Isaiah 63:18

“The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while, &c.] Either the land of Canaan, which the Jews, the Lord’s holy people, whom he had separated from others, possessed about fourteen hundred years, which was but a little while in comparison of “for ever”, as was promised; or they enjoyed it but a little while in peace and quiet, being often disturbed by their neighbours; or else the sanctuary, the temple, as it is to be supplied from the next clause, which stood but little more than four hundred years: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary; the temple; the first temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; and the second temple by the Romans; and Antiochus, and Pompey, and…”

“people of . . . holiness--Israel dedicated as holy unto God (Isa 62:12; Deu 7:6). possessed--namely, the Holy Land, or Thy "sanctuary," taken from the following clause, which is parallel to this (compare Isa 64:10-11; Psa 74:6-8). thy--an argument why God should help them; their cause is His cause.”

“The people of thy holiness - The people who have been received into solemn covenant with thee. Have possessed it but a little while - That is, the land meaning that the time during which they had enjoyed a peaceable possession of it, compared with the perpetuity of the promise made, was short. Such is the idea given to the passage by our translators. But there is considerable variety in the interpretation of the passage among expositors. Lowth renders it: It is little, that they have taken possession of thy holy mountain; That our enemies have trodden down thy sanctuary. Jerome renders it, ‘It is as nothing (quasi nihilum), they possess thy holy people; our enemies have trodden down thy…”

“People - The people set apart for his servants. A little while - Comparatively to the promise, which was for ever. Sanctuary - The temple. Isaiah 63:19”

“63:18 The people were supposed to be holy, but their lack of holiness had led to destruction. • The holy place was the Temple, which the Babylonians destroyed in 586 BC (64:11; 2 Kgs 25:1-21).”

“people: Isa 62:12; Exo 19:4-6; Deu 7:6, Deu 26:19; Dan 8:24; Pe1 2:9 our: Isa 64:11, Isa 64:12; Psa 74:3-7; Lam 1:10, Lam 4:1; Mat 24:2; Rev 11:2 Isaiah 63:19”

“But the existing condition of Israel looks like a withdrawal of this grace; and it is impossible that these contrasts should cease, unless Jehovah comes down from heaven as the deliverer of His people. Isa 63:8, Isa 63:19 ( Isa 64:1). "For a little time Thy holy people was in possession. Our adversaries have trodden down Thy sanctuary. We have become such as He who is from everlasting has not ruled over, upon whom Thy name was not called. O that Thou wouldst rend the heaven, come down, the mountains would shake before thy countenance." It is very natural to try whether yâreshū may not have tsârēnū for its subject (cf., Jer 49:2); but all the attempts made to explain the words on this…”