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

These phrases could be1. literala. child kingb. controlled by(1) a strong “Queen mother”(2) the child king’s wives(3) the women at court2. figurative of weak and inexperienced leadership}NASB, NRSV “confuse”NKJV “destroy”NJB “efface”LXX “pervert”Peshitta “disturbed”REB “to ruin”The VERB (BDB 118, KB 134, Piel PERFECT) means “engulf” or “swallow up” (cf. Exod. 15:12;Num. 16:30,32,34; 26:10; Deut. 11:6). In the Piel stem it also denotes “shallowing,” but is also used asa metaphor for destruction or something being confounded (cf. 9:16; 19:3; 28:7).Scholars are still discussing the possibility of one, two, or three Hebrew roots/cognates using thesesame three letters (3-").NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 3:13-1513The LORD arises to contend,And stands to judge the people.14The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people,"It is you who have devoured the vineyard;The plunder of the poor is in your houses.15What do you mean by crushing My peopleAnd grinding the face of the poor?"Declares the Lord GOD of hosts.3:13-15 YHWH enters into a dispute (i.e., court scene, cf. 1:2) with His people’s leaders (elders andprinces). They have destroyed His community (i.e., “vineyard,” v. 14). They have taken advantage ofthe poor, helpless, and powerless of society.They used the legal system inappropriately (cf. v. 9) to their advantage, and must now stand beforeYHWH’s judgment.The prophets hold Israel/Judah accountable to the requirements of the Mosaic covenant, obediencehad consequences and disobedience had consequences!3:13NASB, NKJV,TEV, NJB,LXX, Peshitta,REB“people”NRSV“peoples”The SINGULAR comes from the LXX followed by the Peshitta. The MT has the PLURAL. In thiscontext the SINGULAR fits best because the prophet is addressing Judea (i.e., v. 14). In other contexts in59