Isaiah — Chapter 9

aSee the first note at 5.30. The people that walked in darknessHave seen a brilliant light;On those who dwelt in a land of gloomLight has dawned.

You have magnified that nation,Have given it great joy;They have rejoiced before YouAs they rejoice at reaping time,As they exultWhen dividing spoil.

For the yoke that they boreAnd the stick on their back—The rod of their taskmaster—You have broken as on the day of Midian.bthe day of Midian See Judg. 7–8.

Truly, all the boots put on to stamp withcto stamp with Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “in wickedness”; cf. Targum. And all the garments donned in infamyHave been fed to the flames,Devoured by fire.

For a child has been born to us,A son has been given us.And authority has settled on his shoulders.He has been named“The Mighty God is planning grace;dgrace As in 25.1. The Eternal Father,eFather See note at Deut. 32.6. a peaceable ruler”—

In token of abundant authorityAnd of peace without limitUpon David’s throne and kingdom,That it may be firmly establishedIn justice and in equityNow and evermore.The zeal of GOD of HostsShall bring this to pass.

The SovereignLet loose a wordfLet loose a word Septuagint reads “Let loose pestilence”; cf. Amos 4.10. In vv. 7–20 Isaiah alludes to and builds upon Amos 4.10–12. against JacobAnd it fell upon Israel.

But all the people notedgnoted 1QIsᵃ reads “shouted.”—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—In arrogance and haughtiness:

“Bricks have fallen—We’ll rebuild with dressed stone;Sycamores have been felled—We’ll grow cedars instead!”

So GOD let the enemies of Rezinhthe enemies of Rezin Emendation yields “its enemies.” Triumph over itAnd stirred up its foes—

Aram from the eastAnd Philistia from the west—Who devoured IsraelWith greedy mouths.Yet God’s anger has not turned back,And the divine arm is outstretched still.

For this people has not turned backTo the One who struck it;They have not sought GOD of Hosts.

So GOD will cut off from IsraelHead and tail,Palm branch and reed,In a single day.

Elders and magnatesiand magnates Emendation yields “who practice partiality.”—Such are the heads;Prophets who give false instruction,Such are the tailsjtails Emendation yields “palm branches”; the elders and the prophets are the leaders, the people are the led; cf. 3.1–2, 12.

That people’s leaders have been misleaders,So those who are led have been confused.

That is why the SovereignWill not sparekspare Cf. Arabic samuḥa. 1QIsᵃ reads yḥmw. their youths,Nor show compassionTo their orphans and widows;For all are ungodly and wicked,And every mouth speaks impiety.

Already wickedness has blazed forth like a fireDevouring thorn and thistle.It has kindled the thickets of the wood,Which have turned into billowing smoke.lWhich have turned into billowing smoke Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Yet God’s anger has not turned back,And the divine arm is outstretched still.mYet God’s anger has not turned back, / And the divine arm is outstretched still Moved down from v. 16 for clarity.

By the fury of GOD of Hosts,The earth was shaken.nearth was shaken Cf. note at 5.25. Next, the people became like devouring fire:They did not spare each other.

They snatched on the right, but remained hungry,And consumed on the left without being sated.Each devoured the flesh of its own kindredoown kindred Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “fellow”; cf. Targum.—

Manasseh Ephraim’s, and Ephraim Manasseh’s,pManasseh … Manasseh’s Alludes to the civil wars of 2 Kings 15.10, 14–16, 25. And both of them against Judah!qagainst Judah Cf. 7.1–9. Yet God’s anger has not turned back,And the divine arm is outstretched still.