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Author: Eduardo Freire Canosa
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1 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.
9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true."
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"
14 This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."
16 This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
22 "Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
26 Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.
27 Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me.
28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn.
This canonical chapter weaves together six separate strands or scripts. All the verses are outgoing. Eight hark all the way back to Babylon. Seven others still appertain to the showdown between the Lord and the idols.
1-7. But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Analysis: Verses 5-7 announce a massive return of the house of Jacob to its land. There are two options available: the return from exile in Babylon or the return from the "ends of the earth" after the Second World War. Verse 3 names Egypt, Cush and Seba. Egypt is a minor player today. The name "Cush" is no longer current. Seba no longer exists, even its ancient location is arguable. Therefore verses 1-7 suit the return from exile in Babylon more than the modern return under Zionism.
Destination: Revised Chapter 13, "Babylon."
8. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.
Explanation: The nations and their idols have met with the Lord at the place of judgment (Isaiah 41:1) but they could not answer the Lord's question (Isaiah 41:2-3). Therefore they are dismissed.
Destination: Revised Chapter 41, "The Lord Versus The Idols."
9. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true."
Analysis: The nations and their idols have arrived at the place of judgment (Isaiah 41:1).
Note: Verse 9 should precede verse 8, but this chapter, like so many others, is a ball of spaghetti.
Destination: Revised Chapter 41, "The Lord Versus The Idols."
10-13. "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"
Analysis: The Lord has revealed, saved and proclaimed. This could apply to the delivery of Judah from Sennacherib king of Assyria or from captivity in Babylon. The "proclamation" of the first delivery was rather subdued (Isaiah 8:5-8). Its intended audience was restricted to the disciples of the Lord. The proclamation of the second delivery was bold (Isaiah 46:8-13). Its intended audience was the whole house of Jacob.
Destination: Revised Chapter 41, "The Lord Versus The Idols."
14. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride.
Destination: Obviously Revised Chapter 13, "Babylon."
15. I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King.
Destination: Revised Chapter 41, "The Lord Versus The Idols,"
40:25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 42:8 "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."
16-19. This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Analysis: Verses 16-17 recall the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-31) and verses 18-19 enjoin the house of Jacob to leave the past behind and look forward to a new memorable event. The four verses portend Isaiah 42:9, "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."
Destination: Revised Chapter 42, "The Servant In Whom The Lord Delights."
20-21. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Analysis: The Lord is the speaker. His tone is relaxed, congenial, hence the verses must be describing the rule of the Branch of the Lord. The hurdle however is the tense. Verses 20-21 are written in the present tense, but the future tense is dominant in the principal revised chapters that deal with the monarchy of the Branch of the Lord (i.e. revised chapters 2, 4 and 11).
Destination: Revised Chapter 27, "Sing About A Fruitful Vineyard,"
27:2 In that day—sing about a fruitful vineyard: 27:3 "I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. First Half of 27:4 I am not angry. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise."
22-24. Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel. 23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. 24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
Analysis: These three verses are part of the Lord's response to Israel's complaint, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'?" (Isaiah 40:27).
Note: Verses 23-24 must be rearranged (as were Isaiah 7:8-9, 33:1). See Modified Verses below.
Destination: Revised Chapter 58, "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together, Says the Lord."
25. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Destination: Revised Chapter 58, "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together, Says the Lord,"
1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.
26-27. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. 27 Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me.
Explanation: These two verses recount a debate between the Lord ("your spokesmen rebelled against me") and the house of Jacob ("Your first father sinned").
Destination: Revised Chapter 58, "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together, Says the Lord,"
26 Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. 27 Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me. 48:8 You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth.
28. So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn.
Explanation: Isaiah hears the Lord vent his anger against Israel's watchmen ("the dignitaries of your temple") and against the house of Jacob in general. Details of their wrongdoing must precede this verse.
Destination: Revised Chapter 6, "The Vision of The Lord,"
65:6 See, it stands written before me: "I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps— 65:7 both your sins and the sins of your fathers, says the Lord." Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills, I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds. 28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn.
23-24. You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. 24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
Analysis: The second half of verse 23 must trade places with the first half of verse 24 to obtain a far better composition,
You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.Destination: Revised Chapter 58, "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together, Says the Lord."
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