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ISAIAH CHAPTER 30
OBSERVATION STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
.
.This
limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Isaiah. This
will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.
(Isa 30:1 NKJV) ''' "Woe to the rebellious children [of Israel]," says the LORD, "[to] take counsel, but not [from] Me, And [to confirm] plans [lit., to pour out a drink offering in order to confirm an agreement by parties in certain plans] but not of My Spirit, [So that to add sin upon sin]
(Isa 30:2 HOLMAN) they [who] set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh's protection and take refuge in Egypt's shadow.
(Isa 30:3 HOLMAN) But Pharoah's protection will become your shame, and refuge in Egypt's shadow your disgrace.
(Isa 30:4 NKJV) For his [Judah's] princes [have been] at Zoan, And his ambassadors [arrived at] Hanes.
(Isa 30:5 CBL) Everyone has become odious because of a people who do not profit them, neither a help. Yes not for profiting yet for shame and also for reproach.
(Isa 30:6 NAS) The oracle of the beasts of the Negev in a land of distress. Through a land of distress and anguish [affliction], From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures on camels' humps, To a people who cannot profit them;
(Isa 30:7 NAS) [And] Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her ['Rahab who just sits.'] [= identifies Egypt as Rahab the mythical sea monster as the one who just sits and 'does nothing.']"
(Isa 30:8 NASB) "Now go, [the LORD speaking to Isaiah] write it before them on a tablet, And [inscribe it] on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever.
(Isa 30:9 NASB) For this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the [instruction] of the LORD,
(Isa 30:10) Who [have said] to the seers, 'You must not see visions;' And to the prophets, 'You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, prophecy illusions [deceptions].
(Isa 30:11 NKJV) Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease before us.' "
(Isa 30:12 NKJV) Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them,
(Isa 30:13 NASB) Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach [falling, i.e., about to cause a wall to fall], A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant."
(Isa 30:14 NKJV) And He [the Holy One of Israel] shall break it [the high wall of iniquity, v. 13] like the breaking of the potter's [jar], Which is [crushed in the sense of broken into pieces]; He shall not spare [in the sense of give mercy]. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern.
(Isa 30:15 NAS) For thus the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength. But you were not willing,
(Isa 30:16 NKJV) And you said, 'No, for we will flee on horses' - And, 'We will ride on swift horses' - Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
(Isa 30:17 NKJV) One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill."
(Isa 30:18 HOLMAN) Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are [blessed].
(Isa 30:19 NKJV) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.
(Isa 30:20 NASB ) [Although] the Lord has given you bread of privation [i.e., adversity] and water of oppression [i.e., affliction], He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher.
(Isa 30:21 NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
(Isa 30:22 NAS) And you will [have defiled] your graven images overlaid with silver, and your [cast] images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure [lit., menstral] thing, and say to them, "Be gone!"
(Isa 30:23 NKJV) Then He will [have given] the rain for your seed With which you sow the ground, And bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed In large pastures.
(Isa 30:24 HOLMAN) The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder scattered with winnowing shovel and fork.
(Isa 30:25 NKJV) There will [have been] on every high mountain And on every high hill Rivers and streams of waters, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall.
(Isa 30:26 NKJV) [And] the light of the moon will [have been] as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold, As the light of the seven days, In the day that the LORD binds up the [brokenness] of His people And heals the stroke of their wound [in the sense of the LORD healing the wounds He had inflicted on His people].
(Isa 30:27 NKJV) Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, Burning with His anger, and a heavy mass of smoke [imagery conveying the LORD's heavy burden]; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire.
(Isa 30:28 YLT) And His breath [is] like an overflowing stream, Unto the neck it [divides], [to move the nations back and forth] with a sieve of vanity [in the sense of disposing of all that is vain, i.e., false and worthless]. And a bridle causing [them] to err [is] on the jaws of the peoples.
(Isa 30:29 CBL) The song it will be to you like the night of making holy a festival and rejoicing of heart like walking by the flute to go on the mountain of Yahweh to the Rock of Israel.
(Isa 30:29 HOLMAN) Your singing will be like that on the night of a holy festival [with rejoicing of heart like walking by the music of the flute to go] up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
(Isa 30:30 CBL) and He [the LORD] will [have caused] to be heard the majesty [the splendor] of His voice and [with] the descending of His arm He will cause to be seen in the rage of anger and a flame of fire [a] devouring cloudburst and a thunderstorm and stones of hail.
(Isa 30:31 HOLMAN) Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the LORD. He will strike with a rod.
(Isa 30:32 HOLMAN) And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD brings down on him [Assyria, (v. 31)] will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres [harps]; He will fight against him [Assyria] with brandished weapons.
(Isa 30:33 CBL) [For] [being prepared] from long ago Topeth [in the sense of Gehenna - the Lake of Fire, which describes the ultimate fate of the wicked] even for the king [of Assyria, (v. 31)] it has been established. He [the LORD] has made it deep. He has made it wide. Its pile of wood - fire and wood in abundance. The breath of [the LORD] like a [stream] of sulfur burning on it.'''
(Isa 30:1 NKJV) ''' "Woe to the rebellious children [of Israel]," says the LORD, "[to] take counsel, but not [from] Me, And [to confirm] plans [lit., to pour out a drink offering in order to confirm an agreement by parties in certain plans] but not of My Spirit, [So that to add sin upon sin] (Isa 30:2 HOLMAN) they [who] set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh's protection and take refuge in Egypt's shadow. (Isa 30:3 HOLMAN) But Pharoah's protection will become your shame, and refuge in Egypt's shadow your disgrace. (Isa 30:4 NKJV) For his [Judah's] princes [have been] at Zoan, And his ambassadors [arrived at] Hanes. (Isa 30:5 CBL) Everyone has become odious because of a people who do not profit them, neither a help. Yes not for profiting yet for shame and also for reproach. (Isa 30:6 NAS) The oracle of the beasts of the Negev in a land of distress. Through a land of distress and anguish [affliction], From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures on camels' humps, To a people who cannot profit them; (Isa 30:7 NAS) [And] Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her ['Rahab who just sits.'] [= identifies Egypt as Rahab the mythical sea monster as the one who just sits and 'does nothing.']" ''' =
The Hebrew word
"hôy" rendered "Woe" signifies a forboding
consequence from the LORD due the children of the LORD as a result of
their actions - of those of Judah who went down to Egypt to make an
alliance treaty for protection from Assyria without asking the LORD for
advice. This was a rebellion against the LORD! The people of Judah had
repeatedly and stubbornly rejected the counsel of the LORD, adding sin
upon sin. For in the days of King Ahaz, Judah had made an alliance with
Assyria to protect themselves against the alliance of Israel and Aram
(Syria) to take over Judah, resulting in the destruction and the captivity
of the people of the Northern Kingdom. That alliance was against the will
of the LORD. The tribute Judah had to pay Assyria was a great burden for
them which Hezekiah, when he became king, decided to stop paying in
conjunction with the treaty he made with Egypt. But it was only a matter
of time when Assyria would begin a campaign against Egypt and Judah. For
it was the LORD Who directed Assyria as His rod of discipline, (Isa
10:5-19,..and
Isa 37:29), upon Judah for their rebellious act of making a treaty with
Egypt, and not trusting in His counsel and protection. And at this time,
during it's 25th dynasty, Egypt was waning as a world power. Hence Egypt
could be of no real help to Judah against the powerful Assyrian Empire.
Isaiah pronounced a woe upon the children of the LORD and declared them
rebellious and sinful. Note that the phrase in verse 1 rendered, "to
pour out a drink offering in order to confirm an agreement by parties in
certain plans" signified that a treaty would have been made and then
confirmed by the parties of the treaty by having a drink together as the
concluding act of confirming that treaty with Egypt. Isaiah declared that
it was a sin "to add upon sin" to repeatedly reject the LORD and
refuse to seek His help. Certainly, it was not the LORD's plan for Judah
to make a protective alliance with Egypt against Assyria. For the LORD had
already said many times through Isaiah that He would use Assyria to wipe
out Judah's enemies including Aram (Syria) and the Northern Kingdom who
were conspiring to conquer her. And He would also use Assyria to punish
Judah, the Southern Kingdom short of destruction of Jerusalem. So now for
Hezekiah to look to Egypt, a crumbling empire, for help was to oppose the
plans of the LORD. It would be useless and would only result in disgrace,
(cf Isa 10:5-34 ..
), (Isa 30:1).
The LORD went on further to declare that they who set out to go down to Egypt without asking His advice in order to seek shelter under Pharaoah's protection and take refuge in Egypt's shadow would be shamed. For the result would be that Pharoah's protection and refuge in Egypt's shadow would be no protection at all, (cf Isa 36:6). The words rendered, "For his [Judah's] princes have been at Zoan, And his ambassadors arrived at Hanes," signified that a treaty was made. Zoan was in the Delta and Hanes was on the Nile, probably about 50 miles south of Memphis - key cities in Egypt during the 25th (Ethiopian) dynasty. Both cities were evidently the seats of reigning princes, during the time of Hezekiah's rule of Judah where treaties would be made, (cf. Isa 19:11-13), (Isa 30:2-4).
In verse 5,
Isaiah declared that everyone of Judah had become odious - in the sense of
loathsome to the LORD - because of a people [Egypt] who would not profit
them [Judah], nor be of any help, leading not to profit but to shame and
reproach - to disgrace. Historically, this best fits 701 B.C. when
Sennacherib defeated the Egyptian army at Eltekeh, and conducted his
campaign against Judah and Jerusalem, (cf. Isa 10:24-34
; 36:1-22
;
37:1-7 );
(Isa 30:5).
Verse 6 portrays the difficult, dangerous yet futile trip of the Judean envoys and their beasts of burden through Egypt, across the Negev desert - a land of extremes - a journey of distress and affliction, where lioness and lion, viper and fiery flying serpent lived. They were carrying riches on the backs of young donkeys, and camels for Egypt in payment for a treaty of protection for Judah. But the verse implied that there would be no protection at all. Hence the journey and the bestowal of such riches would be for nothing. The Negev route, although inhospitable to travelers, was the safest route in the sense of avoiding thieves for Hezekiah's envoys to travel with such lavish gifts for the Egyptian rulers; instead of the more public route across the southern Mediterranean Sea. The LORD repeatedly told Judah that Egypt's promises of protection would be in vain. He called Egypt "Rahab who just sits," like the hippopotamus who often sits and "Does nothing." "Rahab" refers to the mythical female sea monster associated with Leviathan, symbollic of the forces of evil that God would destroy, (cf. Isa 51:9). The word means arrogance and boastfulness - an apt and poetic name for Egypt in her waning days of power, (Isa 30:6-7).
(Isa 30:1 NKJV) ''' "Woe to the rebellious children [of Israel]," says the LORD, "[to] take counsel, but not [from] Me, And [to confirm] plans [lit., to pour out a drink offering in order to confirm an agreement by parties in certain plans] but not of My Spirit, [So that to add sin upon sin] (Isa 30:2 HOLMAN) they [who] set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh's protection and take refuge in Egypt's shadow. (Isa 30:3 HOLMAN) But Pharoah's protection will become your shame, and refuge in Egypt's shadow your disgrace. (Isa 30:4 NKJV) For his [Judah's] princes [have been] at Zoan, And his ambassadors [arrived at] Hanes. (Isa 30:5 CBL) Everyone has become odious because of a people who do not profit them, neither a help. Yes not for profiting yet for shame and also for reproach. (Isa 30:6 NAS) The oracle of the beasts of the Negev in a land of distress. Through a land of distress and anguish [affliction], From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures on camels' humps, To a people who cannot profit them; (Isa 30:7 NAS) [And] Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her ['Rahab who just sits.'] [= identifies Egypt as Rahab the mythical sea monster as the one who just sits and 'does nothing.'] (Isa 30:8 NASB)Now go, [the LORD speaking to Isaiah] write it before them on a tablet, And [inscribe it] on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever. (Isa 30:9 NASB) For this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the [instruction] of the LORD, (Isa 30:10) Who [have said] to the seers, 'You must not see visions;' And to the prophets, 'You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, prophecy illusions [deceptions]. (Isa 30:11 NKJV) Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease before us.' " (Isa 30:12 NKJV) Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, (Isa 30:13 NASB) Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach [falling, i.e., about to cause a wall to fall], A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant. (Isa 30:14 NKJV) And He [the Holy One of Israel] shall break it [the high wall of iniquity, v. 13] like the breaking of the potter's [jar], Which is [crushed in the sense of broken into pieces]; He shall not spare [in the sense of give mercy]. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern. (Isa 30:15 NAS) For thus the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength. But you were not willing, (Isa 30:16 NKJV) And you said, 'No, for we will flee on horses' - And, 'We will ride on swift horses' - Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! (Isa 30:17 NKJV) One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill." ''' =
The LORD spoke to His prophet Isaiah, instructing him to write His words before His people upon a tablet relative to making a treaty with Egypt instead of seeking the counsel of the LORD - evidence of the rebelliousness of the people of Judah - so as to bring the message to their attention; and to inscribe His words on a scroll so that His words would be preserved forever - to be part of the everlasting Word of God - a witness against them in the future, for they evidently did not want to listen to God's instructions which He gave Isaiah to tell the people. Hence they could not claim that they had never been given His message, (Isa 30:8).
Isaiah spoke directly to the character of the people of the LORD, "This is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the instruction of the LORD, Who [have said] to the seers, 'You must not see visions;' And to the prophets, 'You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, prophecy illusions [i.e., deceptions]. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease before us.' " It is evident that the people were deliberately and willfully taking steps to ignore and disobey the truths which the LORD had been conveying to them through His prophets, especially relative to their alliance with Egypt. They indicated that they wanted to be left alone to do as they pleased. They only wished to be told things that they wanted to hear, not that the alliance with Egypt would fail. And nothing that would be offensive and upsetting. They wanted the prophets to speak falsely of things to come that would tickle their ears, and to stay out of their way, and to keep them from thinking about the Holy One of Israel. Hence Isaiah was to write down his message on a tablet and a scroll, because the people were unwilling to pass it on by word of mouth. Although prophecy was given by word of mouth to be passed it to others. It was also written down as a witness to the everlasting Word of God, (Isa 30:9-11).
Immediately after the people said to Isaiah, "Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease before us," Isaiah confronted them by giving them words from the Holy One of Israel: "Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: 'Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach [falling, i.e., about to cause a wall to fall], A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant." So Isaiah was saying that the LORD would answer His rebellious children with great severity because they despised His words; because they had put their trust in oppression and perversity - a reference to the character and history of Egypt. For with Egypt they had made an alliance which was worthless, hence deceitful and perverse. So the LORD would have their own iniquity become to them like a breach or a bulge in a high wall which bursts suddenly and destructively upon them. There would be no clear warning of disaster, although the signs of destruction had always been evident if one were willing to consider them; such as repeated warnings from the LORD through His prophet, Isaiah. So the LORD, the Holy One Of Israel would break their high wall of iniquity like the crushing into pieces of a potter's jar. There would be no mercy, the destruction would be devastating and complete. For not even a shard of pottery would be left to take hot coals from the hearth, or water from the cistern. History records such devastation to Judah and Jerusalem, not in 701 B.C., but in 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem, and even more with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, (Isa 30:12-14).
Isaiah indicated that Judah's destiny of the LORD's devastating punishment could have been different: '''For thus the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." ''' The word rendered "quiet," signifies not being anxious, or proactive in doing something to take care of the Assyrian threat, (such as not making a treaty with Egypt). But they were not willing to change their minds and trust alone in the LORD GOD alone. Note that the Hebrew words AdOnAy" rendered the LORD in the NAS refers to Him as Master. The Hebrew word "Yehwih" rendered GOD in the NAS is the personal name of the living God, often referring to His redemptive, covenant-keeping name, as it does here. So instead of repentance, the LORD indicated that His children arrogantly told Him, "No, for we will flee on horses' And, "We will ride on swift horses," referring to relying upon military might, which included their dependence upon the military of Egypt - its horses and chariots to defend them, evidently against Assyria - the super power of the time. Hence the LORD answered, "Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill." God warned them that 1,000 of them would flee at the threat of one, and so many will flee at the threat of 5, that all that remained would be as a single pole on a mountain top. There would be no escaping the LORD's judgment, their military might would be overpowered by whomever the LORD sent against them. They could not count on military strength, only upon the LORD and Him alone - which they obstinately refused to do! For God promised overwhelming victory to His people if they obeyed Him, but overwhelming defeat if they were rebellious, (Isa 30:15-17).
(Isa 30:18 HOLMAN) "Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are [blessed]. (Isa 30:19 NKJV) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. (Isa 30:20 NASB ) [Although] the Lord has given you bread of privation [i.e., adversity] and water of oppression [i.e., affliction], He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. (Isa 30:21 NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. (Isa 30:22 NAS) And you will [have defiled] your graven images overlaid with silver, and your [cast] images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure [lit., menstral] thing, and say to them, "Be gone!" (Isa 30:23 NKJV) Then He will [have given] the rain for your seed With which you sow the ground, And bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed In large pastures. (Isa 30:24 HOLMAN) The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder scattered with winnowing shovel and fork. (Isa 30:25 NKJV) There will [have been] on every high mountain And on every high hill Rivers and streams of waters, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall. (Isa 30:26 NKJV) [And] the light of the moon will [have been] as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold, As the light of the seven days, In the day that the LORD binds up the [brokenness] of His people And heals the stroke of their wound [in the sense of the LORD healing the wounds He had inflicted on His people]." =
Verse 18 emphasizes that the purpose of the LORD is not to punish His people. For He waits for them to repent so that He might show them mercy and compassion, but not before His justice is satisfied relative to discipline for their rebelliousness if they do not repent. Because the LORD is a just God, He is obligated to discipline His people before He can show them mercy and compassion. Isaiah wrote that those who wait for the LORD patiently - enduring the discipline - are blessed even during the times of severe hardship - the remnant of believers evidently being in view, (Isa 30:18).
Verses 19-21 begin the portrayal of that day, (of the future), when the people of the LORD would dwell in the mercy and compassion of the LORD in Jerusalem in the sense of a permanent state as in the millennial rule when mortals would be under the absolute rule of the Messiah. Note that the verbs are mostly singular as if the God of Israel was speaking to His people as if addressing the heart of one person. In that day, Isaiah wrote that the people of Zion at Jerusalem "shall weep no more." And in that day, (cf. v. 23), the LORD would be very gracious to them: at the sound of their cry for help, He would answer them with mercy and compassion. Although there would still be discipline - for mortals who would live during that day would nevertheless have a flawed / sin nature which makes them liable to commit sins, for which they will receive discipline. Whereupon Isaiah wrote to the people of the LORD of that day: "Although the Lord has given you bread of privation [i.e., adversity] and water of oppression [i.e., affliction], He, your Teacher [referring to the Messiah, (cf. Isa 9:6-7)] will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher - as had been the case in the past when the people rejected and ostracized the teachers / prophets. The eyes of the people of the LORD shall see their Teacher. He will constantly be at hand. The context of the passage implies that the people in that day would this time be diligent in listening to the teaching of the LORD. This corroborates the Millennial Rule is in view. For throughout history, teachers and prophets had been ostracized, even persecuted. But on that day, the teaching of the LORD will be everywhere. As Isaiah wrote, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left," (Isa 30:19-21).
Not only will those living in that day characteristically receive the grace and compassion of the LORD, but the people - as a demonstration of their repentance - will cast out their idols as impure things - even their graven images overlaid with silver and gold. In that day, the LORD will provide plentiful rain to grow crops and provide large pastures for livestock to feed upon. Oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder scattered with winnowing shovel and fork, i.e., the best kind of food for them. Water will be plentiful on high mountains and hills, (cf. 2:15).
On the other hand, this day will be characterized as the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall - evidently referring to the strongholds of powerful nations which will be destroyed at the end of the age when the Messiah has come. Note that the word rendered "towers," in the NKJV is plural referring to many of the powerful nations of the world. So the immediate future of the fall of the Assyrian empire is not in view, especially since the worldwide prosperity, and the tremendous changes in the light of the moon and the sun, (v. 26), did not occur during that time, (Isa 30:22-25).
In that day, the brightness of earth will be unparalleled: the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold - seven times brighter than normal. And the LORD will heal His people of their brokenness, of the wounds He had inflicted on them as a result of their past unfaithfulness. This evidently refers to the time in the Day of the LORD after He has brought down all His enemies and begun His Kingdom reign on the throne of David, (cf Isa 9:6-7; 30:26).
(Isa 30:27 NKJV) '''Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, Burning with His anger, and a heavy mass of smoke [imagery conveying the LORD's heavy burden]; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire. (Isa 30:28 YLT) And His breath [is] like an overflowing stream, Unto the neck it [divides], [to move the nations back and forth] with a sieve of vanity [in the sense of disposing of all that is vain, i.e., false and worthless]. And a bridle causing [them] to err [is] on the jaws of the peoples. (Isa 30:29 CBL) The song it will be to you like the night of making holy a festival and rejoicing of heart like walking by the flute to go on the mountain of Yahweh to the Rock of Israel. (Isa 30:29 HOLMAN) Your singing will be like that on the night of a holy festival [with rejoicing of heart like walking by the music of the flute to go] up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. (Isa 30:30 CBL) and He [the LORD] will [have caused] to be heard the majesty [the splendor] of His voice and [with] the descending of His arm He will cause to be seen in the rage of anger and a flame of fire [a] devouring cloudburst and a thunderstorm and stones of hail. (Isa 30:31 HOLMAN) Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the LORD. He will strike with a rod. (Isa 30:32 HOLMAN) And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD brings down on him [Assyria, (v. 31)] will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres [harps]; He will fight against him [Assyria] with brandished weapons. (Isa 30:33 CBL) [For] [being prepared] from long ago Topeth [in the sense of Gehenna - the Lake of Fire, which describes the ultimate fate of the wicked] even for the king [of Assyria, (v. 31)] it has been established. He [the LORD] has made it deep. He has made it wide. Its pile of wood - fire and wood in abundance. The breath of [the LORD] like a [stream] of sulfur burning on it.''' =
Verse
27 returns to the time of Isaiah when Assyria and its allies, (cf. Isa
13:4-5 .)
were an imminent threat to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. At that
time, the name of the LORD - a phrase which refers to His character -
would come from afar in the sense of the distance from Mount Sinai where
He made His presence known relative to the Assyrians relative to His
judgment upon that people from the east. He would burn in His anger, which
Isaiah portrayed as a heavy mass of smoke to represent His heavy burden
and judgment against the egregiously arrogant sinful acts committed by the
people of Assyria and her allies against the people of the LORD. The
LORD's lips would be full of indignation, And His tongue [would be] like a
devouring fire, i.e., He would speak the words, and the judgment would
come to pass, (Isa 30:27).
The breath of the LORD would be like an overflowing stream which divided up to the necks in the sense of bare survival - as occurred to Jerusalem, (cf. Isa 8:7-8). The word rendered "neck," in the YLT specifically refers to the back of the neck of animals and people. The verse goes on to explain that in the same that grain is moved through a sieve to sift out impurities such as pebbles; so the nations would be moved by the LORD back and forth to sift out vanity. So those whom the LORD chose would be destroyed, evidently those who were vain, i.e., arrogant. And the LORD would put a bridle on the jaws of the wicked which would cause them to err - to go in the wrong direction which God would allow - bringing them to a point of self-destruction - typical of nations who do not worship the LORD, (Isa 30:28).
Verse 29 speaks of the days after the LORD had delivered Jerusalem from Assyria. His people would sing like the songs they sung in the evening of a festival such as the Passover; or like the rejoicing of ones heart as one who walks while playing the flute while going on to the mountain of the LORD to the temple to be in the presence of and worship God, the Rock of Israel, (Isa 30:29).
Verses 30-31
speak of the demise of Assyria - she will be shattered by the voice of the
LORD. Furthermore, He will strike her with a rod - a nation of His
choosing to do His work of punishment. The Assyrians were His rod to
punish Israel and Judah and Babylon and others, (cf. Isa 10:12-19
.).
Now the LORD will have caused the majesty of His voice to be heard - to
shatter the Assyrians. And He will descend His arm causing to be seen the
rage of His anger against Assyria, like a flame of fire - a devouring
cloudburst of thunderstorm and hail, (Isa 30:30-31).
Verse 32 goes
on with a portrayal of the destruction of Assyria: "And every stroke
of the appointed staff" - staff or rod in the sense of nations which
the LORD appointed, i.e., moved, to attack Assyria and her allies - those
peoples which Assyria incorporated into her armies on the basis of sharing
in the spoils of her conquests, (cf. Isa 13:4-5
).
The battles shall be conducted as if to the rhythm and sound of "tambourines
and harps," perhaps audible in heaven to signify victory - as a
celebration of the LORD's victory. The battles will be with the
brandishing of His weapons will He fight with them," i.e., those
nations which were appointed by Him as His "appointed rod" to do
His work, usually unbeknownst to them, (Isa 30:32).
Verse 33 portrays the final destiny of the people of Assyria and its king is portrayed symbollically to be Topeth - an area in the Valley of Hinnom southeast of Jerusalem, where children had been sacrificed to the false Ammonite god Molech, hence it was a place of burning. The valley of Hinnom was the receptacle of the refuse of the city. Thereafter, it was a place of constant burning where dead carcasses and refuse were thrown to be consumed in the fires. The word itself connotes shame. It was used to mean the same thing as "Gehinnom" or "Gehenna" or the "Lake of Fire" - the final and eternal destiny of the wicked, a place of eternal torment and separation from the LORD. At the end of verse 33, Isaiah wrote, "He [the LORD] has made it deep. He has made it wide. Its pile of wood - fire and wood in abundance. The breath of [the LORD] like a [stream] of sulfur burning on it," completing the imagery. This corroborates that that destiny will be one of terrible judgment in Gehenna - the Lake of Fire, where God's breath like a stream of burning sulfur will maintain the everlasting fire, (Isa 30:33).