The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

} “Jacob. . .Israel” These two terms could be used for both the Northern Ten Tribes and the SouthernTwo Tribes being united again.14:1-2 “strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. . .and the peoples”There are two options for interpreting vv. 1-2: (1) either vv. 1 and 2 go together and describe the samegroup (i.e., strangers. . .peoples) or (2) v. 1 describes the blessings of non-Jews (i.e., strangers) and v. 2describes the defeated enemies of Israel as being their servants.It is difficult in Isaiah and Micah to balance YHWH’s attitude and actions towards the nations.1. He loves them and includes them into His covenant people (cf. 2:2-4; 11:10, see SpecialTopic at 1:3)2. He judges them and puts them in servitude (i.e., 60:10; 61:5)Somehow both are true! The prophets move back and forth, often in the same context, between thesetwo poles. Option #1 reflects Genesis 1-3; 12, while option #2 reflects Israel’s history in Canaan.In Isaiah the nations return the covenant people to their land (i.e., Canaan) and become one withthem in the worship of YHWH (cf. 49:22; 60:4-9,10-14; 66:20). This may reflect the “new exodus.”Many foreign people left Egypt with Israel and others joined her along the way (wilderness wanderingsand conquest). Maybe the imagery of v. 2 reflects this. If so, it would solve the problem of #2 above.14:3 There is a “role-reversal” between v. 2 (servitude of Israel’s enemies) and v. 3 (Israel’s servitude,which is now over). The “role-reversal” plot is common in the OT. YHWH acts in unexpected ways toaffirm the choice of Abraham’s seed (cf. Genesis 12, 15, 17). The purpose of His special attention is notfavoritism, but an eternal redemptive plan (cf. Gen. 3:15; 12:3) for all humans made in His image (cf.Gen. 1:26-27).As so often in Isaiah, there is a short-term focus and a long-term focus. The prophet merges thesetwo horizons. A good example might be chapter 13, where Babylon and Neo-Babylon’s judgment aremerged.NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 14:3-273And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil andharsh service in which you have been enslaved, 4 that you will take up this taunt against the king ofBabylon, and say,"How the oppressor has ceased,And how fury has ceased!5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,The scepter of rulers6Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes,Which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution.7The whole earth is at rest and is quiet;They break forth into shouts of joy.8Even the cypress trees rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying,'Since you were laid low, no tree cutter comes up against us.'9Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come;It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth;It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.10They will all respond and say to you,'Even you have been made weak as we,You have become like us.163