פירוש על ישעיהו 1:31

the[ir] strength with which they take from the poor by force and rob them and strengthen themselves with the money. That money will become as tow, which is shaken out of the flax, which is light and easily ignited.

החסון. The strong. Adjective; the substantive is חוסן strength.

and its perpetrator The one who amasses this power will become as a spark of fire, and they will burn, one with the other. as a spark Heb. וּפֹעֲלוֹ לְנִיצוֹץ, estencele in O.F. [etincelle in modern French], a spark. Jonathan renders וְעוֹבַד יְדֵיהוֹן, and the work of their hands. This does not follow the Hebrew, however, for, were it so, it would have to be voweled וּפָעֳלוּ with a ‘kamatz- chatuf,’ a hurried ‘kamatz,’ and it would be explained as an expression of work. Now, that it is voweled with a ‘cholam,’ it is an expression of a worker, or perpetrator.

נעורת Tow. That which is shaken off (נער to shake) from the flax.

with no one to extinguish Jonathan renders: And no one will pity them.

לניצוץ As a spark (comp. Ez. 1:7). This verse refers to the idols, which are made strong, that they should not shake, but which those who formed them will burn in time of trouble, because they helped not; but the workmen themselves will likewise be burnt; ..

this is meant by and they will both burn. (Comp. Exod. 3:3.)

And none shall quench. And none shall help.