Isaiah (TCB) 27:
1 WOE IS TO THE CROWN OF THE PRIDE OF THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM AND THE YOUNG FRUIT OF AN INFERIOR FIG IS THE POSITION OF HIS GLORY, WHICH IS AT THE END OF A VALLEY OF FATNESS, CRUSHED BY WINE.
“THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM” the British drink a lot, Australians drink more thananybody else except Russians, North Americans drink a lot. Jews (from Judah) are not usually great drinkers but alcohol is freely available at Jewish functions and in religious ceremonies etc. Jewish alcoholics exist but on the whole Jews have an exceptional tolerance for alcohol: Everything is relative. WINE can mean any alcoholic beverage. Perhaps by “DRUNKARDS” drug and other addicts are included?
The Biblical Commentatory ("DAAT MIKRA") of Amos Chacham understands DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM to be also figurative and connoting drunk with richness and power.
On the one hand we say that physically the Tribe of Ephraim is more pre-eminent amongst the British than the Americans.The USA is more dominated by descendants of Menasseh. Even so on the other hand many from Ephraim are in America. “Ephraim” in Prophecy also connotes the Lost Ten Tribes in general. In this sense we may understand the rebuke directed at Ephraim to apply at least in equal measure to Israelite descendants in America.
2 BEHOLD GOD [HAS] A STRONG AND POWERFUL [WIND], LIKE A DOWNPOUR OF HAIL, A STORM OF DESTRUCTION, LIKE A STREAM OF POWERFUL, FLOODING WATER, HE LAYS IT ON THE LAND WITH [HIS] HAND.
The enemy shall overcome Ephraim and cast him down like pouring rain in a thunder storm, a hurricane-like destructive wind, and an overflowing flood of waters. Ephraim shall be overcome and brought down.
3 WITH THE FEET, THEY SHALL BE TRAMPLED, THE CROWN OF THE PRIDE OF THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM.
Physiologically alcohol reduces inhibtions and can enhance self-esteem. In practice someone who is drunk often demeans himself and is treated with contempt by others. Nevertheless drunkeness and pride are linked. An overduly proud person can act as if he were drunk and vice-versa.
4 AND HIS GLORIOUS BEAUTY SHALL BE THE YOUNG FRUIT OF AN INFERIOR FIG, WHICH IS ON THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY OF FATNESS; AS A FIG THAT RIPENS BEFORE THE SUMMER, WHICH, IF THE SEER SEES IT, HE WILL SWALLOW IT WHILE IT IS STILL IN HIS HAND.
This refers to the fruit of the fig which gives forth individudal first fruits that fully ripen before most of the others. These are usually purple in color and ooze with natural fruit sugar. Someone who plucks them just cannot resist swallowing them up on the spot. So too when the enemy comes he will devor the riches of Ephraim. One can picture hordes and hordes of deprived poverty-stricked foreign peoples swarming over our cities taking whatever they can like locusts. The Germans were not poverty-stricked but in Eastern Europe in the Second World War they would often take away everything they could possibly have any use of leaving the conquered peoples with less than they needed to ensure survival. The Russians in their turn in some cases acted similarly when they conquered Germany. They and most other peoples would all do the same thing to us if they only could. Let there be no delusions on that score. Even the most cultured people cannot always resist taking advantage of vulnerability in others, especially when they feel they can get away with it.
In most cases, If you run away from an aggressive dog the dog will probably run after you whereas if you stand up to it it will probably go away or at least back off. It depends. In some exceptional cases perhaps you should beat a retreat: “He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day”.
5 ON THAT DAY, THE LORD OF HOSTS SHALL BE FOR A CROWN OF BEAUTY AND FOR A DIADEM OF GLORY, FOR THE REST OF HIS PEOPLE.
But those who remain will be saved and guided by the Almighty.
6 AND FOR A SPIRIT OF JUSTICE TO HIM WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT, AND FOR MIGHT FOR THOSE WHO BRING BACK THE WAR TO THE GATE.
Ephraim will make a comeback and drive the enemy out to the gate. “Ephraim” (LTTs) will also succeed out of nothing to re-institute a rule of justice and righteousness amongst those who remain of his own peoples. The course of battle will be turned around. When things look most black then we will repent and immediately things will change as we could not have thought possible.
7 THESE, TOO, ERRED BECAUSE OF WINE AND STRAYED BECAUSE OF STRONG WINE; PRIEST AND PROPHET ERRED BECAUSE OF STRONG WINE, THEY BECAME CORRUPT BECAUSE OF WINE; THEY WENT ASTRAY BECAUSE OF STRONG WINE, THEY ERRED AGAINST THE SEER, THEY CAUSED JUSTICE TO STUMBLE.
Throughout the Bible there is a theme that unrighteous behavior often brings its own punishment in its trail without God having to intervene
8 FOR ALL TABLES WERE FILLED WITH VOMIT AND ORDURE, WITHOUT PLACE.
9 WHOM SHALL HE TEACH KNOWLEDGE AND TO WHOM SHALL HE EXPLAIN THE MESSAGE? TO THOSE WEANED FROM MILK, REMOVED FROM BREASTS?
Before the return even those who should lead us will be found wanting just like we are.
10 FOR A PRECEPT FOR A PRECEPT, A PRECEPT FOR A PRECEPT, A LINE FOR A LINE, A LINE FOR A LINE, A LITTLE THERE, A LITTLE THERE.
Instruction should be given and Leadership should be chosen from amongst those who exhibit some restraint, maturity, and self-denial when necessary.
11 FOR WITH DISTORTED SPEECH AND IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE, DOES HE SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE.
Most Israelites will not know Hebrew at that time.
12 FOR HE SAID TO THEM, "THIS IS THE REST; GIVE REST TO THE WEARY, AND THIS IS THE TRANQUILITY," BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN.
13 AND THE WORD OF THE LORD SHALL BE FOR THEM A PRECEPT FOR A PRECEPT, A PRECEPT FOR A PRECEPT, A LINE FOR A LINE, A LINE FOR A LINE, A LITTLE THERE, A LITTLE THERE, IN ORDER THAT THEY GO AND STUMBLE BACKWARDS AND BE BROKEN, AND BE TRAPPED AND CAUGHT.
The message is there. The word of God, the answer to our questions is written down, somewhere in the Torah meaning somewhere in the body of revealed knowledge and written Scripture. Even so unless we persevere and try to gain merit we will not find the answers which are hidden in the open.
14 THEREFORE, LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, MEN OF SCORN, ALLEGORISTS OF THIS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN JERUSALEM.
An allegorist is an author, artist, or creator who writes or uses allegory (the use of parable) to express deeper truths. An allegory is a narrative can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance.
The KJV renders this:
[Isaiah 28:14] WHEREFORE HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE SCORNFUL MEN, THAT RULE THIS PEOPLE WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM.
The KJV in our opinion is more correct here.
15 FOR YOU SAID, "WE HAVE MADE A TREATY WITH DEATH, AND WITH THE GRAVE WE HAVE SET A LIMIT; WHEN AN OVERFLOWING SCOURGE PASSES, IT SHALL NOT COME UPON US, FOR WE HAVE MADE LIES OUR SHELTER AND IN FALSEHOOD HAVE WE HIDDEN OURSELVES.
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WE HAVE MADE A TREATY WITH DEATH, AND WITH THE GRAVE WE HAVE SET A LIMIT. Some say that this hints at Cannanite pagan theological concepts.
When the State of Israel tried to make agreements with the PLO the same thing happened. It was an invitation for the PLO-Nazi beasts to try and murder us and our children. All these Peace Agreements are just lies and delusions. We are relying on the word of people who sometimes do us the courtesy of lieing to us before they slit our throat. We let ourselves be led astray out of wishful thinking and hope that through sophisticated double-thinking we can change reality. Not all the peace-mongers but a lot of them sympathize with homosexuals and the murder of innocent human foetuses and other abominations. Some of those most active in the Peace Movements are unashamedly guilty of such crimes. It is as if they subconsciously want to bring on themselves their own punishment. The only trouble is they wish to see everybody else in the same boat (they are trying to sink) with them. These Thrid World type attiudes are adopted with a pseudo-religious conviction. In Israel they frequently accompany attitudes against the Jewish Religion..
16 THEREFORE, SO HAS THE LORD GOD SAID: "BEHOLD, I HAVE LAID AS A FOUNDATION A STONE IN ZION, A FORTRESS STONE, A COSTLY CORNERSTONE, A FOUNDATION WELL FOUNDED; THE BELIEVER SHALL NOT HASTEN.
Salvation lies in Zion.
17 AND I WILL MAKE JUSTICE THE LINE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THE PLUMMET, AND HAIL SHALL SWEEP AWAY THE SHELTER OF LIES, AND WATER SHALL FLOOD THE HIDING PLACE.
18 AND YOUR TREATY WITH DEATH SHALL BE NULLIFIED, AND YOUR LIMIT WITH THE GRAVE SHALL NOT ENDURE; WHEN AN OVERFLOWING SCOURGE PASSES, YOU SHALL BE TRAMPLED BY IT.
19 WHEN IT PASSES, IT SHALL TAKE YOU, FOR EVERY MORNING IT SHALL PASS, BY DAY AND BY NIGHT, AND IT SHALL BE ONLY TERROR TO UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE.
20 FOR THE BED IS TOO SHORT FOR ONE TO STRETCH, AND THE RULER - IT SHALL BE NARROW WHEN HE ENTERS.
All their deceits and lies and double-talk will not be enough to account for the terrbile reality when it comes.
21 FOR LIKE THE MOUNTAIN OF BREACHES SHALL THE LORD ARISE, LIKE THE VALLEY IN GIBEON HE SHALL BE INCENSED; TO PERFORM HIS DEED, STRANGE IS HIS DEED, AND TO PERFORM HIS WORK, STRANGE IS HIS WORK.
The KJV renders this:
[Isaiah 28:21] FOR THE LORD SHALL RISE UP AS IN MOUNT PERAZIM, HE SHALL BE WROTH AS IN THE VALLEY OF GIBEON, THAT HE MAY DO HIS WORK, HIS STRANGE WORK; AND BRING TO PASS HIS ACT, HIS STRANGE ACT.
David had experienced a deliverance at Mount Perazim similar to the miracles performed for Joshua at Mount Gibeon. It may be a reference to that::
“AND DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, SHALL I GO UP TO THE PHILISTINES? WILT THOU DELIVER THEM INTO MINE HAND? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO DAVID, GO UP: FOR I WILL DOUBTLESS DELIVER THE PHILISTINES INTO THINE HAND.
AND DAVID CAME TO BAAL-PERAZIM, AND DAVID SMOTE THEM THERE, AND SAID, “THE LORD HATH BROKEN FORTH UPON MINE ENEMIES BEFORE ME, AS THE BREACH OF WATERS. THEREFORE HE CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE BAAL-PERAZIM. (2-Samuel 5:19-20). David called the place “Baal-Perazim” because it was like the “Breach of Waters”.
Isaiah above has been using the simile of a breach of flooding waters. I repeat theprinciples we mentioned previously: Isaiah was speaking to people who were not so literate but had developed prodigious memories. The story of David and the association of Perazim and Breach of Waters and its link with what Isaiah was saying would all be obvious to them. First comes punishment (caused by the wicked) like a flood of waters then comes salvation (to the righteous remnant) also like a flood of waters. The victory at Perazzim according to the traditions of the time had been due to Divine Intervention including earthquakes. So too was the salvation at Gibeon inititially due to an earthquake according to popular tradition - says Amos Chacham. Later due due to Divine Intervention greater miracles occurred but these were connected with destroying the fleeing host after the initial victory had taken place:
“AND THE LORD DISCOMFITED THEM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND SLEW THEM WITH A GREAT SLAUGHTER AT GIBEON, AND CHASED THEM ALONG THE WAY THAT GOETH UP TO BETH HORON, AND SMOTE THEM TO AZEKAH, AND UNTO MAKKEDAH.
“ AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THEY FLED FROM BEFORE ISRAEL, AND WERE IN THE GOING DOWN TO BETHHORON, THAT THE LORD CAST DOWN GREAT STONES FROM HEAVEN UPON THEM UNTO AZEKAH, AND THEY DIED: THEY WERE MORE WHICH DIED WITH HAILSTONES THAN THEYWHOM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SLEW WITH THE SWORD.
“ THEN SPAKE JOSHUA TO THE LORD IN THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED UP THE AMORITES BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND HE SAID IN THE SIGHT OF ISRAEL, SUN, STAND THOU STILL UPON GIBEON; AND THOU, MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF AJALON.
“ AND THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STAYED, UNTIL THE PEOPLE HAD AVENGED THEMSELVES UPON THEIR ENEMIES. IS NOT THIS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF JASHER? SO THE SUN STOOD STILL IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND HASTED NOT TO GO DOWN ABOUT A WHOLE DAY.
“ AND THERE WAS NO DAY LIKE THAT BEFORE IT OR AFTER IT, THAT THE LORD HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF A MAN: FOR THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL”
(Joshua 10:10-14). .
The Almighty will save us and perform miracles for us.
Returning to Isaiah:-
22 AND NOW, DO NOT SCORN, LEST YOUR PAINS BECOME STRONG, FOR A COMPLETE DESTRUCTION HAVE I HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS UPON THE ENTIRE LAND.
23 GIVE EAR AND LISTEN TO MY VOICE; HEARKEN AND LISTEN TO MY SAYING.
24 SHALL THE PLOWMAN PLOW ALL DAY TO SOW? SHALL HE OPEN AND HARROW HIS SOIL?
"HARROW HIS SOIL". In the KJV “BREAK THE CLODS.” In Hebrew “Yisadad” from the root “sedad” renderable in grammatical constructions as “sod”. In English a clump of earth is a “sod”. This word is of Hebrew Origin like a not insiginficant number of Anglo-Saxon words.
25 IS IT NOT SO? WHEN HE SMOOTHS ITS SURFACE, HE SCATTERS THE BLACK CUMIN AND CASTS THE CUMIN, AND HE PLACES THE PROMINENT WHEAT, AND THE BARLEY FOR A SIGN, AND THE SPELT ON ITS BORDER.
CUMIN in Hebrew "CaMoN" which is almost the same. It is expalained to mean a type of parsley-like plant BUT others explain it to mean "spelt" which is part of the wheat family.
26 AND HE SHALL CHASTEN HIM JUSTLY, HE WHOSE GOD DIRECTS HIM.
27 FOR NOT WITH A GROOVED [IMPLEMENT] IS BLACK CUMIN THRESHED, [NEITHER] DOES A WAGON WHEEL TURN AROUND ON CUMIN, BUT BLACK CUMIN IS BEATEN WITH A STAFF AND CUMIN WITH A ROD.
28 BREAD GRAIN IS CRUSHED BUT IT IS NOT THRESHED FOREVER, AND THE WHEEL OF HIS WAGON SHALL BREAK, AND ITS SEPARATORS, HE DOES NOT CRUSH IT.
29 THIS TOO COMES FORTH FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS: HE GAVE MARVELOUS COUNSEL, MADE GREAT WISDOM.
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