Highlights and Insights from the Prophet. 18 September 2025, 25 Elul 5785.
We do not necessarily understand these prophecies any more than anyone else but here and there we can perhaps shed some light on the meaning of individual verses and that is a worthwhile beginning.
Isaiah begins his Prophecy (1:1) from the viewpoint of Judah and Jerusalem.
Jerusalem can be equated with Zion and Zion with Joseph.
A Midrash in Jewish Tradition is an exegetical (commentary) saying on part of the Bible.
It is not obligatory for Religious Jews to believe in Midrashim BUT they are treated as inspired to some degree and deserving of reverential respect.
The book "Kol HaTor" (Voice of the Dove") quotes from Midrash Tanchuma (Breishit) saying that:
# "Everything that happened to Joseph occurred to Zion. The Messiah son of Joseph is in the north. The numerical value of Zion (156), says the Midrash, is the same as that of Joseph.
# Psalms (TCT) 48:
13 ENCOMPASS ZION AND SURROUND IT, COUNT ITS TOWERS.
This is speaking of the five circles of Holiness surrounding Jerusalem. #
Here we have Joseph equated with Zion and Zion with Jerusalem.
The Jews of today are Judah of the Bible. The Lost Ten Tribes are among Western peoples. English-speaking enitites represented the Tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. In some cases in prophecy as explained above Joseph may be represented as "Zion" or as "Jeruslam" according to the context.
Another points worth mention ed is the principle that Scripture never abandons its primary meaning. If it says "Jerusalem" it means Jerusalem at some stage or other BUT it can also represent aspects of Joseph.
Isaiah begins his prophecy (1:1) from the viewpoint of Judah and Jerusalem.
1 THE VISION OF ISAIAH THE SON OF AMOZ, WHICH HE SAW CONCERNING JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH, JOTHAM, AHAZ, [AND] HEZEKIAH, KINGS OF JUDAH.
The People of Israel are Children of the Almighty but they do not act like it but are a sinful nation (1:4).
4 WOE TO A SINFUL NATION, A PEOPLE HEAVY WITH INIQUITY, EVILDOING SEED, CORRUPT CHILDREN. THEY FORSOOK THE LORD; THEY PROVOKED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; THEY DREW BACKWARDS.
They are physically and ecologically suffering for their sins (1:7). Alien foreigners are taking over (1:7).
7 YOUR LAND IS DESOLATE; YOUR CITIES BURNT WITH FIRE. YOUR LAND - IN YOUR PRESENCE, STRANGERS DEVOUR IT; AND IT IS DESOLATE AS THAT TURNED OVER TO STRANGERS.
If God did not have mercy upon us we would be destroyed altogether (1:10).
10 HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, O RULERS OF SODOM; GIVE EAR TO THE LAW OF OUR GOD, O PEOPLE OF GOMORRAH!
Your prayers and worship will not be accepted unless you act righteously (1:12-16) meaning especially the practice of social justice with protection and care for the vulnerable (1:17).
WHEN YOU COME TO APPEAR BEFORE ME, WHO REQUESTED THIS OF YOU, TO TRAMPLE MY COURTS?
13 YOU SHALL NO LONGER BRING VAIN MEAL-OFFERINGS, IT IS SMOKE OF ABOMINATION TO ME; NEW MOONS AND SABBATHS, CALLING CONVOCATIONS, I CANNOT [BEAR] INIQUITY WITH ASSEMBLY. 14 YOUR NEW MOONS AND YOUR APPOINTED SEASONS MY SOUL HATES, THEY ARE A BURDEN TO ME; I AM WEARY OF BEARING [THEM]. 15 AND WHEN YOU SPREAD OUT YOUR HANDS, I WILL HIDE MY EYES FROM YOU, EVEN WHEN YOU PRAY AT LENGTH, I DO NOT HEAR; YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF BLOOD. 16 WASH, CLEANSE YOURSELVES, REMOVE THE EVIL OF YOUR DEEDS FROM BEFORE MY EYES, CEASE TO DO EVIL. 17 LEARN TO DO GOOD, SEEK JUSTICE, STRENGTHEN THE ROBBED, PERFORM JUSTICE FOR THE ORPHAN, PLEAD THE CASE OF THE WIDOW. 18 COME NOW, LET US DEBATE, SAYS THE LORD. IF YOUR SINS PROVE TO BE LIKE CRIMSON, THEY WILL BECOME WHITE AS SNOW; IF THEY PROVE TO BE AS RED AS CRIMSON DYE, THEY SHALL BECOME AS WOOL. 19 IF YOU BE WILLING AND OBEY, YOU SHALL EAT THE BEST OF THE LAND. 20 BUT IF YOU REFUSE AND REBEL, YOU SHALL BE DEVOURED BY THE SWORD, FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD SPOKE.
18 COME NOW, LET US DEBATE, SAYS THE LORD. IF YOUR SINS PROVE TO BE LIKE CRIMSON, THEY WILL BECOME WHITE AS SNOW; IF THEY PROVE TO BE AS RED AS CRIMSON DYE, THEY SHALL BECOME AS WOOL. 19IF YOU BE WILLING AND OBEY, YOU SHALL EAT THE BEST OF THE LAND.
Violence, fraud and graft are among our major offences (1:21-23). This will change. The "bad eggs" among us will be removed (1:24-25, 28).
Righteous rulers (judges) and counselors will come forth and show us the way to redemption (1:26-27). This applies especially to "Zion" (1:27) who according to the Midrash Tanchuma in Prophecy may also represent Joseph. We will be ashamed of our pagan practices and punished through them and for them (1:29-31).
26 AND I WILL RESTORE YOUR JUDGES AS AT FIRST AND YOUR COUNSELLORS AS IN THE BEGINNING; AFTERWARDS YOU SHALL BE CALLED CITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITHFUL CITY. 27 ZION SHALL BE REDEEMED THROUGH JUSTICE AND HER PENITENT THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS. 28 AND DESTRUCTION SHALL COME OVER REBELS AND SINNERS TOGETHER, AND THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE LORD SHALL PERISH. 29 FOR THEY SHALL BE ASHAMED OF THE ELMS THAT YOU DESIRED, AND YOU SHALL BE HUMILIATED BECAUSE OF THE GARDENS THAT YOU CHOSE. 30 FOR YOU SHALL BE LIKE AN ELM WHOSE LEAVES ARE WILTING, AND LIKE A GARDEN THAT HAS NO WATER. 31AND THE[IR] STRENGTH SHALL BECOME AS TOW, AND ITS PERPETRATOR AS A SPARK, AND BOTH OF THEM SHALL BURN TOGETHER, WITH NO ONE TO EXTINGUISH [THE FIRE].
