NET ISA section

The Lord Rebukes His People

22 “But you did not call for me, O Jacob;

you did not long [fn] for me, O Israel.

23 You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings;

you did not honor me with your sacrifices.

I did not burden you with offerings;

I did not make you weary by demanding [fn] incense.

24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds; [fn]

you did not present to me [fn] the fat of your sacrifices.

Yet you burdened me with your sins;

you made me weary with your evil deeds. [fn]

25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake;

your sins I do not remember.

26 Remind me of what happened! Let's debate!

You, prove to me that you are right! [fn]

27 The father of your nation [fn] sinned;

your spokesmen [fn] rebelled against me.

28 So I defiled your holy princes,

and handed Jacob over to destruction,

and subjected [fn] Israel to humiliating abuse.”

44 “Now, listen, Jacob my servant,

Israel whom I have chosen!”

2 This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says –

the one who formed you in the womb and helps you:

“Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,

Jeshurun, whom I have chosen!

3 For I will pour water on the parched ground

and cause streams to flow on the dry land.

I will pour my spirit on your offspring

and my blessing on your children.

4 They will sprout up like a tree in the grass,

like poplars beside channels of water.

5 One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord,’

and another will use the name ‘Jacob.’

One will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’

and use the name ‘Israel.’ ”

43:22 Translator's Note Or “strive”; KJV, ASV, NRSV “been weary of me.”

43:23 Translator's Note Heb “with.” The words “by demanding” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

43:24 Translator's Note That is, “calamus” (so NIV); NCV, TEV, NLT “incense”; CEV “spices.”

43:24 Translator's Note Heb “you did not saturate me”; NASB “Neither have you filled Me.”

43:24 Study Note 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., ; ; , ). 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, (NCBC), 91.

43:26 Translator's Note Heb “you, tell in order that you may be right”; NAB “prove your innocence.”

43:27 Translator's Note Heb “your first father.” This could refer to Abraham (see ), but elsewhere in Isaiah he does not appear in a negative light (see ; ; ). A more likely candidate is Jacob/Israel, also referred to as the nation's “father” elsewhere (see ; ).

43:27 Translator's Note On the meaning of the term לִיץ ( lits), see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ. This may refer to the nation's prophets, priests, and/or kings.

43:28 Translator's Note The word “subjected” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

NET by section ISA 43:22

The Lord Rebukes His People