The prophecy in this chapter may serve as a continuation of the previous one or stand on its own, but here too, the prophet addresses the people’s complaints about the delay in redemption. The prophet explains that the issue is not God’s inability to save, nor His unwillingness to listen, but rather the sins of the people, which have created a gap between them and God.

The prophet lists numerous sins, focusing primarily on interpersonal wrongdoing, and rebukes the people not only for the presence of sinners among them but also for the complicity of the so-called “righteous majority,” who allow these crimes to persist: “No one calls out in integrity; non come honestly to be judged” (59:4). In a place where there is no one to stand for justice, God Himself intervenes to judge the wrongdoers: “He sees there is no man here – aghast, for there is none to intercede – so His own arm brings rescue; His righteousness brings strength” (59:16).

From the description of sin and the “confession” of guilt, it appears that the “enemies” referred to in this prophecy are not external, but come from within Israel itself: “Rebelling against the Lord, denying Him, fleeing away from our God, speaking oppression and waywardness, conceiving and speaking a mind’s lie” (59:13). The absence of justice within the nation results in the inability to achieve justice even against external foes: “This is why justice is far from them, and they will not reach goodness” (59:9).

When God dons the mantle of judge, and takes up the fight against evildoers — whether they come from within Israel or from outside — then the stage will be set for redemption: “A Redeemer is coming to Zion, to those among Yaakov who turn back from sin; the Lord has spoken” (59:20).