1aSee 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.
2You have magnified that nation,Have given it great joy;They have rejoiced before YouAs they rejoice at reaping time,As they exultWhen dividing spoil.
3For 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.
4Truly, 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.
5For 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”—
6In 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.
7The 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.
8But all the people notedgnoted 1QIsᵃ reads “shouted.”—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—In arrogance and haughtiness:
9“Bricks have fallen—We’ll rebuild with dressed stone;Sycamores have been felled—We’ll grow cedars instead!”
10So GOD let the enemies of Rezinhthe enemies of Rezin Emendation yields “its enemies.” Triumph over itAnd stirred up its foes—
11Aram 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.
12For this people has not turned backTo the One who struck it;They have not sought
GOD
of Hosts.
13So GOD will cut off from IsraelHead and tail,Palm branch and reed,In a single day.
14Elders 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.
15That people’s leaders have been misleaders,So those who are led have been confused.
16That 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.
17Already 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.
18By 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.
19They 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.—
20Manasseh 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.