Isaías 28
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 28
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Isaiah 28:1-33:24 forms a literary unit (i.e. six "woe" pronouncements) that deals with Judah's alliance with Egypt against Assyria in the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (for the dates of his reign see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM). I use the dates of these three scholars: John Bright, 715-687; E. J. Young, 727-699; R. K. Harrison, 716/15-687/86). The historical background is apparently the time surrounding (i.e. 705-701 B.C.) the invasion of the Assyrian monarch Sennacherib in 701 B.C. Isaiah 28:1-6 deals with the fall of Israel (i.e. the northern tribes after 922 B.C.) to Assyria. Israel's capital, Samaria, fell in 722 B.C. to Sargon II after a three-year siege. Verses 7-22 deal with YHWH's judgment of Judah. The covenant people have violated the covenant. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT Sargon II died in 705 B.C. Many of the vassal nations took this opportunity to rebel against Assyria. Sennacherib, the next Assyrian monarch, invaded Judah in 701 B.C. We know from Assyrian documents that he captured forty-six walled villages in Judah and put down the revolt. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA Brief Outline of this Chapter woe to drunkards of Ephraim, Isa. 28:1-6 woe to drunk priests and prophets of Judah, Isa. 28:7-13 woe to the civic leadership of Judah, Isa. 28:14-22 a parable from agriculture, Isa. 28:23-29
Isaías 28:1-8
28:1 "Woe" This term (BDB 222) characterizes this entire section (six "woes," cf. Isa. 28:1; 29:1,15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1, similar to the six woes of Isa. 5:8-22). The term "woe" characterizes the poetic meter of a funeral dirge. ▣ "the drunkards of Ephraim" Isaiah 28:1-4 is the prophet's words of judgment to the religious and political leadership of the Northern Ten Tribes. There is a series of references to their abuse of alcohol (cf. Isa. 28:1 (twice), 3,7; Hosea 7:5). Alcohol abuse is often used as imagery of poor judgments which result in divine judgment. See SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK. Since the division of the United Monarchy (under Saul, David, and Solomon) in the time of Rehoboam, Saul's son (i.e. 922 B.C.), the northern group was known by three names. Israel (collective title) Ephraim (the largest tribe) Samaria (the capital city) "Which is at the head of the fertile valley "which is at the head of the verdant valleys" NRSV, JPSOA "which is on the head of those bloated with rich food" "sited at the head of the lush valley" "at the entrance of the fertile valley" "on the heads of those who drip with perfumes" "on the top of the stout mountain" This ambiguous phrase might refer to Samaria located on a high hill (Jewish Study Bible, p. 836) the heads of the wealthy, powerful drunken leaders of Israel The REB follows the DSS manuscript of Isaiah. 28:2 "the Lord has a strong and mighty agent" This refers to the Assyrian empire sent by YHWH (cf. Isa. 8:7; 10:5-6) to punish Israel. The destruction of the Northern Ten Tribes was consummated in the fall of the capital city Samaria after a three year siege by Sargon II in 722 B.C. (cf. 2 Kgs. 17:6; 18:9-12). All her people were exiled to Media. The vast majority never returned. Notice how the Lord's agent is characterized. strong mighty a storm of hail (cf. Isa. 30:30) a tempest of destruction a storm of mighty overflowing waters (cf. Isa. 8:7-8) "He has cast it down to earth with His hand" (i.e. YHWH sent it) 28:4 This is agricultural imagery related to the greatly prized first ripe figs (cf. Hosea 9:10; Mic. 7:1). These fruits were eaten quickly and gone. So too, the fertile land of the Northern Ten Tribes is captured and occupied by foreigners. 28:5 "In that day" See note at Isa. 2:11. The day of YHWH's visitation. SPECIAL TOPIC: THAT DAY ▣ "a beautiful crown" This is obviously in contrast to "the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim" in Isa. 28:1. In Isa. 28:1 it refers to Samaria, here possibly a restored Jerusalem where the Messiah reigns (cf. Isa. 28:16-17). ▣ "diadem" This is a rare NOUN (BDB 862) which is parallel to "crown" (BDB 742), used of the royal line in Samaria (cf. Isa. 28:1) and of Judah (Isa. 62:3). God's appointed leaders, even of the Davidic family, failed. YHWH Himself will be their king, as it should be (cf. 1 Sam. 8:7; 10:19). ▣ "the remnant of His people" This verse is still in the strophe referring to Israel. This may refer to those (few) of the northern tribes who will one day return to Jerusalem. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT, THREE SENSES 28:6 This verse describes God's new appointed Davidic leader (cf. Isa. 9:1-7; 11:1-5,10). a spirit of justice (esp. Isa. 11:2) a rallying of the defenders of the city (i.e. Jerusalem) 28:7 I agree with JPSOA, TEV, and NJB that a paragraph break should occur between Isa. 28:6 and Isa. 28:7. Verses 7 and 8 describe the current drunken leadership of Judah (cf. Isa. 28:14; Jer. 13:12-14, seven of the VERBS are Qal PERFECTS, which denotes a settled state), similar to Isa. 28:1-4, which describe the drunken leadership of Israel. NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "confused by wine" NKJV, ASV, LXX "swallowed up by wine" "in confusion" "muddled with wine" "befuddled with wine" "overcome with wine" The VERB in BDB 118, KB 134 (Niphal PERFECT) means "swallow down" or "swallow up" (cf. Isa. 25:8; Gen. 41:7,24; Exod. 7:12; 15:12; Num. 16:30,32,34; 26:10; Deut. 11:6; Jer. 51:34). However, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 666-668 and KB 135-136 list three possible roots. KB 135 I, swallow, engulf KB 136 II, announce, communicate KB 136 III, Niphal confuse; Piel in Isa. 3:12; Pual in Isa. 9:16 Number 3 fits this context best. SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK 28:8 "tables" This term (BDB 1020) can refer to the king's table, cf. Isa. 21:5 governor's table, cf. Neh. 5:17 private parties sacrifices, cf. Exod. 25:23; Lev. 24:6; Num. 3:31; 4:7 (in tabernacle)
Isaías 28:9-22
28:9-10 Isaiah's words (or YHWH's words through him) were attacked by the religious leadership those he addressed in Isa. 28:7-8 (cf. Jer. 26:9-15; Amos 7:12; Mic. 2:6-11) 28:10,13 This is a very cryptic reference. It involved the repetition of צו (BDB 846, in Hosea 5:11 it means "command") and קו (BDB 876 II, in Isa. 28:17 it means "a measuring line"). The religious drunkards were accusing Isaiah's messages of being childish and difficult to understand (KB 1081 I #2). Isaiah 28:11 is God's reaction to their reaction to Isaiah's message. 28:11-13 This is Isaiah's response to the religious elite and arrogant of his day in Jersualem. 28:11 "Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue" This is God's response to their rejection of His prophet. In essence He says, "If you are having a hard time understanding his basic ABC's, wait until you hear the Assyrian language" (cf. Isa. 28:13; 33:19; Jer. 5:15). Paul quotes this verse in 1 Cor. 14:21 in his discussion of "speaking in tongues." See my commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 online at "Bible Interpretation Seminar" and my SPECIAL TOPIC: SPEAKING IN TONGUES. 28:12 "Here is rest, give rest to the weary" YHWH wanted His people to have "rest" (BDB 629) and peace (cf. Isa. 11:10; 30:15; 32:17,18). The VERB (BDB 628, KB 679) is a Hiphil IMPERATIVE. This refers to Isaiah's messages of hope and restoration, if only they would turn to YHWH, but they would not (Isa. 28:12b)! Jesus gave a similar call to them in Matt. 11:28-29. 28:13 YHWH's only message to them was Isaiah's message, which they rejected to their ruin. stumble backward, BDB 505, KB 502, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 3:8; 59:14 be broken, BDB 990, KB 1402, Niphal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 8:15 be snared, BDB 430, KB 432, Niphal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 8:15 be taken captive, BDB 539, KB 530, Niphal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 8:15; 24:18 28:14 "hear" This VERB (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE) was both a call to obedience and an introduction to judgment but they would not listen (cf. Isa. 28:12,14,22,23 [twice]; 29:18; 30:9,19,21,30; 32:3, 9; 33:13,15,19; 34:1 [twice]). What a recurrent theme; God tries to instruct, but they refuse to listen! "Hear the word of the Lord" is the literary marker of a "judgment oracle." ▣ "O scoffers" This is a CONSTRUCT ("men," BDB 35 and "scorning" BDB 539). They are mentioned often in Proverbs (i.e. Prov. 1:22; 24:9). How surprising that this refers to the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem who should have known better and trusted more! Crisis reveals true leadership or lack of it. 28:14 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX, Peshitta "who rule this people" "who govern that people" JPSOA (footnote) "composers of taunt- verse for that people" The MT is relfected in the NASB. The secondary option in JPSOA is an attempt to tighten the parallelism. 28:15 "We have made a covenant with death" Isaiah sarcastically characterizes the thoughts of the leaders of Jerusalem. This refers to a treaty (i.e. "covenant," BDB 136, and the parallel rare term, "pact," BDB 302, cf. Isa. 28:18; lit. "vision," used only here in this sense) that Judah made with the Egyptians (cf. Isa. 30:1-7). It is a theological play on God's word through Moses of providing His people with a choice of life or death in Deut. 30:15-20 (see notes from Deuteronomy online at www.freebiblecommentary.org.). In this instance, the choice involved choosing protection from an earthly military source or trusting in God. They chose death. For "death" (mot) see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS ▣ "Sheol" This refers to the holding place of the dead and is synonymous with the Greek term "Hades." See SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? (Sheol/Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus), I. B. "overwhelming scourge" NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "overflowing scourge" "scourging flood" "destructive whip" "the rushing storm" "raging flood" "the sweeping flood" "overwhelming judgment" The first term is a PARTICIPLE (BDB 1009, KB 1474, Qal ACTIVE). It is the second term that presents options (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 64-65) שׁטף, BDB 1009, "overflow," cf. Isa. 8:8; 10:22 (i.e. an invading army) שׁוט, BDB 1002, "scourge," "whip," cf. Isa. 10:26; 1 Kgs. 12:11,14 ▣ "passes by" This VERB (BDB 716, KB 778) is either a Qal IMPERFECT (qere) or a Qal PERFECT (kethiv, cf. Isa. 26:20). The VERB means "to pass over," "to pass through," or "to pass by." It is used thirty-four times in Isaiah in this literary unit (i.e. chapters 28-35, cf. Isa. 28:15,18,19 [twice]; 29:5; 31:9; 33:8,21; 34:10; 35:8). ▣ "For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception" What a tragedy for God's people: a self induced state of trusting in the arm of flesh! falsehood, BDB 469, cf. Isa. 28:17 (common in Psalms and Proverbs) deception, BDB 1005, cf. Isa. 9:15; 32:7; 44:20; 57:4; 59:3,13 (common in Psalms and Proverbs, used often in Jeremiah) The VERB form of "refuge" (BDB 340) denotes placing confidence and trust in something or someone. It is often used of taking refuge in YHWH. YHWH as the rock, Deut. 32:37; Ps. 18:2 YHWH as a mother bird, Ruth 2:12; Ps. 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4 YHWH as shield, 2 Sam. 22:3,31; Ps. 18:30; 144:2; Prov. 30:5 in Him, Ps. 2:12; 5:11; 7:1; 11:1; 16:1; 25:20; 31:1,19; 34:8,22; 37:40; 57:1; 64:10; 71:1; 118:8,9; 141:8; Isa. 57:13; Nah. 1:7 YHWH's right hand, Ps. 17:7 Zion, Isa. 14:32 YHWH's name, Zeph. 3:12 SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE DEITY 28:16 This verse is a shocking change of mode, a theological reversal of hope amidst judgment. YHWH's redemptive universal plan reveals itself again. Messiah will come! It is only one verse, but what a verse! This is a series of Messianic titles using "construction" imagery. The term "stone" (BDB 6) is often used of God; however, the term "cornerstone" (BDB 819) has a unique connection with the Messiah (cf. Ps. 118:22; Matt. 21:42, 44: Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Rom. 9:33; 10:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6-8). The term "tested" (BDB 103) is an Egyptian loan word for a fine grain stone suitable for carving. This seems to mean that God is going to inscribe the cornerstone with the phrase found in 16d. The key to this thought is the term "believes" (cf. Isa. 30:15 for a similar emphasis on "trust"). The term "foundation" (BDB 414) is found only here and 2 Chr. 8:16, where it refers to Solomon's laying the foundation of the temple. Notice that this foundation is "firmly placed" (NASB margin, "well-laid"). The Hebrew has another doubling of a word. This is where the translation "firmly" or "well-laid" comes from. SPECIAL TOPIC: CORNERSTONE SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT 28:16b "will not be disturbed" "will not act hastily" "will not panic" "Faith that is firm is also patient" "will not waver" "He who trusts need not fear" "will not be put to shame" "shall not be afraid" The MT has he who believes ‒ BDB 52, KB 63, Hiphil PARTICIPLE will not be in haste ‒ BDB 301, KB 300k Hiphil IMPERFECT The BDB #2 suggests "hasten away (flee)," or "hasten about destractedly." YHWH's actions (or His Messiah) will bring peace and stability! 28:17 "justice" See SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, JUSTICE. ▣ "measuring line. . .level" These were ways of measuring the straightness (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:13) of the horizontal (BDB 876 II) and vertical (BDB 1054). ▣ "righteousness" See SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS. ▣ Lines c and d are again plays on water (cf. Isa. 27:12). The "refuge of lies" and "the secret place" may refer to the practice of idolatry in the temple itself (cf. Ezekiel 8 and Deut. 27:15). YHWH does not act or speak in a secret, dark place, but openly in the light (cf. Isa. 45:19; 48:16). 28:18 There is a parallelism in the first two lines. canceled ‒ BDB 497, KB 493, Pual PERFECT with waw. This VERB normally means "to cover over," but here, "to nullify" or "to cancel" (KB, "be disolved"); a meaning found only here will not stand ‒ This Hebrew VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086,Qal IMPERFECT) means "to arise," "to stand," or "to stand up." It is imagery for that which will not happen (cf. Isa. 7:7; 8:10; 28:18; Prov. 15:22). God's will and plan supersede human plans (cf. Isa. 14:24-27; 40:8; 46:10; 55:8-10; Ps. 35:10-11; Prov. 19:21; Jer. 44:28)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 28:19 This verse relates to "the overwhelming scourge" of Isa. 28:18. It (the invader, cf. 2 Kgs. 24:2) will come again and again and bring terror and confusion. They will not be able to understand why (in contrast to Isa. 50:4). 28:20 This proverb reflects the inadequacy of human plans. 28:21 "Mount Perazim. . .the valley of Gibeon" These locations both refer to the place where YHWH helped David in his battle against the Philistines. However, in the current situation God is not on Judah's side, but on Assyria's (cf. 2 Sam. 5:17-21; 1 Chr. 14:13-17). What a shock to YHWH's covenant people. ▣ "To do His task, His unusual task, And to work His work, His extraordinary work" Many people refer this "unusual task" to God's judgment of His own people. However, I think, because of the context, the unusual task is God's judgment, but through the use of the godless Assyrian Empire (cf. Habakkuk, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 775). 28:22 "a decisive destruction" "a destruction determined" NRSV, JPSOA "a decree of destruction" "decision to destroy" "irrevocably decided" "destruction decreed" The VERB (BDB 358 I, KB 356, Niphal PARTICIPLE) in the Qal stem denotes "to cut," "decree," or "to determine," but the Niphal stem means "a decisive decision." human life span, Job 14:5 future events, Isa. 10:22-23; Dan. 9:26-27 History is not undirected; it is teleological. It has a divine plan and purpose (i.e. the redemption of fallen humanity, cf. Gen. 3:15). Notice the statements of Luke 22:22 Acts 2:23 Acts 3:18 Acts 4:28 Acts 13:29 ▣ "on all the earth" The universal judgment seen in Isaiah 24-27 is repeated, but thank God, there will also be a universal redemption (i.e. Isa. 28:16)! SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH
Isaías 28:23-29
28:23-29 This is a parable using agricultural imagery about how to sow and reap certain crops. This speaks of the fact that God knows what He is doing. He is working with His people in appropriate purposeful ways. He has an eternal redemptive plan that is working itself out in human history! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 28:23 This verse has a series of IMPERATIVES from God (cf. Isa. 28:29) through His prophet to His people. give ear, BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE hear my voice, BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 28:12,14,22 listen, BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil IMPERATIVE hear my words, same as #2 But they would not; they could not (cf. Isa. 6:9-10)! 28:25 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, REB "in rows" "millet" Peshitta, LXX ‒omit‒ ‒omit‒ The MT has שׂורה (BDB 965), which states that the meaning is unknown but suggests a scribal error in reading the following word, שׂערה (BDB 972, NET, p. 1231, #11). The JPSOA in a footnote, accepts "in a row" and mentions that some grain was planted (i.e. in a row), not sown or scattered. 28:28 "he does not continue to thresh it forever" This is the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 190, KB 218) used for intensity. YHWH administers just the right amount of judgment, not too much, not too little! 28:29 Hope, help, and happiness come in hearing and honoring God's Word! SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL THINGS SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts ▣ "Who has made His counsel wonderful" This affirmation of YHWH's counsel and wisdom is reflected in the title of the Messiah from Isa. 9:6, "Wonderful Counselor." The Messiah will reflect the character of Israel's God.