*1:1 Probably king Hezekiah, one of the previous kings of Judah.
†1:3 Literally, “stumbling-blocks,” which makes the meaning unclear.
‡1:4 Literally, “stretch out my hand against.”
§1:4 Implied.
*1:5 Or “Molech,” a pagan god.
†1:7 In the context, Israel is the sacrifice, and the Babylonians are the “guests.”
‡1:8 Literally, “those who dress in foreign clothes.”
§1:9 The meaning of this is debated. Some think it was a pagan custom (see for example 1 Samuel 5:4-5). Others tie it to the following verse and see it as eagerness to rob the poor.
*1:11 Literally, “the Mortar.”
†1:11 Literally, “people of Canaan.”
‡1:12 In other words, they dismiss the Lord because they don't think he cares about them.
§1:15 The expression of God being angry or full of wrath is a frequent image in the prophetic writings, but should not be understood in the same way as human anger. God's anger is not emotional like some kind of unthinking “red mist,” but a principled opposition to all that is evil. God uses this anger to try to convince those who are wrong to do what is right for their own sake, not because he “gets mad” and lashes out. Human anger is self-centered; divine anger is other-centered.
*1:18 “Jealous” when applied to God is not the same as human jealousy. It means God's strong desire that people follow only him, for he alone can save. He wants an exclusive relationship for he knows that anything else leads to disaster.