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Author: Eduardo Freire Canosa
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1 Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.
9 All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart,
10 "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars."
11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;
15 the elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother.
20 On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring:
21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
This canonical chapter weaves together five different scripts.
Revised Chapter 9 draws on six canonical verses, imports twenty-five and a half more from six chapters and takes up the title, "Ephraim."
1-7. Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Analysis: This Israelite who will be called "Mighty God" plus other accolades (v 6) and who will reign on David's throne exercising justice and righteousness "from that time on and forever" (v 7) can only be the Branch of the Lord.
Destination: Revised Chapter 4, "The Branch of The Lord."
12. Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Reason: The "Israel" of this verse is the kingdom of Judah because the "Arameans from the east" (Moabites) and Philistines could not match the military strength of the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim).
Destination: Revised Chapter 1, "The Invasion of Judah During the Reign of Ahaz,"
1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. 12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
13. But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
Analysis: On Isaiah 1:23-25 the Lord Almighty declares explicitly that he will turn against the people of Jerusalem, Judah. Although he has struck them, i.e. the invasion of the land of Judah has started, the people have not returned to him. On the contrary they and their king will turn to the gods of Assyria (2 Chronicles 28:22-25).
Destination: Revised Chapter 1, "The Invasion of Judah During the Reign of Ahaz,"
1:8 The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege. 1:9 Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. 13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
16. Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
Analysis: The derogatory terms "this people" and "these people" are used by the Lord in conversation with his prophet to refer to the unfaithful citizens of Zion (Isaiah 6:9-10, 8:6, 8:11-12, 29:13-14, Jeremiah 5:23, 8:5, 16:10, Haggai 1:2). Isaiah 3:12 paraphrases verse 16, "O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path." Consequently the Lord had spoken this verse in conversation with Isaiah earlier.
Destination: Revised Chapter 6, "The Vision of The Lord,"
16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. 56:10 Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. 56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
17. Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Analysis: The conjunction, "therefore," misleads. Verse 17 is not the continuation of verse 16. The guides of Israel may have led the people astray (v 16) but not taught them vileness (v 17).
This people have so angered the Lord that he will not even pity the orphans and the widows, his legend (e.g. Psalm 68:5, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling"). During the monarchy of Ahab, the unfaithful guides of Israel led the people astray, yet the Lord took pity on a Sidonite widow (1 Kings 17:8-24). During the monarchy of Joram son of Ahab, the unfaithful guides of Israel led the people astray, yet the Lord took pity on a Shunammite widow (2 Kings 4:8-37). That will not happen here. The reason given is that "every mouth speaks vileness." And when does every mouth speaks vileness? When evil is called good and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20).
Destination: Revised Chapter 5, "The Vineyard of The Lord,"
5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.22:14 The Lord Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the Lord Almighty, 40:16 "Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings."
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
18-21. Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke. 19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother. 20 On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring: 21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Destination: Since verse 21 forecasts the invasion of Judah by Pekah son of Remaliah ("together they will turn against Judah") these four verses set well in Revised Chapter 1, "The Invasion of Judah During the Reign of Ahaz."
10:22-23. Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. 23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
11:13-14. Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. 14 They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
Second Half of 27:11 plus 27:12. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor. 27:12 In that day the Lord will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one.
28:1-4. Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley—to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! 2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. 3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot. 4 That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest—as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.
28:7-8. And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. 8 All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
28:22. Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
29:9-12. Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer. 10 The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers). 11 For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I can't; it is sealed." 12 Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I don't know how to read."
29:18-24. In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20 The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down— 21 those who with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice. 22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: "No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale. 23 When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction."
42:18. Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!
42:20. You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.
28:1 Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley—to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! 28:7 And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. 28:8 All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth. 42:18 Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! 42:20 You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.
28:3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot. 28:4 That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest—as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.
28:2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. 14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; 15 the elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. 9 All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, 10 "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars." 11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
28:22 Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land. 10:22 Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. 10:23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land. Second Half of 27:11 For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor. 27:12 In that day the Lord will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one.
29:9 Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer. 29:10 The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers). 29:11 For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I can't; it is sealed." 29:12 Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I don't know how to read."
29:18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 29:19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 29:20 The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down— 29:21 those who with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice. 29:22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: "No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale. 29:23 When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 29:24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction."
11:13 Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. 11:14 They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
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