Commentary for Isaiah 45:11

Ask Me about the signs etc. Heb. הָאוֹתִיוֹת. The ‘heh’ is voweled with a ‘kamatz.’ This indicates that it is not the interrogative, but this is its explanation: If you have come to ask Me, you and the prophets, ask Me about the signs of the heavens and the wonders that you see coming about on the earth; about them you may ask Me, what they are, but about My children and about the work of My hands, Israel, for whose sake I formed everything, shall you come to command Me and to complain before Me?

And his maker. I am he who made Israel.

do you command Me? This is the interrogative. Must you command Me concerning My children? I have already created the salvation for them in the thought that has entered My mind [lit. has come before Me]. How so? I aroused him with righteousness. This is stated regarding Cyrus.

שְׁאׇלוּגׅי Ask me. It is imperative like שְׁמׇלוּגׅי hear me (Gen. 23:8), the kamez being substituted for zeré because of the guttural letter (א) ¹⁴The regular form would be שַׁאֲלוּגׅי שׁׅמׅעוּגׅי. See I. E. on 41:25, and Note 31..

,mubhWill ye command me.¹⁵A. V., Ask me. Comp. Rashi ad locum. It is a question.—As the potter knows what to do with the clay, so I know what to do with Israel, who is my son. The other nations, the Non-Israelites are addressed in these words.