Read Isaiah 10 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
10:1-4 {p} Woe to those who prey on the needy, widow, fatherless/ His anger not turned away
10:5-11 {p} Woe to Assyria, who does not know he is being used by YHVH
10:12-15 {p} YHVH will punish Assyria’s haughtiness after He has used him against Jerusalem
10:16-19 {s} The Light of Israel will devour the glory of the fattened ones
10:20-23 {p} The remnant of Jacob will return to YHVH
10:24-32 {p} The yoke of the Assyrian will be destroyed
10:33-34 {s} YHVH will humble the haughty
The Strong themes:
9:8-10:4 {s+s+p} Woe to Israel, leaders, oppressors who do not repent/ wrath of YHVH upon you
10:16-23 {s+p} Because of the Holy One of Israel, a remnant of Jacob will return to YHVH
The Chiastic structure:
Isaiah delivered the prophecies recorded in the early chapters of his book during the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah. Israel was still in her land, Samaria and Damascus were still standing. Isaiah prophesied for many decades covering the reigns of multiple kings in Judah. Here at the beginning of his ministry, he is already warning of impending judgment. When Isaiah died, Jeremiah wasn’t called until 50 years later, and he also prophesied for many decades.
For over a century, both prophets urged repentance and a return to YHVH to avert judgment. God was on a very long arc over multiple generations to warn His people to learn by instruction, and not by the rod of correction.
In Isaiah 10, Isaiah warns that the rod of correction in His hand will be the fierce nation of Assyria. However, even if it does come to the rod of correction,
And it shall be in that day, the remnant of Israel and the escaped of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on YHVH, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. Isa 10:20-21
Leave a Reply