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

12Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,13For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up;Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.14Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken.Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;15Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,And the fertile field is considered as a forest.16Then justice will dwell in the wildernessAnd righteousness will abide in the fertile field.17And the work of righteousness will be peace,And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.18Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation,And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;19And it will hail when the forest comes down,And the city will be utterly laid low.20How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters,Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.32:9-12 This strophe speaks of the rich, wealthy society women of Jerusalem (cf 3:16-4:1). Notice howthey are addressed.1. rise up you women who are at ease, v. 9, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE. The sameVERB was used in the previous verse in the sense of “stand” or “remain,” but here it means“stand up” when I the Lord (or His prophet) address you.2. hear my voice, v. 9, BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE3. give an ear to my word, v. 9, BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE (cf. 28:23). Notice how thesecond and third VERBS are parallel, as are the descriptive phrases “women who are at ease,”(cf. v. 11) and “you complacent daughters,” and again in vv. 10,11.4. you will be troubled, v. 10, BDB 919, KB 1182, Qal IMPERFECT. This term denotes“agitation,” “shaking,” “being perturbed.” Note the “time” elements in v. 10.a. within a year and a few daysb. time of the vintage is endedc. the fruit gathering will not come5. tremble, v. 11, BDB 353, KB 350, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. 10:29; 19:16; 41:5. This is parallel to“troubled” in v. 10 (surprisingly all the IMPERATIVES of v. 11 are MASCULINE, but addressed towomen).6. be troubled, v. 11, BDB 919, KB 1182, Qal IMPERATIVE, same VERB as v. 107. strip, v. 11, BDB 832 II, KB 980, Qal IMPERATIVE. This could be a sign of (1) mourning (cf.Ezek. 26:16) or (2) humiliation (cf. Hos. 2:5).8. undress, v. 11, BDB 792, KB 889, Qal IMPERATIVE9. put sackcloth on your waist, v. 11, BDB 291, KB 291, Qal IMPERATIVE, also a sign ofmourning. See Special Topic at 15:2-3.10. beat your breasts, v. 12, BDB 704, KB 763, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, another sign ofmourning, Luke 18:13; 23:48.All of these relate to the period of the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib in 701 B.C. Sieges werehorrible experiences of deprivation and disease.315