18, Eze 3:26, Eze 3:27, Eze 13:16, Eze 33:6; Phi 3:2 sleeping: or, dreaming, or talking in their sleep loving: Pro 6:4-10, Pro 24:30-34; Jon 1:2-6; Nah 3:18; Mar 13:34-37 Isaiah 56:11”

“The prophet now proceeds with צפו (צפיו): the suffix refers to Israel, which was also the object to לאכל. "His watchmen are blind: they (are) all ignorant, they (are) all dumb dogs that cannot bark; raving, lying down, loving to slumber. And the dogs are mightily greedy, they know no satiety; and such are shepherds! They know no understanding; they have all turned to their own ways, every one for his own gain throughout his border." The "watchmen" are the prophets here, as everywhere else ( Isa 52:8, cf., Isa 21:6, Hab 2:1; Jer 6:17; Eze 3:17). The prophet is like a watchman (tsōpheh) stationed upon his watch-tower (specula), whose duty it is, when he sees the sword come upon the land, to…”