Isa 47: See Lesson, Babylon = Assyria. Judgments promised upon
Assyria, in days of Isaiah. (But did it come? Perhaps it was deferred, as by the
repentance of Nineveh in the days of Jonah: cp Jon 3:9,10. Did Sennacherib learn
from this?)
TENDER OR DELICATE: Terms used ironically?
Isa 47:2
TAKE MILLSTONES AND GRIND FLOUR: Degrading duty of a
female slave (LB 427). Cp Samson in Jdg 15:21.
TAKE OFF YOUR VEIL: Removal of covering of modesty (1Co
11:15).
LIFT UP YOUR SKIRTS... (through v 3)...: Successive steps
involved in going into captivity, or fleeing from capture.
Isa 47:4
Or, "A man is our redeemer; the LORD of hosts is his name, the
Holy One of Israel" (WIsa 420).
Isa 47:5
SIT IN SILENCE: Posture of mourning: Job 2:13; Lam
2:10.
GO INTO DARKNESS: "And his kingdom was plunged into
darkness" (Rev 16:10).
Isa 47:6
"Terribly true of the cruel Assyrians... but not at all true
of the Babylonian captivity, when Judaean captives were able to build houses,
plant gardens, and have families (Jer 29:5,6)" (WIsa 417).
Isa 47:8
THERE IS NONE BESIDES ME: The ultimate blasphemy (cp
Isa 46:9).
I WILL NEVER BE A WIDOW: "I sit as queen; I am not a
widow, and I will never mourn" (Rev 18:7).
Isa 47:11
DISASTER WILL COME UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW...:
"While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (1Th
5:3).
AND TRAFFICKED WITH... NOT ONE THAT CAN SAVE YOU: "The
merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their
cargoes any more" (Rev 18:11).