Discovery BoxIsaiah 2:16 
Context2:16 for all the large ships, 1
for all the impressive 2 ships. 3
Isaiah 11:5
Context11:5 Justice will be like a belt around his waist,
integrity will be like a belt around his hips. 4
Isaiah 32:1
Context32:1 Look, a king will promote fairness; 5
officials will promote justice. 6
Isaiah 32:16-17
Context32:16 Justice will settle down in the desert
and fairness will live in the orchard. 7
32:17 Fairness will produce peace 8
and result in lasting security. 9
1 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.
2 tn Heb “desirable”; NAB, NIV “stately”; NRSV “beautiful.”
3 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.
4 tn Heb “Justice will be the belt [or “undergarment”] on his waist, integrity the belt [or “undergarment”] on his hips.” The point of the metaphor is uncertain. If a belt worn outside the robe is in view, then the point might be that justice/integrity will be readily visible or that these qualities will give support to his rule. If an undergarment is in view, then the idea might be that these characteristics support his rule or that they are basic to everything else.
5 tn Heb “will reign according to fairness.”
6 tn Heb “will rule according to justice.”
7 sn This new era of divine blessing will also include a moral/ethical transformation, as justice and fairness fill the land and replace the social injustice so prevalent in Isaiah’s time.
8 tn Heb “and the product of fairness will be peace.”
9 tn Heb “and the work of fairness [will be] calmness and security forever.”
