“Look how the oppressor has met his end!
Hostility 2 has ceased!
29:10 For the Lord has poured out on you
a strong urge to sleep deeply. 3
He has shut your eyes (the prophets),
and covered your heads (the seers).
64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, 4
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who intervenes for those who wait for him.
1 tn Heb “you will lift up this taunt over the king of Babylon, saying.”
2 tc The word in the Hebrew text (מַדְהֵבָה, madhevah) is unattested elsewhere and of uncertain meaning. Many (following the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa) assume a dalet-resh (ד-ר) confusion and emend the form to מַרְהֵבָה (marhevah, “onslaught”). See HALOT 548 s.v. II *מִדָּה and HALOT 633 s.v. *מַרְהֵבָה.
3 tn Heb “a disposition [or “spirit”] of deep sleep.” Through this mixed metaphor (sleep is likened to a liquid which one pours and in turn symbolizes spiritual dullness) the prophet emphasizes that God himself has given the people over to their spiritual insensitivity as a form of judgment.
4 tn Heb “from ancient times they have not heard, they have not listened.”