Isaiah 63:18

18 They had as nought thine holy people in possession, and our enemies defouled thine hallowing. (For a little while they had thy holy people in possession, and our enemies defiled thy sanctuary.)

Isaiah 63:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 63:18

The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little
while
Either the land of Canaan, which the Jews, the Lord's holy people, whom he had separated from others, possessed about fourteen hundred years, which was but a little while in comparison of "for ever", as was promised; or they enjoyed it but a little while in peace and quiet, being often disturbed by their neighbours; or else the sanctuary, the temple, as it is to be supplied from the next clause, which stood but little more than four hundred years: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary;
the temple; the first temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; and the second temple by the Romans; and Antiochus, and Pompey, and others, profaned it, by treading in it.

Isaiah 63:18 In-Context

16 Forsooth thou art our father, and Abraham knew not us, and Israel knew not us. Thou, Lord, art our father, and our again-buyer; thy name is from the world. (For thou art our father, though Abraham knew us not, and Israel, or Jacob, knew us not. Thou, Lord, art our father, and our Redeemer; thy name is from forever.)

17 Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways? thou hast made hard our heart, that we dreaded not thee? be thou converted, for thy servants, the lineages of thine heritage. (Lord, why hast thou let us go astray from thy ways? hast thou hardened our hearts, so that we do not fear thee?/so that we do not have reverence for thee? return thou for the sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy inheritance.)

18 They had as nought thine holy people in possession, and our enemies defouled thine hallowing. (For a little while they had thy holy people in possession, and our enemies defiled thy sanctuary.)

19 We be made as in the beginning, when thou were not Lord of us, neither thy name was called to help on us. (And we were made like in the beginning, when thou were not Lord of us, and we did not call on thy name for help/and we were not called by thy name.)