John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 1:23

"Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them." — Isaiah 1:23 (ASV)

Thy princes are rebellious. There is an elegant allusion or play on words here. He does not speak of princes in such a way as to imply that the common people were holy and needed no reproof; instead, he points out the source of the evil. For just as no disease is more injurious than one that spreads from the head into the whole body, so no evil is more destructive in a commonwealth than a wicked and depraved prince, who conveys his corruptions into the whole body both by his example and by the liberty he allows.

From this also comes the proverb, ὁποῖα ἡ δέσποινα, τοῖαι καὶ αἱ θεραπαινίδες, like mistress, like maids. The meaning, therefore, is as if the Prophet had said that it was not one particular vice reigning among the people more than another, but that an unrestrained commission of crimes prevailed among the nobles themselves, and in this manner the whole body was stained with pollution.

Something that gives additional force to the statement is implied in the word princes, for it is deeply to be lamented when an evil arises from the very quarter where the remedy for it ought to be expected. He next mentions a particular instance.

Companions of thieves. By these words he means that they are so far from restraining theft and dishonest dealings that, on the contrary, they profit from them. He justly calls those persons companions of thieves who, by receiving part of the plunder, grant permission to commit theft. Indeed, when a judge is corrupted by a bribe, it is inevitable that crimes will abound and go unpunished, and we must consider him to be in collusion with the perpetrators.

Every one loveth a gift. He next points out the reason why princes have made themselves companions of thieves and have bound themselves by a wicked conspiracy to approve of crimes: it is avarice.

When judges are devoted to the love of money, justice is utterly destroyed. For if showing partiality (the acceptance of persons) is a corruption of judgment, leaving no room for justice, then every man who is under the dominion of covetousness will certainly regard the person rather than the cause. The consequence is that he will not be able to perceive what is just and right but, as one expresses it, will make laws and unmake them.

This reminds us how great a virtue it is for a magistrate to disregard money, for unless he keeps his mind, his hands, and his eyes under restraint, he will never be able to judge justly. It is absurd to say, as some men do, that they keep their heart pure and uncorrupted, even though they receive bribes.

What the Lord says must be true: A gift blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous (Exodus 23:8). No man is so upright, no man is so clear-sighted and discerning, that his mind will resist the enchantment, and his eyes the blinding influence, of gifts. Such judges, therefore, he justly declares to be companions of thieves; for, hurried along by a blind desire for money, they overturn all law both of God and man, and leave no room for justice or modesty.

We must also observe that the Prophet, in order to convince hypocrites, brings forward their actions which were open and universally known, for otherwise they would not submit. And yet there can be no doubt that at that time many objected when he thus called them thieves, just as even in the present day most men impudently and obstinately exclaim that they are not thieves on account of receiving the rewards and gifts offered to them, because these do not prevent them from passing a just judgment.

But these replies being frivolous, the Prophet, after exposing their wicked actions, is satisfied with the reproof he has given and argues with them no longer. Indeed, nature itself declares that it is impossible to give just judgment when judges are so eager for gain and regard, because they cannot but absolutely expose their honesty and reputation for sale.

They judge not the fatherless. As the Lord specially recommends to us the fatherless and widows, because they have been deprived of human protection, so we need not wonder if He is displeased when they are abandoned by the judges, who ought to have been their guardians and defenders. For since they have neither foresight, nor industry, nor strength, if no one comes forward to render assistance, they must be exposed without redress to every kind of violence and injustice. Now, when no regard is paid to them, it follows that sway is held not by justice, but by covetousness and plunder.