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1No more gloom for those who are in distress! Although the Lord greatly humbled the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, he will one day bestow upon them great honor—from the Mediterranean eastward to the other side of the Jordan and throughout the Galilee of the gentiles.[#9:1 This was the region that first went into captivity during the Assyrian invasion in 734–733 BC. Yet this land was the first to enjoy the blessings of the ministry of Jesus, for his works were done among them. Their “honor” would be to host the life and miracles of the Prince of Glory, the Messiah. Isaiah is prophesying the ministry of Jesus that would reverse the curse over that region. In the place where devastation had robbed hope, he will appear. He chooses the places in our lives where we have the most disgrace and shame, and there he shines his light. Our past failures become prophecies of a future victory.; #9:1 That is, Gilead or Transjordan.]
2Those who walked in darkness[#9:2 See Pss. 82:5; 107:10; Isa. 8:20.]
have seen a radiant light shining upon them .
They once lived in the shadows of death,
but now a glorious light has dawned!
3Lord , you have multiplied the nation
and given them overwhelming joy!
They are ecstatic in your presence
and rejoice like those who bring in a great harvest
and those who divide up the spoils of victory!
4For you have broken the chains[#9:4 Or “burdensome yoke.”]
that have bound your people
and lifted off the heavy bar across their shoulders,
the rod the oppressor used against them.
You have shattered all their bondage,
just as you did when Midian’s armies were defeated.
5Every boot of marching troops
and every uniform caked with blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6A child has been born for us;
a son has been given to us.
The responsibility of complete dominion
will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be:
the Wonderful One,
the Extraordinary Strategist,
the Mighty God,
the Father of Eternity,
the Prince of Peace!
7Great and vast is his dominion.[#9:7 Or “His authority will continually expand.” The Hebrew word misrah , found only in this verse and in v. 6, can be translated “empire,” “governmental authority,” or “dominion.”]
He will bring immeasurable peace and prosperity.
He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom
to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness
from this time forward and forevermore.
The marvelous passion that the Lord Yahweh ,
Commander of Angel Armies, has for his people
will ensure that it is finished!
8The Lord decreed a word against Jacob, and it brought calamity upon Israel.
9And all the people of Ephraim and Samaria knew of it. Their hearts filled with pride and they arrogantly boasted,
10“Our brick walls may have crumbled, but we will rebuild them with dressed stones. Invading armies may have cut down our sycamore trees, but we will plant cedars in their place!”[#9:10 Their attitude was basically “Even if God sends judgment, we will start over and be stronger and more prosperous than before,” not realizing that God will not lift his hand of judgment until they humble their hearts.]
11So the Lord Yahweh stirred up their enemies and strengthened Rezin’s foes, and they came against the people.[#9:11 That is, the Assyrians. The Septuagint reads “the enemies of Mount Zion.”]
12Syrians on the east, Philistines on the west—they came with bared teeth and devoured Israel. Yet despite all this, his anger did not subside, and his hand of judgment is poised to strike them again.[#9:12 Or “Arameans,” a confederacy of Aramaic-speaking people known as Aram (modern-day Syria).; #9:12 Or “with their whole mouth.”]
13For the people did not repent and turn to the one who struck them or seek the Lord Yahweh , Commander of Angel Armies.
14In a single day, the Lord Yahweh cut off from Israel both head and tail, palm branch and reed.
15The elders and dignitaries are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16The leaders have led them astray, and the citizens are left in confusion.
17That is why the Lord did not show pity to the young people or have compassion on their orphans and widows. For everyone was godless and did evil and each mouth spewed out wickedness. Therefore, the Lord’s anger has not subsided, and his hand is poised to strike them again.
18Surely wickedness burned like an out-of-control fire, consuming thorns and thistles. It set ablaze the thickets of the forest with flames swirling upward in columns of smoke.
19The land was scorched because of the anger of the Lord Yahweh , Commander of Angel Armies. The people themselves became fuel for the fire, and no one showed compassion toward another.[#9:19 The Hebrew word n‘étam is a hapax legomenon taken from an Arabic word for “dark.” Its Hebrew meaning is uncertain and could be rendered “scorched,” “shaken,” or “darkened.”]
20With their right hands they snatched what belonged to others, yet remained hungry. With their left hands they stole food, yet they were starving and even ate their own offspring![#9:20 This is a figurative way to describe civil war. Although they all belonged to Israel’s tribes, they were now turning against one another.; #9:20 Or “they ate the flesh of their own arm.” This could be a figure of speech for harassing and destroying one another. See also Jer. 19:9.]
21Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they turned against Judah. Yet despite all this, the Lord’s anger has not subsided, and his hand is poised to strike them again.[#9:21 See 2 Chron. 28:6–15.; #9:21 Or “his hand is still reaching out.”]