Discovery BoxIsaiah 7:16 
Context7:16 Here is why this will be so: 1 Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land 2 whose two kings you fear will be desolate. 3
Isaiah 10:17
Context10:17 The light of Israel 4 will become a fire,
their Holy One 5 will become a flame;
it will burn and consume the Assyrian king’s 6 briers
and his thorns in one day.
Isaiah 19:11
Context19:11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; 7
Pharaoh’s wise advisers give stupid advice.
How dare you say to Pharaoh,
“I am one of the sages,
one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?” 8
Isaiah 41:2
Context41:2 Who stirs up this one from the east? 9
Who 10 officially commissions him for service? 11
He hands nations over to him, 12
and enables him to subdue 13 kings.
He makes them like dust with his sword,
like windblown straw with his bow. 14
Isaiah 45:1
Context45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen 15 one,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold 16
in order to subdue nations before him,
and disarm kings, 17
to open doors before him,
so gates remain unclosed:
Isaiah 60:10-11
Context60:10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls;
their kings will serve you.
Even though I struck you down in my anger,
I will restore my favor and have compassion on you. 18
60:11 Your gates will remain open at all times;
they will not be shut during the day or at night,
so that the wealth of nations may be delivered,
with their kings leading the way. 19
Isaiah 60:16
Context60:16 You will drink the milk of nations;
you will nurse at the breasts of kings. 20
Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your deliverer,
1 tn Heb “for, because.” The particle introduces the entire following context (vv. 16-25), which explains why Immanuel will be an appropriate name for the child, why he will eat sour milk and honey, and why experiencing such a diet will contribute to his moral development.
2 sn Since “two kings” are referred to later in the verse, the “land” must here refer to Syria-Israel.
3 tn Heb “the land will be abandoned, which you fear because of its two kings.” After the verb קוּץ (quts, “loathe, dread”) the phrase מִפְּנֵי (mipney, “from before”) introduces the cause of loathing/dread (see Gen 27:46; Exod 1:12; Num 22:3).
4 tn In this context the “Light of Israel” is a divine title (note the parallel title “his holy one”). The title points to God’s royal splendor, which overshadows and, when transformed into fire, destroys the “majestic glory” of the king of Assyria (v. 16b).
5 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
6 tn Heb “his.” In vv. 17-19 the Assyrian king and his empire is compared to a great forest and orchard that are destroyed by fire (symbolic of the Lord).
7 tn Or “certainly the officials of Zoan are fools.” אַךְ (’akh) can carry the sense, “only, nothing but,” or “certainly, surely.”
8 tn Heb “A son of wise men am I, a son of ancient kings.” The term בֶּן (ben, “son of”) could refer to literal descent, but many understand the word, at least in the first line, in its idiomatic sense of “member [of a guild].” See HALOT 138 s.v. בֶּן and J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:371. If this is the case, then one can take the word in a figurative sense in the second line as well, the “son of ancient kings” being one devoted to their memory as preserved in their literature.
9 sn The expression this one from the east refers to the Persian conqueror Cyrus, as later texts indicate (see 44:28-45:6; 46:11; 48:14-16).
10 tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis.
11 tn Heb “[in] righteousness called him to his foot.”
12 tn Heb “he [the Lord] places before him [Cyrus] nations.”
13 tn The verb יַרְדְּ (yardÿ) is an otherwise unattested Hiphil form from רָדָה (radah, “rule”). But the Hiphil makes no sense with “kings” as object; one must understand an ellipsis and supply “him” (Cyrus) as the object. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has יוֹרִד (yorid), which appears to be a Hiphil form from יָרַד (yarad, “go down”). Others suggest reading יָרֹד (yarod), a Qal form from רָדַד (radad, “beat down”).
14 sn The point is that they are powerless before Cyrus’ military power and scatter before him.
15 tn Heb “anointed” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “his appointed king.”
16 sn The “right hand” is a symbol of activity and strength; the Lord directs Cyrus’ activities and assures his success.
17 tn Heb “and the belts of kings I will loosen”; NRSV “strip kings of their robes”; NIV “strip kings of their armor.”
18 tn Heb “in my favor I will have compassion on you.”
19 tn Or “led in procession.” The participle is passive.
20 sn The nations and kings are depicted as a mother nursing her children. Restored Zion will be nourished by them as she receives their wealth as tribute.
21 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
22 sn See 1:24 and 49:26.
