Rashi on TanakhIsaiah 50

Why have I come to draw near to you, and none of you turns to Me?

I clothe the heavens The host of the heavens, the princes of the heathens (nations [Mss. and K’li Paz]), when I come to mete out retribution upon the nations.

gave me a tongue for teaching Isaiah was saying, The Lord sent me and gave me a tongue fit to teach, in order to know to establish a time for the faint and thirsty to hear the words of the Holy One, blessed be He.

to establish times Heb. לָעוּת. Menahem classified it in the group of (Ps. 119:126) “It is time (עֵת) to do for the Lord.” To establish times for them.

He awakens my ear He awakens my ear with His Holy Spirit.

to hear according to the teachings According to the custom of the teachings, the truth and that which is proper.

opened my ear and let me hear (supra 6:8), “Whom shall I send?” I sent Amos, and they called him ‘pesilus.’ I sent Micah, etc., as is stated in Pesikta of ‘Nachamu nachamu.’

and I did not rebel going on His mission, neither did I turn away backwards, but I said, “Here I am; send me” (ibid.).

I gave my back to smiters He said to me, Isaiah, My children are obstinate; My children are bothersome. [You may go] on the condition that you do not become angry with them. I said to Him, On that condition.

But the Lord God helps me if they rise up against me.

He Who vindicates me is near The Holy One, blessed be He, is near to me to vindicate me in judgment.

a moth Heb. עָשׁ, the worm of the clothing.

to the voice of His servant To the voice of the prophets.

who went in darkness Even if trouble comes upon him, let him trust in the name of the Lord, for He shall save him.

Behold all of you who do not hearken to the voice of His prophets.

who kindle fire of His wrath upon yourselves.

and give power to flames Who strengthen the flames; they are sparks and burning coals that are cast up with a slingshot. It has a cognate in the Aramaic tongue, זִיקוּקִין דְּנוּר, flames of fire (Ber. 58b), so many slingers (זִיקָתָא) are assigned to us (Baba Mezia 94a) [frondeles in O.F., sling].

go in the flame of your fire According to your way, you will be punished.

from My hand shall this retribution come to you.