Isaiah 5:9

5:9 The Lord who commands armies told me this: ¹ 

“Many houses will certainly become desolate,

large, impressive houses will have no one living in them. ² 

Isaiah 8:20

8:20 Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. ³  Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened. ⁴ 

Isaiah 28:28

28:28 Grain is crushed,

though one certainly does not thresh it forever.

The wheel of one’s wagon rolls over it,

but his horses do not crush it.

Isaiah 36:9

36:9 Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen. ⁵ 

Isaiah 37:11

37:11 Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. ⁶  Do you really think you will be rescued? ⁷ 

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¹ tn Heb “in my ears, the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].”

² tn Heb “great and good [houses], without a resident.”

³ tn Heb “to [the] instruction and to [the] testimony.” The words “then you must recall” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text vv. 19-20a are one long sentence, reading literally, “When they say to you…, to the instruction and to the testimony.” On the identity of the “instruction” and “testimony” see the notes at v. 16.

⁴ tn Heb “If they do not speak according to this word, [it is] because it has no light of dawn.” The literal translation suggests that “this word” refers to the instruction/testimony. However, it is likely that אִם־לֹא (’im-lo’) is asseverative here, as in 5:9. In this case “this word” refers to the quotation recorded in v. 19. For a discussion of the problem see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 230, n. 9. The singular pronoun in the second half of the verse is collective, referring back to the nation (see v. 19b).

⁵ tn Heb “How can you turn back the face of an official [from among] the least of my master’s servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?” In vv. 8-9 the chief adviser develops further the argument begun in v. 6. His reasoning seems to be as follows: “In your weakened condition you obviously need military strength. Agree to the king’s terms and I will personally give you more horses than you are capable of outfitting. If I, a mere minor official, am capable of giving you such military might, just think what power the king has. There is no way the Egyptians can match our strength. It makes much better sense to deal with us.”

⁶ tn Heb “Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, annihilating them.”

⁷ tn Heb “and will you be rescued?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No, of course not!”