Commentary for Isaiah 57:9

And you brought a gift to the king with oil Heb. וַתָּשֻׁרִי. Originally, I aggrandized you, and you would greet your king with all sorts of delights. וַתָּשֻׁרִי is an expression of an audience. Comp. (Num. 24:17) “I see him (אֲשׁוּרֶנוּ) but he is not near.” [Also] (I Sam. 9:7), “And there is no present (תְּשׁוּרָה) to bring,” [i.e.,] a gift for an audience.

ותשרי וגו׳ And thou gavest,¹²A. V., And thou wentest. etc. There is yet another evil, says the Lord, to Israel; thou hast not only worshipped idols, thou hast also sent presents to the kings of Assyria or Egypt, and hast relied on them.¹³Comp. c. xxx. and xxxi.; Hos. 14:4; 2 Kings 16:8, 17:4. As to the meaning of ותשרי and thou gavest a present, comp. ותשורה and a present (1 Sam. 9:7); R. Moses Hannagid¹⁴R. Moses Hannagid is probably identical with R. Moses Hakkohen. Hannagid means the prince, and is a title given to men of distinction. derives תשורה from שור to see, and explains it to signify the fees for the vision and prophecy; according to this explanation ותשרי may be compared with אשורנו I shall see him (Num. 24:17), and explained thou didst go to see him.

and you sent your ambassadors Your messenger afar to collect tribute from the heathen kings. ([Manuscripts and K’li Paz read:] the kings of the nations.)

With oil. Oil was exported from Palestine.

and you humbled the laws of the heathens (of the nations [Mss. and K’li Paz]) to the grave. Jonathan rendered it in this manner.

ציריך Thy messengers.

זתשפילי And didst debase thyself.