2/04/17 Isaiah 3:12-26 “The
destruction of Jerusalem Part 2”
Isaiah 3:12 – [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors, and
women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause [thee] to
err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
The theme of the inexperienced
(children) and incompetent or weak (“women” could signify “effeminate” men) ruling
(as their taskmasters, tyrannical) over Jerusalem continues from last lesson.
oppressors – tyrants, taskmasters, people who should have been their
protectors but would misuse their authority to their own benefit. These tyrants
would lead them into error (sin, wickedness, probably including false worship)
and would destroy (swallow up; engulf) the way (manner of life; journey;
direction – notably of their moral character) of their paths (of life) or way
of living. That is, such tyranny and weak leadership would cause the people to
be led astray into pathways of evil.
Even though this hasn’t happened
yet, this passage today is passing judgment already on a people who have
literally asked for trouble for a long time. They will reap what they have sown
over many years. Note, though, that God still calls them “My people”.
Isaiah 3:13 – The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth
to judge the people.
standeth (1) – stands firm, take a stand (on an issue)
standeth (2) – stand;
endure; hold one’s ground; persist; be steadfast; remain; remain standing; take
one’s stand.
Because they are God’s people, He
will stand firm in pleading the case for the oppressed (the poor) against the rulers
(the rich) who have already been chastised for their lack of righteousness
especially toward the widow and the childless.
Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do well;
seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
God will plead as in a court of
law, probably as a demonstration of how the rulers of the people should have
been carrying out their responsibilities. He will steadfastly (persistently)
judge the people (His people) until the matter has been dealt with.
Deuteronomy 32:36a – For the Lord shall
judge his people
Isaiah 3:14 – The Lord will enter
into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye
have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor [is] in your houses.
ancients – elderly in age or in authority – see Isaiah 3:2; 5. Used
here to denote those in authority, along with the “princes” (rulers or leaders
of the people). These are those who should have led the country with justice but
instead have used the system to make riches and honour for themselves. These
are those who have abused their authority in showing injustice to particularly
the widows and orphans (see Isaiah 1:23), although God declares even the widows
and orphans to be hypocrites and evildoers in the following:
Isaiah 9:17 – Therefore the Lord
shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their
fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer,
and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his
anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.
eaten up – burned; consumed; removed. They have consumed the
goodness of the country like parasites taking that which isn’t theirs by right.
Such ancients and princes have
eaten up the goodness of their household (where “vineyard” would represent the
people of Judah – see Isaiah 5:1-10); they have taken provisions from those
people (the poor and needy) who needed it the most. The spoil of the poor (that
which they have plundered and/or stolen from the poor and needy) is in the
houses of the ancients (those with authority) and the princes (those who rule
by reason of birth). They have made themselves rich at the expense of the poor.
Note King Ahab’s stealing of Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21:1-19.
Isaiah 3:15 – What mean ye [that]
ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.
Enough is enough declares ‘Adonay Yᵉhovih tsaba’. What right do you have to beat My people (here
identified as the poor and needy and probably includes such as widows and
orphans) into pieces and grind the faces of the poor on a grindstone?
Psalm 94:3-7 – 3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the
wicked triumph? 4 [How long] shall they utter [and]
speak hard things? [and] all the workers of iniquity boast
themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and
afflict thine heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the
stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The Lord
shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard [it].
God’s justice favours the needy
(especially the widow and the orphan).
Exodus 22:22-24 – 22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will
surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I
will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children
fatherless.
This is a particular example of
the justice of God, that He acts in accordance with what we would (or should)
call fair, although it would be going too far to claim that one of God’s
attributes is “fairness”, for “justice” can often overrule what we might define
as “fair”. Fairness is also something that can vary according to our point of
view. What is fair to one person may be unfair to another.
Isaiah 3:16 – Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk
with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they
go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
Up until now the judgments have
been brought down upon the men of Judah and Jerusalem, the rulers, the elders,
the judges, the counsellors, the advocates for the widows and orphans. But now,
in Vs 16 – 26 we see a pronouncing of judgment upon the women of Jerusalem
(here called Zion). God declares their pride (haughty), their sexually immodest
promiscuousness (stretched forth necks and wanton eyes = ogling eyes or
falsifying (with makeup?) their eyes – both apparently designed to attract men)
and their inviting behaviour (walking and mincing – taking quick little steps –
and making a tinkling with their feet – probably the jingling of ornamental
bells around their ankles; note nursery rhymes such as Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, And she
shall have music wherever she goes.).
These women are proud, they
advertise their attractiveness; put simply, they are looking for men! Instead
of seeking to help the poor and needy, the oppressed and beaten-down, the women
of Zion are more interested in their own bodily pleasures. Note “and women rule over them.” in Isaiah 3:12 – these same women who should have been
setting an example of righteousness were in fact causing the people “to err”, destroying “the way of their paths”.
When the nation desperately needed moral backbone, the leading women were even
increasing their moral downfall.
Isaiah 3:17 – Therefore the Lord
will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the
Lord will discover their secret parts.
The meaning of “smite with a scab”
is a bit unclear, with the root word probably meaning “to make bald”. It could
mean a scabby infection that causes hair loss, or requiring the hair to be
shaved off.
Leviticus 13:2 – When a man shall have
in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the
skin of his flesh [like] the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought
unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
discover their secret parts – expose their nakedness. Translated as “hinges” in 1
Kings 7:50!
Conquerors of those days would
often strip their captives, particularly the women, naked, especially if they
were wearing costly garments as these in Isaiah 3:17 would have been. (Note
that as per this custom the Roman soldiers took Jesus’ garments and drew lots
to see who would get them, as per the Psalm 22:18 prophecy.)
Ezekiel also notes nakedness as a
consequence of their harlotry.
Ezekiel 16:2; 15-18; 35-37 – 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by;
his it was. 16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall
not come, neither shall it be [so]. 17 Thou hast also
taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom
with them, 18 And tookest thy
broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast
set mine oil and mine incense before them.
35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: 36
Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness
was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy
lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy
children, which thou didst give unto them; 37 Behold,
therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and
all [them] that thou hast loved, with all [them] that thou hast
hated; I will even gather them round about against
thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy
nakedness.
The overall picture is of women
who are humiliated by baldness and nakedness. The baldness may result from
disease (such as might happen if they were subjected to a long siege causing
extreme hunger and thirst), while the nakedness probably results from being
taken captive (such as might have happened when they were deported to Babylon).
That of which they would have been most proud they are going to lose, their
fine looks and their fine clothing.
Isaiah
3:18-23 – 18 In that
day the Lord will take away the bravery (beauty;
splendour; finery) of [their] tinkling
ornaments [about their feet] (anklet; bangle), and [their] cauls
(front band for a woman’s head; wreaths or gold plaits worn ear to ear across
the forehead; could be small sun-like balls worn as a necklace), and [their] round tires (could mean little suns?)
like the moon (moon or crescent-shaped
ornament probably associated with worship of Ashtaroth – the great duke of
hell, as opposed to his female counterpart Ashtoreth), 19 The chains (that which resembles drops; pendants; ear-drops), and the bracelets
(armlets), and the mufflers (probably veils; mantillas),
20 The bonnets (headdresses;
turbans; diadems), and the ornaments of the
legs (armlets; anklets; stepping chains), and the headbands (bands;
sashes; headbands; ornaments that are bound on – thus girdle), and the tablets (soul
or life houses or dwellings; houses of the soul; scent bottles; vinaigrettes
(aromatic substances dissolved in vinegar); pomander; perhaps aromatherapy?), and the earrings
(charms; amulets), 21 The
rings (or signet rings as a symbol of wealth
or authority), and nose (or face) jewels (rings), 22 The
changeable suits of apparel (raiment; robes of
state), and the mantles (tunics; overtunics), and the wimples (shawls;
cloaks), and the crisping pins (bags; purses), 23
The glasses (polished metal mirrors;
flat shiny ornaments), and the fine linen (could be muslin robes; possibly a linen undershirt worn
between tunic and skin; linen wrapper), and
the hoods (diadem; mitre; turban; crown; headdress), and the vails (wide
wrappers or veils usually worn over the head and possibly upper body as well).
Here we have a list of all the
nice things that their riches could buy (those riches that they no doubt gained
at the expense of the poor and needy). From today’s passage, it is clear that
their nakedness not only meant losing their clothing but all the extra bits and
pieces as well. All these extras would have been worth money and the conquerors
(Babylon in this case) had the right to take whatever tribute they wanted from
their captives, such as jewellery, ornaments, chains, bracelets, etc, etc. If
their captors could sell it, they would take it!
The list reminds me of all the luxuries
our modern-day “Christians” just have to have or else life would be unliveable!
Wrong priorities!
Isaiah 3:24 – And it shall come to
pass, [that] instead of sweet smell
(literally balsam; spice; perfume; scent bottle – as per “tablets” Vs 20) there shall be stink
(stench; decay; rottenness); and instead of
a girdle (or loin-covering) a rent (tether; rope;
encircling rope); and instead of well set hair (hair
arranged as a work of art) baldness (either shaven or plucked out); and instead of a stomacher (rich or expensive robe)
a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning
(or branding) instead of beauty.
girdle – girdle; loin-covering; belt; loin-cloth; armour.
Translated “aprons” in –
Genesis 3:7 – And the eyes of them
both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed
fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Instead of smelling nice like
spicy fragrance, they will stink like death; they will have captors’ ropes around
their waists instead of girdles; instead of a sculpted hair-do they will be
shaven like slaves (or possibly they would pluck it out as a sign of mourning);
instead of their rich robes (and other clothing) they would wear sackcloth (the
clothing of the desperately poor, or the clothing of the mourner); and the
branding of slavery would replace their beauty.
Mourning (see Vs 26) was common once
they were in captivity in Babylon.
Psalm 137:1-4 – 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we
wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the
willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried
us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of
us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion. 4
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
Isaiah is prophesying all this
well ahead of time, probably more than 140 years before the first deportation
to Babylon. But, it just didn’t seem possible to the people of Jerusalem who no
doubt thought that the good times could never end. Even though there were tough
times in Isaiah’s day, they were always full of confidence that because they were
God’s people, they would always have God to pick them up again and bless them
like He had in the past. But today, just like the people of Jerusalem, God’s
people (or probably more like those who would like to think they are but just
cannot find the commitment!) will find time running out on them.
Ephesians 5:15-16 – 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Isaiah 3:25 – Thy men (or persons; people)
shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty
(literally your strength or might) in the
war.
It could mean: do not trust in the
army to protect the women of Jerusalem, for when that day comes when the enemy
comes against you, and the battle (war) comes to your walls and gates, your
mighty men will fail you; you will lose and be taken into captivity. Or, it
could mean: your people (of Jerusalem or Judah) will fall by the sword (will be
cut down by violent means) and your supposed might and strength will be of no
avail; you will lose regardless.
Jeremiah, who was on the scene at
the time of the captivity, described some of what Isaiah prophesied.
Lamentations 1:1-3 – 1 How doth the city sit solitary, [that was] full of
people! [how] is she become as a widow! she [that was] great
among the nations, [and] princess among the provinces, [how] is
she become tributary! 2 She weepeth
sore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her
lovers she hath none to comfort [her]: all her friends have dealt
treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. 3 Judah
is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude:
she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest:
all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
God had told Jeremiah that an evil
would come from the north (Babylon); He would judge their wickedness. Jerusalem
and Judah would oppose Jeremiah but God would prevent them from prevailing over
him.
Jeremiah 1:14-19 – 14 Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil
shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For,
lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of
Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the
cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against
them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned
incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. 17
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all
that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee
before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a
defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls
against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes
thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the Lord, to
deliver thee.
Jeremiah’s message was not
popular, though. Jerusalem (and Judah) was to surrender to Babylon or else the city
would be destroyed by fire. That is, humble themselves before the fury of God’s
wrath or else suffer the consequences.
Jeremiah 38:17-18 – 17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If
thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul
shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live,
and thine house: 18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king
of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the
Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of
their hand.
No might nor power will prevent what
God puts into action through His Spirit.
Zechariah 4:6 – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the
Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Even in Zechariah’s day they
hadn’t learned their lesson, for again (70 AD etc) God will refuse to help them
when the enemy strikes.
Zechariah 4:11 – For I will no more
pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord:
but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into
the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I
will not deliver [them].
Trusting
in power and might (signified by the horse and chariot) is of no value when
compared with the name of the Lord God.
Psalm
20:7 – Some [trust] in
chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our
God.
For
those who trust in the power of kingdoms and their armies of men will find that
without God there is no effective help at all.
Psalm
146:3 – Put not your trust in princes,
[nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.
And
this following from Isaiah is particularly relevant because eight years after
the first deportation to Babylon in 597 BC, Zedekiah made an agreement with
Egypt to protect them. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt and then laid siege to
Jerusalem until they were starved into submission.
Isaiah
31:1 – Woe to them that go down to
Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they
are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not
unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!
Isaiah 3:26 – And her gates shall
lament and mourn; and she [being] desolate shall sit (or remain) upon the
ground.
lament and mourn – could be written as mourn and lament. The words could be
synonyms, probably emphasising the seriousness of the lamenting and mourning
(or mourning and lamenting). Vs 25 & 26 are a type of poetry, where
parallelism of a sort is used.
desolate – cleaned out: purged out; emptied.
sit upon the ground – a sign of great grief, often in sackcloth and ashes. (Job
2:8)
The gates were the places of
gathering for judgment, and general gossip.
Who would have thought that that
great city would ever fall!
Lamentations 4:12 – The kings of the
earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the
adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
Lamentations 2:15 – All that pass by clap
[their] hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of
Jerusalem, [saying, Is] this the city that [men] call The
perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
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