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

JB“will be battered”LXX, Peshitta “will be defeated”The VERB (BDB 369, KB 365, Qal IMPERFECT) literally means “be shattered,” denoting a completedefeat in battle which is preceded by a numbing, paralyzing fear of the upcoming defeat (cf. 7:8; 8:9[thrice]; 9:4; 20:5; 30:31; 31:4,9; 37:27; 51:6,7). YHWH is fighting on His people’s side againstAssyria. The fear and panic and loss experienced by Israel and Judah is now being felt by Assyria (therod of YHWH’s anger, cf. 10:5).} “He strikes with a rod” In Isaiah 10:5, Assyria is called the “rod of God’s anger,” but here the rolesare reversed and God is back on His people’s side. The rod now feels the rod!30:32 The judgment of the Lord is expressed by the idiom of a beating with a rod. It is possible that thenext two lines (v. 32c,d) depict1. strokes being given at the musical beat of rejoicing2. that Judah’s rejoicing follows Assyria’s defeat by YHWH (cf. v. 32d).30:33 “Topheth” This is the Hebrew word for “place of burning” (BDB 1075). It is often used inconnection with the worship of the god Molech. Here the context could imply1. a place of sacrifice to YHWH prepared by the king of His restored people2. the funeral pyre for Assyria’s king prepared by YHWH Himself (cf. 31:9)3. “the King” which refers to Molech, the Phoenician fire god (cf. Lev. 18:21)In context #2 fits best.305