Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The prophet condemns the sinners to death and predicts an era in which God’s followers will live long and prosperous lives.
II. Photo
God’s followers will be blessed: “No more shall there be an infant or graybeard who does not live out his days. He who dies at a hundred years shall be reckoned a youth, and he who fails to reach a hundred shall be reckoned accursed.” (v. 20)
III. Important Verses
3-4: The people who provoke My anger, Who continually, to My very face, Sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on tiles; Who sit inside tombs And pass the night in secret places; Who eat the flesh of swine, With broth of unclean things in their bowls;
11-13: But as for you who forsake the LORD, Who ignore My holy mountain, Who set a table for Luck And fill a mixing bowl for Destiny: I will destine you for the sword, You will all kneel down, to be slaughtered — Because, when I called, you did not answer, When I spoke, you would not listen. You did what I hold evil, And chose what I do not want. Assuredly, thus said the Lord GOD: My servants shall eat, and you shall hunger; My servants shall drink, and you shall thirst; My servants shall rejoice, and you shall be shamed;
17: For behold! I am creating A new heaven and a new earth; The former things shall not be remembered, They shall never come to mind.
20: No more shall there be an infant or graybeard Who does not live out his days. He who dies at a hundred years Shall be reckoned a youth, And he who fails to reach a hundred Shall be reckoned accursed.
24: Before they pray, I will answer; While they are still speaking, I will respond.
25: The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox, And the serpent’s food shall be earth. In all My sacred mount Nothing evil or vile shall be done — said the LORD.
IV. Outline
1-16. Sermon
1-5a. God was patient, but Israel rejected him
5b-7a. God will repay Israel for its sins
7b. Israel’s sin: forbidden offerings
8-10. God will leave a remnant
11-12. Doom for the sinners
13-16. God’s followers will be blessed; His detractors will be cursed
17-25. Prophetic blessing
17. A new world order
18-19. A joyous Jerusalem
20-23. Long, prosperous, and blessed lives
24. God will answer the people’s prayers
25. Peace in nature
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
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