Komentarz do Izajasza 28:10

For a precept for a precept, a precept for a precept The prophet commands them from the Holy One, blessed be He, but they - they have a precept of the idols, equal to this precept, and the prophet repeatedly admonishes them, and they always say, “We have a precept for the precept.” Ours is superior to yours.

For there is a commandment for a commandment: Because of the pleasure and due to the abundance of material possessions they are so far from the commandments of God that it has become necessary to add commandments to the commandments of God. This is to say, to make more and more 'fences' and 'walls' for the commandments of God. And then more 'fences' and 'walls' must be made for the first 'fences' and 'walls' and another commandment.

For precept must be upon precept, etc. One must speak to them in the same way as the father speaks to his little child, that does not yet know much.⁹Some editions have שלא ירע עוד that he should not continue to do evil, but according to I. E. the prophet describes here the mode of imparting knowledge to infants. The Br. Mus. MS. has שלא ידע עוד, and this reading has been adopted for the translation.

a line for a line They have a plumb-line of wicked judgments equal to the plumb- line of justice.

צו לצו Precept after¹⁰A. V., Upon.¹⁰A. V., Upon. precept, or precept joined to precept.

a little there, a little there The prophet says to them, “In a short time evil will come upon you,” and they say, “A little there, let Him hurry, let Him hasten His deeds in a short time.”

Line for a line. Based on the plumb lines that are used to keep a building straight; that is why a 'fence' (literally, a watch guard) is called a plumb line. This is to say that it is now required to make another watch guard for the previous watch guard.

קו לקו Line after line. This is just the way how writing is taught.

Here a little and there a little. Little by little, gradually.