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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE PROPHET ISAIAH

CHAPTER THREE
JERUSALEM HAS FALLEN!

Isaiah 3:1-7 – Removing All Support from Jerusalem

IS3:1 For, behold, the Sovereign Lord Y^eH^oW^aH of [angelic] armies is removing from Jerusalem and Judah prop and support 140 – all reserves of food and water 141 –

140	Prop and support: Or, LXX: mighty man and mighty woman; KJV: stay and staff; JPS: prop and stay; NJB: resources and provisions. The language shows the dire straits to take place in Jerusalem and Judea.

141	Reserves of food and water: Or, bread, clothing; LXX: strength of bread and strength of water. That is, famine and water shortage.

IS3:2 [including] mighty man, 142 soldier, 143 judge, prophet, spiritualist, 144

142	Mighty man: Or, LXX: great and mighty man; RHM: man of might; JPS: soldier; NJB: hero. The famine and water shortage weakens the men who might defend the city.

143	Soldier: Or, warrior.

144	Spiritist: Or, NJB: diviner; JPS: auger; KJV: prudent; LXX: counselor. Possibly someone skilled at snake-charming. See the Greek PYTHON at Acts 16:16. From Eden serpents have been the instruments of spiritists.

IS3:3 elder, chief of fifty, the person with an arrogant face, 145 counselor, master of magical arts and drugs, 146 and snake charmer. 147

145	Arrogant face: Or, LXX: honorable counselor; KJV: honourable man; RHM: favourite [footnote: lifted up face]; JPS: magnate; NJB: dignitary.

146	Master of magical arts and drugs: Or, NJB: soothsayer; JPS: expert enchanter; RHM: master of magical formulas; KJV: cunning artificer; LXX: wise artificer. The LXX Greek is SOPHON ARCHITEKTON [wise architect].

147	Snake charmer: Or, LXX: intelligent hearer; KJV: eloquent orator; RHM: master of magical formulas; JPS: expert enchanter; NJB: soothsayer.

IS3:4 And I will appoint mere boys as their leaders 148 and capricious children will rule them. 149

148	Boys as their leaders: Or, NJB: boys for princes; KJV: children to be their princes; LXX: youths their princes.

149	Capricious children will rule them: Or, LXX: mockers shall have dominion over them; KJV: babes shall rule over them; RHM: petulant children; JPS: babes shall govern them; NJB: raw lads to rule over them [footnote: governing as fancy takes them].

IS3:5 People will oppress their neighbors, 150 each one their friend. 151 They will rage against one another 152 – boy against elder, 153 despised against the honorable. 154

150	People will oppress their neighbors: Or, NJB: people will be ill-treated by one another; JPS: oppress one another; RHM: people will tyrannise; KJV: people shall be oppressed; LXX: people shall fall.

151	Each one their friend: Or, LXX: every man upon his neighbor; JPS: each oppressing hisd fellow. There is something of an echo in the Nazarene Master at Matthew 10:35, 36.

152	Rage against one another: Or, RHM: they will rage.

153	Boy against elder: Or, LXX: child shall insult the elder man; KJV: child shall behave proudly against the ancient; JPS: the young shall bully the old. A community once worshippers of YHWH have left the Law of Moses and now their society erodes. [Leviticus 19:32]

154

Despised against the honorable: Or, NJB: the low the respect; JPS: despised [shall bully] the honored; KJV: the base against the honourable. Common good manners and respect for others has fallen apart. There is an important lesson here for believers of every period: do not let worldly attitudes creep into godly relations. As Paul put it, “Do not allow room for the Devil.” [Ephesians 4:27; compare Romans 12:2]

IS3:6 A man will grab his brother of the house of his own father and tell him: “You ought to be ruler because you have clothes, 155 and all this mob should be under your control.” 156

155

You ought to be ruler because you have clothes: Or, LXX: you have clothing, become our ruler; JPS: be chief over us; NJB: you have a cloak, so you be leader. It is a sad fact that the qualifications of a leader are some times determined by material benefits. Often in modern times it is only the wealthy who become politicians.

156	This mob should be under your control: Or, NJB: rule this heap of ruins; JPS: let this ruin be under your care; RHM: this downfall be under thy hand; LXX: let my meat be under you.

IS3:7 In that day he will swear and say: “I cannot take control 157 for there is no food in my own house. 158 Do not make me the ruler of you people!”

157	Take control: Or, NJB: I am no healer; JPS: a dresser of wounds; KJV: not be an healer; LXX: your ruler. The Greek LXX uses ARKHEGOS.

158	For there is no food in my own house: Or, LXX: no bread; KJV: bread and clothing. Famine is everywhere and even affects the formerly well-off.

Isaiah 3:8-12 – Woe to the Wicked, for Jerusalem Has Fallen!

IS3:8 For Jerusalem has stumbled 159 and Judah has fallen – because their tongue and works 160 are opposed to Y^eH^oW^aH, 161 provoking His glorious presence. 162

159	Jerusalem has stumbled: Or, LXX: ruined [footnote: forsaken, let go]; NJB: collapsed. The prophet will go on to explain why. There is a lesson here for believers of all periods. [Jude 5]

160

Their tongue and works: Or, NJB: words and deeds; JPS: word and deed; RHM: their tongue and their doings; LXX: their tongues have spoken with iniquity. Let no believer think he or she may speech as they wish without offending God. Note what the Nazarene Master teaches at Matthew 12:36, 37. See notes on James 1:26; 3:5-10.

161

Opposed to YeHoWaH: Or, LXX: disobedient as they are toward the Lord; KJV: against the LORD; RHM: against Yahweh; JPS: insult the LORD; NJB: affront Yahweh. This is a most dangerous disposition. [Psalm 73:8; Malachi 3:13] See the first opposer of Jehovah at Genesis 10:9. [Note the use of PROS in the LXX Greek as “toward” (John 1:1).]

162	Provoking His glorious presence: Or, NJB: insult his glorious gaze; JPS: defying His majestic glance.

IS3:9 Their very expression condemns them. 163 They have told others of their Sodom-like sin. 164 They have not even tried to conceal it. 165 Woe to their own souls! For they have brought calamity on themselves. 166

163

Their very expression condemns them: Or, LXX: the shame of their countenance has withstood them; KJV: the shew of their countenance doth witness against them; RHM: the show of their face hath answered against them; JPS: their partiality in judgment accuses them; NJB: their complacency bears witness against them. The look on our face often betrays us.

164

They have told others of their Sodom-like sin: Or, NJB: they parade their sin like Sodom; JPS: they avow their sins like Sodom; RHM: their sin like Sodom have they told; KJV: declare their sin as Sodom; LXX: proclaimed their sin. Most sinners are ashamed and keep quiet about their sin. These tell others of their sins – similar to those of Sodom – without shame. Compare Paul’s indictment of the Jews and their sins at Romans 1:26-32. He includes Sodomy. It should be noted the “the great city” [Babylon the Great] in Revelation 11:8 is compared to Sodom. In some areas of the modern Church Sodomy is publicly approved. The unclean and sexually immoral should never be subjects of talk among Christians. [Ephesians 4:29; 5:3, 4]

165	Not even tried to conceal it: Or, LXX: made it manifest; KJV: hide it not; JPS: they do not conceal them. To flaunt habitual sin may become that “sin” described at 1 John 5:16, 17. Compare what happens to Christians for sinning in such a manner. [Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31]

166

Brought calamity on themselves: Or, NJB: hatched their own downfall; JPS: for ill have they served themselves; RHM: they have requited to themselves calamity; KJV: rewarded evil unto themselves; LXX: devised an evil counsel against themselves. This is Paul’s point at Romans 1:27. Believers who rebel against God bring on themselves their own ruin.

IS3:10 Tell all the righteous: 167 “All is well!” 168 For they will partake of the fruitage of their works. 169

167

Tell all the righteous: Or, JPS: hail [footnote: happy is]; the just man; NJB: blessed the upright. Despite the gross evil among most inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah they are those who remain “righteous”, that is, law-abiding. No matter the circumstances it will always go well with the righteous. [Romans 2:10]

168	All is well: Or, JPS: he shall fare well; RHM: it is well. It can only be “well for my soul” if righteousness is present.

169

For they will partake of the fruitage of their works: Or, KJV: they shall eat the fruit of their doings; RHM: for the fruit of their doings shall they eat; JPS: shall eat the fruit of his works; NJB: feed on the fruit of his deeds. The righteous are to be blessed because of their works. The Nazarene Master taught the same, as did Paul. The subject of “works” is a worthy study. [See notes on John 3:21; Acts 10:35; Romans 2:6;, 9, 10; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:10; Titus 2:14; 3:8, 14; Hebrews 10:24; James 2:14-26] The Risen Master Jesus is well aware of the deeds of his followers. [Revelation 2:2, 5, 6, 19,22, 23, 26; 3:1, 2, 8, 15] Compare Galatians 6:7-10.

IS3:11 Woe to the wicked person! 170 There is only calamity! For they will be repaid for their own treatment of others. 171

170

Wicked person: Or, RHM: lawless; LXX: transgressor. There are several words that describe the sinful: wicked, evil, vile. Often this is a person who is either a] hurtful to others by deed or speech; or, b] refuses to aid the needy. The contrast between the righteous and wicked is echoed in Matthew 25:31-46 and Romans 2:5-11.

171

Repaid for their own treatment of others: Or, LXX: evils shall happen to him according to the works of his hands; RHM: for what his own hand hath matured shall be done to him; JPS: as his hands have dealt, so shall it be done to him; NJB: treated as his actions deserve. This is an eternal principle that cannot be ignored. Note its application to the Christian Church. [Daniel 12:2; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 14:14; John 5:28; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 2:28]

IS3:12 My People! Their children are tyrants! 172 Women rule over them! 173 My People! Those who should have guided you 174 caused you to wander about as strays. 175 They have destroyed your trails. 176

172	Their children are tyrants: Or, NJB: their oppressors pillage them; JPS: my people’s rulers are babes; RHM: footnote: its ruler is acting the child; KJV: children are their oppressors; LXX: your exactors strip you. Compare verses 5, 7.

173	Women rule over them: Or, LXX: extortioners rule over you; JPS: it is governed by women. If the Hebrew is “women” the statement is insulting to a nation most often ruled by men. [See 1 Timothy 2:12.]

174

Guided you: Or, NJB: your rulers mislead you; JPS: your leaders are misleaders; KJV: they which lead thee cause thee to err; LXX: they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray. Jesus and Paul warned of the same developments in the Christian Church. [Mark 13:22; Acts 20:29, 30] Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4, 13-15, 19, 20.

175	Wander about as strays: Or, LXX: led you astray; KJV: to err; RHM: causing thee to stray. [Isaiah 9:16] Jesus would later seek out the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

176

They have destroyed your trails: Or, NJB: effaced the paths you ought to follow; JPS: confused the course of your paths; RHM: pathways have they destroyed; LXX: pervert the path of your feet. [Jeremiah 5:31; Habakkuk 1:4; Matthew 15:14; 23:15. Compare notes on Jude 11, 12.As ibn the case of ancient Israel, the same deviations would occur in the Christian Church as the clergy more and more followed erroneous paths.

Isaiah 3:13-15 – [Isaiah and YHWH:] the Judgment of Yehowah

IS3:13 Y^eH^oW^aH has taken His stand to plead with the people. 177 He is standing to judge peoples.

177

Taken His stand to plead with the people: Or, LXX: now the Lord will stand up for judgment; RHM: Yahweh hath taken his station to plead; JPS: the LORD stands up to plead a cause; NJB: Yahweh has risen to accuse. Abraham calls Jehovah “the Judge of all the earth.” [Genesis 18:25] Both the Old and New Testaments bear witness to the final judgment of God. For details see the Biblical Article God and Judgment.

IS3:14 Y^eH^oW^aH will enter into judgment 178 – with the elders 179 of the people, and with their rulers. My Sovereign Lord Y^eH^oW^aH demands, saying: “You have consumed the vineyard. 180 The things you have stolen from the oppressed are in your homes.

178

Judgment: The subject of “judgment” [judge, judged, judging, judges] is a major theme of the Bible as well as other religions. The subject was a theme of the Nazarene, more so than salvation. Note that the promised spirit-helper was to guide the disciples into all the truth on four subjects, including judgment. [John 16:8-13] Compare notes on Matthew 12:35-37; 2 Corinthians 5:10]

179	Elders: Fittingly the first to be mentioned in judgment are the elders, those who acted as judges among God’s People. The Greek LXX uses PRESBYTERON, the same as used in Titus 1:5-8.

180	Vineyard: Or, LXX: my vineyard. See Isaiah chapter 5.

IS3:15 What right do you have to crush My People? [What right] to grind [into the dirt] the faces of the oppressed?”

Isaiah 3:16-26 – Israelite Women Condemned

IS3:16 And Y^eH^oW^aH says: “Because of the arrogance 181 of the daughters of Zion – walking as they do with their nose in the air 182 and greedy eyes, 183 walking tiptoe as they go, 184 with bangles on their ankles making a tinkling sound 185 –

181

Arrogance: Or, LXX: haughty; JPS: so vain; NJB: proud. Jehovah now turns His attention to the women within Jerusalem and Judah. Religious women may be driven by emotion and think that everything they do is acceptable to God. How and why God will judge such women follows. Much of it has to do with attitude, dress, jewelry, and likely “Eastern ideas.”

182	With their nose in the air: Or, NJB: heads held high; KJV: stretched forth necks; RHM: with neck thrown back; JPS: heads thrown back [footnote: throats bent back]; LXX: outstretched neck. An arrogance walk among the people. God seeks the attitudes reflected in such walk.

183	Greedy eyes: Or, LXX: winking of the eyes; JPS: roving eyes; RHM: wanton eyes; NJB: enticing eyes. Versions vary on the meaning. The idea may be that of arrogant women wondering if others see them as they try to attract attention.

184	Walking tiptoe as they go: Or, NJB: with mincing steps they go; KJV: walking and mincing; RHM: tripping along as they go; JPS: with mincing gait; LXX: motion of the feet. To draw even more attention to themselves.

185

Bangles on their ankles making a tinkling sound: Or, LXX: at the same time drawing there garments in trains, and at the same time sporting with their feet; JPS: making a tinkling with their feet; NJB: jingling with the bangles on their feet. Middle eastern women often wear such jewelry that draws attention with their sounds as they walk. The whole purpose is to attract attention to self. Compare the Christian attitude at 1 Peter 3:4, 5.

IS3:17 [I] Y^eH^oW^aH will strike the crown of hair of the daughters of Zion with leprosy. 186

186	Leprosy: Or, NJB: scabby heads; KJV: smite with a scab; JPS: will uncover their heads;

Further Y^eH^oW^aH will expose their shame. 187

187	Expose their shame: Or, LXX: expose their form; RHM: their shame will he lay bare; KJV: discover their secret parts.

IS3:18 In that Day Y^eH^oW^aH will remove their fine jewelry 188 – the anklets, and the little suns, and the little moons, 189

188	Remove their fine jewelry: Or, NJB: ornamental chains; KJV: bravery of their tinkling ornaments; RHM: remove the finery; JPS: strip off the finery; LXX: the glory of their raiment. All of the following items are of uncertain origin.

189	Little suns, and the little moons: Possibly related to “Eastern ideas” mentioned earlier.

IS3:19 the jewelry, the bracelets and veils, IS3:20 the headdresses, the arm bracelets, the girdles, the perfume-bottles, the amulets, IS3:21 the finger-rings and nose-rings, IS3:22 the robes, the outer garments, the cloaks, the purses, IS3:23 the mirrors, the silk sashes, the tiaras and coats. IS3:24 So it will happen that instead of 190 perfume – a putrid odor. Instead of a girdle – a rope. Instead of braided hair – baldness. Instead of a festal robe – a wrap of sackcloth. Branding in place of beauty.

190	Instead of: A terrible reversal of circumstances await.

IS3:25 Your own men will fall by the sword. Your men of valor – [by] war.

IS3:26 And so [Zion’s] gates will mourn and lament. She will sit abandoned in the dirt.” 191

191

She will sit abandoned in the dirt: Or, LXX: shall be leveled with the ground; JPS: she shall be emptied, shall sit on the ground; KJV: desolate shall sit upon the ground; NJB: she will sit on the ground, deserted. The city of Jerusalem is described in her desolation in the 7th Century BC. The same again befell Jerusalem in 70 AD.