5:10 The Israelites 1 hate anyone who arbitrates at the city gate; 2
they despise anyone who speaks honestly.
5:21 “I absolutely despise 3 your festivals!
I get no pleasure 4 from your religious assemblies!
1 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 sn In ancient Israelite culture, legal disputes were resolved in the city gate, where the town elders met.
3 tn Heb “I hate”; “I despise.”
4 tn Heb “I will not smell.” These verses are full of vivid descriptions of the Lord’s total rejection of Israelite worship. In the first half of this verse two verbs are used together for emphasis. Here the verb alludes to the sense of smell, a fitting observation since offerings would have been burned on the altar ideally to provide a sweet aroma to God (see, e.g., Lev 1:9, 13, 17; Num 29:36). Other senses that are mentioned include sight and hearing in vv. 22-23.