Discovery BoxIsaiah 2:13 
Context2:13 for all the cedars of Lebanon,
that are so high and mighty,
for all the oaks of Bashan; 1
Isaiah 10:34
Context10:34 The thickets of the forest will be chopped down with an ax,
and mighty Lebanon will fall. 2
Isaiah 29:17
Context29:17 In just a very short time 3
Lebanon will turn into an orchard,
and the orchard will be considered a forest. 4
Isaiah 40:16
Context40:16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; 5
its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. 6
1 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.
2 tn The Hebrew text has, “and Lebanon, by/as [?] a mighty one, will fall.” The translation above takes the preposition בְּ (bet) prefixed to “mighty one” as indicating identity, “Lebanon, as a mighty one, will fall.” In this case “mighty one” describes Lebanon. (In Ezek 17:23 and Zech 11:2 the adjective is used of Lebanon’s cedars.) Another option is to take the preposition as indicating agency and interpret “mighty one” as a divine title (see Isa 33:21). One could then translate, “and Lebanon will fall by [the agency of] the Mighty One.”
3 tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”
4 sn The meaning of this verse is debated, but it seems to depict a reversal in fortunes. The mighty forest of Lebanon (symbolic of the proud and powerful, see 2:13; 10:34) will be changed into a common orchard, while the common orchard (symbolic of the oppressed and lowly) will grow into a great forest. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:538.
5 tn The words “for a sacrifice” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
6 sn The point is that not even the Lebanon forest could supply enough wood and animals for an adequate sacrifice to the Lord.
