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

This same area may have been filled with water at certain low places (cf. v. 11). This served as1. a barrier to those who breached the outer wall2. a surplus water supply for the city which was full of refugees22:11 “But you did not depend on Him who made it” This is the theological key to the context. Thesame VERB of v. 8b is repeated (here a Hiphil PERFECT, lit. “look”). They were trusting in their ownfortifications and provisions for war, not in their covenant God!} “Nor did you take into consideration Him” The VERB (BDB 906, KB 1157) is a Qal PERFECT.God’s people had forsaken the promises of preservation that He made to them. Isaiah emphasizes thesepromises and asserts regularly that Jerusalem will not fall.The reason God will not let her fall is His overarching purpose (i.e., “plan,” lit. “formed,” BDB427, KB 428, Qal PARTICIPLE, cf. 37:26; 46:11; Jer. 18:11) for His people.1. inform the world about YHWH2. model a godly society3. be the channel for the coming MessiahNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 22:12-1412Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing,To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.13Instead, there is gaiety and gladness,Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,Eating of meat and drinking of wine:"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."14But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me,"Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven youUntil you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts.22:12-14 This is another strophe which starts with “in that day.”Verse 12 lists the mourning rites (see Special Topic at 15:2-3) that would characterize Jerusalem.1. weeping, BDB 113 (no VERB)2. wailing, BDB 704 (no VERB)3. shaving the head, BDB 901 (no VERB, the baldness could be by shaving or plucking, cf. Ezra9:3; Job 1:20; Jer. 7:29; 16:6; 41:5; 48:37; Mic. 1:16)4. wearing sackcloth, BDB 291, KB 291, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTVerse 13 describes what Jerusalem was doing instead. They should have been seeking YHWH inrepentance and prayer, but no, they were caught up in1. gaiety, BDB 9652. gladness, BDB 9703. sacrificing as normal, two Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES (BDB 246, BDB 133)4. eating fellowship sacrifices, BDB 37, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE5. drinking, BDB 1059 I, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE22:13d Their attitude toward life is expressed in this line of poetry. It is similar to Belshazzar’s party inDaniel 5.This attitude reflects their lack of understanding about the plans (BDB 427, KB 428, QalPARTICIPLE, cf. 11d) of YHWH for Jerusalem and His people (cf. 5:11-12). Instead of a sense of219