Discovery BoxIsaiah 2:12-16 
Context2:12 Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has planned a day of judgment, 1
for 2 all the high and mighty,
for all who are proud – they will be humiliated;
2:13 for all the cedars of Lebanon,
that are so high and mighty,
for all the oaks of Bashan; 3
2:14 for all the tall mountains,
for all the high hills, 4
2:15 for every high tower,
for every fortified wall,
1 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts] has a day.”
2 tn Or “against” (NAB, NASB, NRSV).
3 sn The cedars of Lebanon and oaks of Bashan were well-known for their size and prominence. They make apt symbols here for powerful men who think of themselves as prominent and secure.
4 sn The high mountains and hills symbolize the apparent security of proud men, as do the high tower and fortified wall of v. 15.
5 tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
6 tn Heb “desirable”; NAB, NIV “stately”; NRSV “beautiful.”
7 tn On the meaning of this word, which appears only here in the Hebrew Bible, see H. R. Cohen, Biblical Hapax Legomena (SBLDS), 41-42.
sn The ships mentioned in this verse were the best of their class, and therefore an apt metaphor for the proud men being denounced in this speech.
