3:12 Oppressors treat my 1 people cruelly;
creditors rule over them. 2
My people’s leaders mislead them;
they give you confusing directions. 3
9:9 All the people were aware 4 of it,
the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. 5
Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said, 6
51:4 Pay attention to me, my people!
Listen to me, my people!
For 7 I will issue a decree, 8
I will make my justice a light to the nations. 9
1 sn This may refer to the prophet or to the Lord.
2 tc The Hebrew text appears to read literally, “My people, his oppressors, he deals severely, and women rule over them.” The correct text and precise meaning of the verse are debated. The translation above assumes (1) an emendation of נֹגְשָׂיו (nogÿsayv, “his oppressors”) to נֹגְשִׂים (nogÿshim, “oppressors”) by moving the mem (ם) on the following form to the end of the word and dropping the vav (ו) as virtually dittographic; (2) an emendation of מְעוֹלֵל (mÿ’olel, a singular participle that does not agree with the preceding plural subject) to עֹלְלוּ (’olÿlu), a third plural Poel perfect from עָלַל (’alal, “deal severely”; note that the following form begins with a vav [ו]; the text may be haplographic or misdivided); and (3) an emendation (with support from the LXX) of נָשִׁים (nashim, “women”) to נֹשִׁים (noshim, “creditors”; a participle from נָשַׁא, nasa’). Another option is to emend מְעוֹלֵל to עוֹלְלִים (’olÿlim, “children”) and read, “My people’s oppressors are children; women rule over them.” In this case the point is the same as in v. 4; the leadership void left by the judgment will be filled by those incompetent to lead the community – children and women. (The text reflects the ancient Israelite patriarchal mindset.)
3 tn Heb “and the way of your paths they confuse.” The verb בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”; HALOT 135 s.v. I בלע) is a homonym of the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”; see HALOT 134 s.v. בלע).
4 tn The translation assumes that vv. 9-10 describe the people’s response to a past judgment (v. 8). The perfect is understood as indicating simple past and the vav (ו) is taken as conjunctive. Another option is to take the vav on the perfect as consecutive and translate, “all the people will know.”
5 tn Heb “and the people, all of them, knew; Ephraim and the residents of Samaria.”
6 tn Heb “with pride and arrogance of heart, saying.”
7 tn Or “certainly.”
8 tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”
9 tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”