Isaiah 3:1-26

Bringing things home to the historical situation of Isaiah’s time, Isaiah 3:1-26 gives a frightening description of the extent of God’s judgment in the destruction of Judah. Isaiah was moved to speak this way because wickedness was normalized in Jewish society. El-Roi looks with anger in His eyes at such a scene (Isa. 3:8)! Furthermore, destruction comes as a direct result of divine action: “The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.” (Isa. 3:13; Mic. 6:2; Ezek. 20:33-36; 1 Pet. 4:17-18). How? The LORD will bring a crushing famine (Isa. 3:1) and disperse the mighty of the nation and the seed royal (Isa. 3:2-9). Wrath is targeting the ladies also! Jehovah-Nakah will “smite” the fair women of the nation to cast down the crown of their pride and beauty (Isa. 3:16-24; Ezek. 7:9). By interpretation, this means that the LORD will stand and plead in judgment by smitting the Jews through the Armies of Assyria in war (Isa. 3:25-26). Also, in keeping with justice (as always), the divinely planned operation of annihilation is a safekeeping of the righteous during the annihilation of the wicked (Isa. 3:10-11).