You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money,.... Or "calamus" (r), which was used in the anointing oil, and for the perfume or incense, Exo 30:7, this they thought too expensive, and so left it out of the composition, or neglected the whole this being put a part for the whole.
small cattle--rather, the "lamb" or "kid," required by the law to be daily offered to God (Exo 29:38; Num 28:3). sacrifices--offered any way; whereas the Hebrew for "holocaust," or "burnt offering," denotes that which ascends as an offering consumed by fire. I have not caused thee to serve--that is, to render the the service of a slave (Mat 11:30; Rom 8:15; Jo1 4:18; Jo1 5:3). offering--bloodless (Lev 2:1-2).
This charge (and a high charge it is which is here exhibited against Jacob and Israel, God's professing people) comes in here, 1. To clear God's justice in bringing them into captivity, and to vindicate that. Were they not in covenant with him? Had they not his sanctuary among them? Why then did the Lord deal thus with his land? Deu 29:24.
Commenting on Isaiah 43:22-28