The word “weeping” occurs eight times in Isaiah’s prophecy. Four times the weeping is for Moab (15:2, 3, 5; 16:9). Weeping fills Moab to the four corners. Twice it is weeping for Jerusalem in the “valley of vision” prophecy (Isaiah 22:4, 12), where the speaker weeps . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION Isaiah’s oracle concerning the “valley of vision” focuses on Jerusalem (vv. 9-10) and specifically on the house of David (vv. 15-25). Though the city is full of confidence, Isaiah sees disaster looming. Like Babylon in the previous oracle, Jerusalem is unprepared to . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 21:14: Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitive with bread. The final oracle in Isaiah 21 concerns Arabia. An unnamed enemy has attacked, and Arabs are in flight, chased by swords, drawn swords, bent bows, weighed down with the weight of battle. . . . . Continue Reading »
In today’s sermon text, Isaiah delivers a cryptic oracle to Edom, the sons of Esau and inhabitants of Mount Seir. But Edom is not called Edom. It is called “Dumah,” a pun on Edom that means “silence.” That pun summarizes the oracle. A voice asks a night watchman the . . . . Continue Reading »
The Hebrew word mippeney is rarely translated with its root in mind ( pan , face). Instead of “from the face of,” it is translated simply as “from before.” In Isaiah 21:15, it seems important to bring out the root meaning more deliberately. Isaiah envisions fugitives fleeing . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION Beginning in chapter 13, Isaiah proclaims a series of “burdens” against the nations. He begins with Babylon (13:1; 14:4), and in chapter 21 he returns to Babylon, now called the “wilderness of the sea” (21:1). In these oracles, Yahweh shows that He is Lord of . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah says more about the uniqueness of God than any other Old Testament writer (especially Isaiah 43-45). Why did Yahweh wait so long to say this? Did he perhaps have to set up empires, deliver His people into exile, and then send them back before He could persuade the world that there was One . . . . Continue Reading »
Peter warms himself at the fire in the High Priest’s courtyard (Mark 14:54; John 18:18). In only one passage of the Old Testament does anyone warm himself by a fire - in Isaiah 44:15-16. In Isaiah the fire is fueled by the wood left over from carving an idol. Peter joins an idolatrous band . . . . Continue Reading »
Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed in the garden (Genesis 2:25). After the fall, they saw their nakedness (3:7), and their behavior manifests shame, even though the word is not used. In the LXX, the two words “naked” and some form of “shame” are used . . . . Continue Reading »
The first section of Isaiah (chs. 1-12) has seven sections, which roughly match the days of creation. 1. Isaiah begins by calling “heaven and earth” as witnesses against Judah (1:2). Day 1. 2. Chapters 2-4 are concerned with idolatry and Judah’s leaders, their mediators. These . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
