translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ISA

label: NET study note

text: This apparently refers to a future population explosion. See 26:18 .


text: The “east wind” here symbolizes violent divine judgment.


text: As interpreted and translated above, this verse says that Israel must totally repudiate its pagan religious practices in order to experience God’s forgiveness and restoration. Another option is to understand “in this way” and “this” in v. 9 a as referring back to the judgment described in v. 8 . In this case כָּפַר ( kafar , “atone for”) is used in a sarcastic sense; Jacob’s sin is “atoned for” and removed through severe judgment. Following this line of interpretation, one might paraphrase the verse as follows: “So in this way (through judgment) Jacob’s sin will be “atoned for,” and this is the way his sin will be removed, when he (i.e., God) makes all the altar stones like crushed limestone….” This interpretation is more consistent with the tone of judgment in vv. 8 and 10-11 .


text: The identity of this city is uncertain. The context suggests that an Israelite city, perhaps Samaria or Jerusalem, is in view. For discussions of interpretive options see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:496-97, and Paul L. Redditt, “Once Again, the City in Isaiah 24-27 ,” HAR 10 (1986), 332.


text: The Israelites will be freed from exile (likened to beating the olives off the tree) and then gathered (likened to collecting the olives).