Discovery BoxIsaiah 31:2 
Context31:2 Yet he too is wise 1 and he will bring disaster;
he does not retract his decree. 2
He will attack the wicked nation, 3
and the nation that helps 4 those who commit sin. 5
Isaiah 43:24
Context43:24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds; 6
you did not present to me 7 the fat of your sacrifices.
Yet you burdened me with your sins;
you made me weary with your evil deeds. 8
Isaiah 49:20
Context49:20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement
will say within your hearing,
‘This place is too cramped for us, 9
make room for us so we can live here.’ 10
1 sn This statement appears to have a sarcastic tone. The royal advisers who are advocating an alliance with Egypt think they are wise, but the Lord possesses wisdom as well and will thwart their efforts.
2 tn Heb “and he does not turn aside [i.e., “retract”] his words”; NIV “does not take back his words.”
3 tn Heb “and he will arise against the house of the wicked.”
4 sn That is, Egypt.
5 tn Heb “and against the help of the doers of sin.”
6 tn That is, “calamus” (so NIV); NCV, TEV, NLT “incense”; CEV “spices.”
7 tn Heb “you did not saturate me”; NASB “Neither have you filled Me.”
8 sn In vv. 22-24 the Lord appears to be condemning his people for failure to bring the proper sacrifices. However, this is problematic. If this refers to the nation’s behavior while in exile, such cultic service was impossible and could hardly be expected by the Lord. If this refers to the nation’s conduct before the exile, it contradicts other passages that depict Israel as bringing excessive sacrifices (see, e.g., Isa 1:11-14; Jer 6:20; Amos 4:4-5, 5:21-23). Rather than being a condemnation of Israel’s failure to bring sacrifices, these verses are better taken as a highly rhetorical comment on the worthlessness of Israel’s religious ritual. They may have brought sacrifices, but not to the Lord, for he did not accept them or even want them. See C. R. North, Second Isaiah, 127, and R. Whybray, Isaiah 40-66 (NCBC), 91.
9 tn Heb “me.” The singular is collective.
10 tn Heb “draw near to me so I can dwell.”
