Discovery BoxIsaiah 5:24 
Context5:24 Therefore, as flaming fire 1 devours straw,
and dry grass disintegrates in the flames,
so their root will rot,
and their flower will blow away like dust. 2
For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies,
they have spurned the commands 3 of the Holy One of Israel. 4
Isaiah 50:2
Context50:2 Why does no one challenge me when I come?
Why does no one respond when I call? 5
Is my hand too weak 6 to deliver 7 you?
Do I lack the power to rescue you?
Look, with a mere shout 8 I can dry up the sea;
I can turn streams into a desert,
so the fish rot away and die
from lack of water. 9
1 tn Heb “a tongue of fire” (so NASB), referring to a tongue-shaped flame.
2 sn They are compared to a flowering plant that withers quickly in a hot, arid climate.
3 tn Heb “the word.”
4 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
5 sn The present tense translation of the verbs assumes that the Lord is questioning why Israel does not attempt to counter his arguments. Another possibility is to take the verbs as referring to past events: “Why did no one meet me when I came? Why did no one answer when I called?” In this case the Lord might be asking why Israel rejected his calls to repent and his offer to deliver them.
6 tn Heb “short” (so NAB, NASB, NIV).
7 tn Or “ransom” (NAB, NASB, NIV).
8 tn Heb “with my rebuke.”
9 tn Heb “the fish stink from lack of water and die from thirst.”
