Isaiah 2:6

Forsaken thy people. Instead of being in a condition to realize the glorious destiny God has in store for them, they have practically apostatized. They are no longer true, faithful, and obedient to the Lord, but cast off and forsaken, because of their gross iniquities. God is neither with them nor for them, but against them, because they have turned against Him. This was the stark reality of the situation, a startling contrast to the glorious prospect of which Isaiah had just spoken. Verses 6-9 describe the actual condition of Israel at present, whereas vs. 10-22 picture the inevitable result — their experience during the “day of the Lord” (v. 12). In view of Israel’s apostasy, that day would bring darkness and terror to “the house of Jacob,” the professed people of God, as well as to the rest of the world.

Replenished from the east. To the east of Palestine was Babylonia, noted for its astrologers, soothsayers, and sorcerers (Dan. 2:2, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11). It was because Israel had abandoned the Lord and turned to the false religious of the East that they forfeited His favor.

Like the Philistines. The inhabitants of Palestine were driven out before Israel because of their many abominations, having “hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners” (Deut. 18:10-14). Like the Babylonians, the Philistines had their occult priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), and now the professed people of God were following their example. Instead of going to God for light, they went to leaders who were in league with the prince of darkness.

They please themselves. The Hebrew here is uncertain. Some have suggested the reading, “they strike hands with.” Either way the meaning is the same — Israel had entered into agreements with foreigners, “striking hands” with them in the sense of entering into agreements with them and engaging in a common cause. Israel was no longer a separate and peculiar people; they were one with the world about them in politics, trade, religion, and wickedness. Compare 2 Cor. 6:14.