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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 TWENTY-SEVEN:
THE RETURN OF ISRAEL

Isaiah 27:1-6 – Israel to Blossom

IS27:1 In that day Y^eH^oW^aH will bring punishment with His fierce sword 1095 – great and strong – upon Leviathan the Elusive Serpent 1096 – that Twisting Serpent 1097 – and [He] will slaughter the Sea Dragon. 1098

1095	Bring punishment with His fierce sword: Or, LXX: bring his holy and great and strong sword; NJB: punish with his unyielding sword; RHM: sword – the hard and great; JPS: great, cruel, mighty sword. [Deuteronomy 32:41; Jeremiah 47:6]

1096

Leviathan the Elusive Serpent: Or, KJV: the piercing serpent; JPS: Elusive Serpent [Hebrew uncertain]; RHM: fleeing serpent [footnote: Serpent Elusive]; LXX: upon the dragon [DRACONTA], even the serpent that flees; BAS: quick-moving. The word “Leviathan is from the Hebrew LIVYATHAN [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3882 -> LAVAH (= join), large aquatic animal, extinct dinosaur], and some think it to be the crocodile while others a beast of uncertain origin. See a poetic description in Job chapter 41. The phrase “Elusive Serpent” is of unknown Hebrew origin and may come from a root meaning “crooked,” or perhaps “coiled,” or “fleeing” – that is, something causes one to flee. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1281 -> #1272] Some see an allusion to the “original serpent” – Satan [Revelation 12:9], while others would apply it to Assyria and Babylon with its serpentine river. [Job 26:13]

1097	Twisting Serpent: Or, LXX: dragon the crooked serpent; NJB: coiled; RHM: [footnote: serpent tortuous]; JPS: [Hebrew uncertain]. Judging from phrases below and related cross references one may see this “twisting serpent” as the Nile River of Egypt.

1098

Slaughter the Sea Dragon: Or, KJV: the dragon that is in the sea; RHM: slay the monster which is in the sea; NJB: kill the dragon the sea; LXX: he shall destroy the dragon [ANELEI TON DRACONTA = annihilate the dragon]. From the above phrases the Leviathan is associated with being elusive, twisting and the sea. There is an amazing similarity in phrases possibly borrowed or playing off of poetic verses from the Egyptian [see notes below] Ra-Shamra of the 15th century BC, “You will crush Leviathan the fleeing serpent, you will consume the twisting serpent, the mighty one with seven heads.” Given this language one is tempted to see the same in Revelation 13:1. Whether the Leviathan [Job 3:8] is a poetic figure for the forces of evil in general, Satan the Devil with his political powers, or a specific world power such as Assyria, Egypt or Babylon is left to the reader. See notes on Isaiah 51:9 and the association of the sea monster with “Rahab” – that is, Egypt. Compare also Psalm 74:13, 14; Ezekiel 29:3; 32:] Egypt is mentioned over 50 times in Isaiah. Compare in part Isaiah 19:1-24 and elsewhere.

IS27:2 In that day they will all sing: “A pleasant vineyard! 1099

1099	Pleasant vineyard: That is, Israel, Jerusalem. Or, KJV: a vineyard of red wine; LXX fair; NJB: splendid; RHM: Wine-Vineyard; JPS: Vineyard of Delight. [See a similar designation or phrase at Amos 5:11.] Given the view that the “twisting serpent” is Egypt then see Psalm 80:8. [Jeremiah 2:21]

IS27:3 I Y^eH^oW^aH watch over her 1100 – watering her constantly 1101 – so that no one injures her. 1102 Night and day I will stand guard over her. 1103

1100	Watch over her: Or, JPS: keep watch; NJB: I, Yahweh, am its guardian.

1101	Watering her constantly: Or, NJB: from time to time I water it; RHM: every moment will I water her. Compare Isaiah 35:6; 41:18; 58:11.

1102	So that no one injures her: Or, KJV: hurt; JPS: no harm. That is, permanent harm.

1103	Night and day I will stand guard over her: Or, RHM: watch over. [Psalm 121; 127:1]

IS27:4 I have no [more] rage! 1104 If I am presented with briars and thorns in war 1105 I will march right in among them. 1106 I will set them all ablaze. 1107

1104	I have no [more] rage: That is, I have no further rage regarding Jerusalem. Or, KJV: fury is not in me; JPS: no anger; NJB: I d not have a wall; LXX: the wall will not fall. Return to Isaiah 12:1. [Psalm 85:3; 103:9]

1105	If I am presented with briars and thorns in war: Judging from the following phrase the “briars and thorns” [some say “wall”] here are protective obstacles to discourage an attacking solider. God will march right through them. Such “briars and thorns” may be viewed as enemy soldiers opposing God.

1106	I will march right in among them: Or, JPS: march to battle against them; NJB: I shall make war and trample on it.

1107	I will set them all ablaze: That is, one way an army might deal with such a defensive obstacle. Return to Isaiah 10:17. [2 Samuel 23:6]

IS27:5 Or else let them hold tightly on to My refuge. 1108 Let such make peace with Me! 1109 Peace let such make with Me!”

1108	Or else let them hold tightly on to My refuge: Or, NJB: or should they beg for my protection; RHM: else, let one lay hold of my protection; JPS: but if he holds fast to My refuge. The alternative is for opposing armies to surrender and accept God’s refuge of protection. See the following phrase.

1109	Let such make peace with Me: Or, JPS: He makes Me his friend. That is, surrender and reconcile with God.

IS27:6 In the near future Jacob will take root. 1110 Israel will blossom and bud. 1111 It is then that they will fill the inhabited earth with fruitage. 1112

1110	In the near future Jacob will take root: Or, NJB: in days to come; RHM: in coming times shall Jacob strike root; KJV: he will cause them that come to Jacob to take root.

1111	Israel will blossom and bud: Or, JPS: sprout and blossom. That is, at the restoration of Israel.

1112	It is then that they will fill the inhabited earth with fruitage: Or, LXX: the world [OIKKOUMENE] shall be filled with his fruit; NJB: the surface of the world be one vast harvest; RHM: then shall they fill the face of the world with fruit. See Isaiah 37:31. [Psalm 92:13; Hosea 14:5-7]

Isaiah 27:7-11 – Jacob’s Error Atoned

IS27:7 Was he battered just as the one battering him was? 1113 Or, was he murdered with the murdering of his murderer? 1114

1113

Was he battered just as the one battering him was: Likely Jacob of the previous verses. Or, BAS: Is his punishment like the punishment of those who overcame him; DAR: Hath he smitten him according to the smiting of those that smote him; YLT: As the smiting of his smiter hath He smitten him. That is, Israel has been battered enough.

1114	Was he murdered with the murdering of his murderer: Or, BAS: are his dead as great in number as those he put to the sword; DAR: Is he slain according to the slaughter of those slain by him. Return to Isaiah 10:20.

IS27:8 Would you contend with her by driving her away 1115 – by dismissing her? He sent her away by his cruel spirit like a blast 1116 on the day of an east wind.

1115

Would you contend with her by driving her away: Or, JPS: [footnote: meaning uncertain]; RHM: by driving her away… wouldest thou contend with her; NJB: by expelling, by excluding him, you have executed a sentence; BAS: Your anger against her has been made clear by driving her away; DAR: when sending her away, didst thou contend with her. That is, by driving Israel away God’s contention has been finished.

1116

He sent her away by his cruel spirit like a blast: Or, LXX: didst thou not meditate with a harsh spirit [PNEUMATI]; NJB: he has blown him away with a breath as rough as the east wind; RHM: he has removed her by his rough wind; JPS: his pitiless blast bore them off; BAS: he has taken her away with his storm-wind in the day of his east wind. That is, like a hot blasting wind off the desert God dispersed Israel. [Jeremiah 4:11, 12; Ezekiel 13:13, 14]

IS27:9 Hence, by this will an atonement cover Jacob’s error. 1117 This is the fruitage of removing his sin 1118 – when he makes all the altar-stones crush easily like chalk. 1119 The Asherim and Chamman will not rise again. 1120

1117

Hence, by this will an atonement cover Jacob’s error: Or, JPS: assuredly, b this alone shall Jacob’s sin be purged away; RHM: therefore, hereby shall a propitiatory-covering be put over the iniquity of Jacob; NJB: for this is how Jacob’s guilt will be forgiven; LXX: shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away. By the banishment and exile of Israel the sin of God’s people has been atoned for. Return to Isaiah 4:4. [Ezekiel 24:13]

1118	This is the fruitage of removing his sin: That is, the fruitage of repentance and forgiveness will be demonstrate by the following proof. Or, NJB: such will be the result of renouncing his sin; JPS: this is the only price for removing his guilt.

1119	When he makes all the altar-stones crush easily like chalk: That is, the destruction of idolatry and false religion. Or, RHM: that soon crumble; NJB: when the altar-stones have been smashed to pieces. There must be proof that repentance has taken root and produces a rejection of false religion.

1120	The Asherim and Chamman will not rise again: Or, NJB: sacred poles and incense-altars; RHM: Sacred-Stems and Sun Images; BAS: wood pillars and the sun-images. Return to Isaiah 17:8. [Micah 5:13]

IS27:10 For the fortress is abandoned 1121 – the dwelling deserted and left like wastelands. 1122 There the calf will feed and lie down, consuming the last bit of branches.

1121	For the fortress is abandoned: Or, JPS: thus fortified cities lie desolate; RHM: the fortified city is solitary; NJB: abandoned now; BAS: the strong town is without men, an unpeopled living-place; and she has become a waste land. That is, in Jerusalem.

1122	The dwelling deserted and left like wastelands: Or, NJB: forsaken as a desert; RHM: wilderness; JPS: homesteads deserted. That is, the present state of Judah. Return to Isaiah 6:11; 17:9. [Jeremiah 26:18; Ezekiel 36:4]

IS27:11 When its prunings are dry they will be snapped into pieces 1123 by women searching for kindling. 1124 For these are not a discerning people, 1125 and for this reason He that made them will have no compassion 1126 – the One forming them will show no mercy. 1127

1123	When its prunings are dry they will be snapped into pieces: Or, BAS: When its branches are dry they will be broken off.

1124	By women searching for kindling: Or, JPS: women come and make fires with them; NJB: women come and use them for firewood. The duty of women and children among many cultures is that of gathering kindling and fire-wood.

1125	For these are not a discerning people: That is, Israel. Or, LXX: a people of no understanding; NJB: a people that does not understand. Return to Isaiah 1:3. [Deuteronomy 32:28; Jeremiah 4:22]

1126	He that made them will have no compassion: Or, JPS: their Maker will show them no mercy; NJB: so its Maker will not take pity on it. That is, upon Israel.

1127	The One forming them will show no mercy: Or, RHM: no favour; JPS: their Creator will deny them grace. [2 Chronicles 36:16; Ezekiel 9:10]

Isaiah 27:12, 13 – Israel Returns to Jerusalem

IS27:12 In that day it will happen that Y^eH^oW^aH will beat off His fruit 1128 from the streams feeding the Euphrates all the way to the Wadi of Egypt. 1129 Then all of you, O children of Israel, will be picked up one at a time. 1130

1128	Beat off His fruit: Or, JPS: beat out [the peoples like grain]; NJB: start his threshing. That is, searching and gathering His people to return. Return to Isaiah 11:11; 24:13.

1129	From the streams feeding the Euphrates all the way to the Wadi of Egypt: Or, BAS: from the River to the stream of Egypt; DAR: from the flood of the river unto the torrent of Egypt. That is, from Assyria [or, Babylon] to Egypt the remnant will be regathered.

1130	Then all of you, O children of Israel, will be picked up one at a time: Or, one by one. That is, individually selected. [Deuteronomy 30:3; Nehemiah 1:9; Jeremiah 3:14] Compare the Israel of God’s gathering at Luke 15:4 and Matthew 24:30, 31. [1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17]

IS27:13 And in that day it will happen that there will be the blowing of a great shofar. 1131 Then all those who wandered in the land of Assyria 1132 – and all those outcasts in the land of Egypt 1133 – will come in to Jerusalem and prostrate themselves before Y^eH^oW^aH. 1134

1131	There will be the blowing of a great shofar: Or, NJB: the great ram’s-horn will be sounded. [1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 11:15, 18]

1132

Wandered in the land of Assyria: Or, JPS: strayed; NJB: those lost in. Return to Isaiah 11:16. [2 Kings 17:6] That is, those of the ten-tribe northern kingdom exiled in Assyria. The word “wandered” may also be rendered “perish.” The Hebrew is ‘ABAD [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6, perished, destroyed, died]. In this context return to Isaiah 26:19.

1133	All those outcasts in the land of Egypt: Or, LXX: lost ones; NJB: banished to; JPS: expelled. [Jeremiah 43:7; Hosea 8:13; Zechariah 10:10]

1134

Will come in to Jerusalem and prostrate themselves before YeHoWaH: Or, BAS: they will give worship to the Lord in the holy mountain at Jerusalem; DAR: they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem; YLT: bowed themselves; LXX: shall worship [PROSKYNESOUSI]. Return to Isaiah 2:3. [Psalm 95:6; Zechariah 14:16]