Peter J. Leithart

God appeared frequently to saints of the Old Testament. He came as a smoking oven and flaming torch to Abram (Genesis 15:17), and later as three men before Abraham’s tent by the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18). He showed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), and to Israel in a fiery cloud (Exodus 16:10). When He appeared to Korah, the earth opened and swallowed the rebels, and He appeared to Manoah’s wife with the good news about a son (Judges 13:3) and to Samuel with grim news for the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3:21). Time would fail me if I enumerated all of Yahweh’s appearances to kings, prophets, judges, women… . Continue Reading »

Isaiah prophesies that Egypt will have oppressors, but that the Lord will remove them (19:20). An altar in the center of Egypt, and a pillar of Yahweh at the boundary (v. 19) will mark Egypt as Yahweh’s land, and when they cry out the Lord will save. It is entirely an exodus story: Egyptians . . . . Continue Reading »

In judging Egypt, Yahweh threatens to mix together a drink that will make Egypt stagger, wander, and finally fall. He will mix the drink in the “innards” of Egypt, and Egypt will vomit (Isaiah 19:14). It is a judgment, but the ultimate aim is to clean the inner parts. Vomit is . . . . Continue Reading »

Yahweh’s coming to Egypt leaves that well-watered land desolated. The sea, the rivers, the Nile itself are dried up, and all the vegetation that grows by the waters withers and is blown away like chaff. No fish can live in the waters, and the fishermen hang up their nets and lament (Isaiah . . . . Continue Reading »

When the book of Exodus opens, the Hebrews are subjected to “hard” bondage (1:14; 6:9). Yahweh sees it, and graciously delivers them from the bondage, but hardness returns. Four times in Exodus, Yahweh charges that Israel, though delivered from the hard bondage of hard-hearted Pharaoh, . . . . Continue Reading »

Isaiah 7-8 form a unit that is roughly chiastic (the following is modified from David Dorsey): A. threat from Aram and Israel, 7:1-2 B. Yahweh speaks to Isaiah: message for Ahaz, 7:3-9 C. Yahweh speaks to Ahaz, 7:10-17: sign, Immanuel, king of Assyria D. “In that day,” 7:18-25 C’. . . . . Continue Reading »

WH Auden commented, “More deadly than the Idle Word is the use of words as Black Magic . . . . For millions of people today, words like Communism, Capitalism, Imperialism, Peace, Freedom and Democracy have ceased to be words the meaning of which can be inquired into and discussed, and have . . . . Continue Reading »

There are plenty of reasons to dislike VS Naipaul, his talent notwithstanding. Now this: Asked whether or not any woman writer was his match, he predictably answered No, and then put in a gratuitous swipe at Austen: I “couldn’t possibly share her sentimental ambitions, her sentimental . . . . Continue Reading »

The song of the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) is an Edenic song. Yahweh forms Israel as His garden, and waits eagerly for it to produce grapes and wine to bring joy to His heart. The creation motif is reinforced by the structure of the passage. Verse 2 is a sevenfold sequence of clauses. Six describe . . . . Continue Reading »

When Yahweh judges Jerusalem and Judah, the traditional leaders will topple, and the people will scramble around to find rulers. “You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler ( qatsiyn )” (Isaiah 3:6). “You should not appoint me ruler ( qatsiyn ),” he replies (v. 7). The . . . . Continue Reading »