John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 57:3

"But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot." — Isaiah 57:3 (ASV)

And draw near, you sons of the sorceress. After speaking of the happy and peaceful death of good men, the prophet breaks out with great vehemence against the wicked, who continued to lead a base and shameful life and were unmoved by the death of believers.

Just as he had said that good men enjoy peace, so he threatens that the wicked will have ceaseless war. He taught that for the holy servants of God, death will even be like a hiding-place to shelter them from the whirlwind, storm, and other tempests, so that he might threaten the worst of evils against the obstinate despisers of God.

Here we should observe the contrast between good men who walk before God and the wicked, who do not stop rebelliously resisting God. The former will enjoy peace when they die; the latter will have no peace during life and will feel dreadful torments in death.

He orders them to come forth to the judgment seat of God, which they hope to escape by their disguises. Therefore, he affirms that they gain nothing by their refusal, for they will be dragged against their will.

The more hardened they were, the sharper were the provocations that had to be applied to them. Therefore, the Prophet's harshness could not be excessive, either in arousing them from their stupidity or in casting down their pride.

Indeed, it is well known how insolent the Jews' vanity was on account of their genealogy. For this reason, the prophets frequently beat down their haughtiness and pride, affirming that they were not the children of Abraham because they were illegitimate and traitors.

On this account, Isaiah calls them the seed of the adulterer and the whore. In the same way, Ezekiel reproaches them, Your father is an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite (Ezekiel 16:3). Similar forms of expression are found in many parts of Scripture. Thus, he beats down their intolerable audacity and drags them forward unwillingly and reluctantly, so that they might not think they could escape the judgment seat of God.