Isaiah 65:3

“A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face, &c.] They committed their sins openly, without any fear of the divine Being, and in defiance of him, not at all awed by his omniscience and omnipresence; they committed them in the open streets, and even in the temple, the place of the divine residence; and these they did constantly, which provoked him to anger and wrath against them; particularly the following sins: that sacrificeth in gardens; to idols, as the Targum, placed there, as they were under every green tree; or in groves, where idols were worshipped. Fortunatus Scacchusf1266 thinks this refers to their having their sepulchres in their gardens, where they consulted the…”

“continually--answering to "all the day" (Isa 65:2). God was continually inviting them, and they continually offending Him (Deu 32:21). to my face--They made no attempt to hide their sin (Isa 3:9). Compare "before Me" (Exo 20:3). in gardens--(See on Isa 1:29; Isa 66:17; Lev 17:5). altars of brick--Hebrew, "bricks." God had commanded His altars to be of unhewn stone (Exo 20:25). This was in order to separate them, even in external respects, from idolaters; also, as all chiselling was forbidden, they could not inscribe superstitious symbols on them as the heathen did. Bricks were more easily so inscribed than stone; hence their use for the cuneiform inscriptions at Babylon, and also for…”

“A people - This verse contains a specification of the reasons why God had rejected them, and brought the calamities upon them. That provoketh me to anger - That is, by their sins. They give constant occasion for my indignation. Continually - (תמיד tâmı̂yd). It is not once merely, but their conduct as a people is constantly such as to excite my displeasure. To my face - There is no attempt at concealment. Their abominations are public. It is always regarded as an additional affront when an offence is committed in the very presence of another, and when there is not even the apology that it was supposed he did not see the offender. It is a great aggravation of the guilt of the stoner, that his…”

“To my face - With the utmost impudence, not taking notice of God's omnipresence, and omniscience. In gardens, &c. - Directly contrary to the divine rule. Isaiah 65:4”

“65:3 Sacred gardens were a part of the fertility religion of Baal.”

“A people: Isa 3:8; Deu 32:16-19, Deu 32:21; Kg2 17:14-17, Kg2 22:17; Psa 78:40, Psa 78:58; Jer 32:30-35; Eze 8:17, Eze 8:18; Mat 23:32-36 to my face: Job 1:11, Job 2:5 that sacrificeth: Isa 1:29, Isa 66:17; Lev 17:5; Jer 3:6; Eze 20:28 altars: Heb. bricks, Exo 20:24, Exo 20:25, Exo 30:1-10 Isaiah 65:4”

“But through this obstinate and unyielding rejection of His love they have excited wrath, which, though long and patiently suppressed, now bursts forth with irresistible violence. "The people that continually provoketh me by defying me to my face, sacrificing in the gardens, and burning incense upon the tiles; who sit in the graves, and spend the night in closed places; to eat the flesh of swine, and broken pieces of abominations is in their dishes; who say, Stop! come not too near me; for I am holy to thee: they are a smoke in my nose, a fire blazing continually." אלּה (these) in Isa 65:5 is retrospective, summing up the subject as described in Isa 65:3-5, and what follows in Isa 65:5…”