Article September 14, 1935 Issue

Bible Notes

"Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck" (Hab. 3:13)—The noun here literally translated "head" can also mean simply "the top of anything" (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 910), while the verb rendered "discover" denotes rather "to uncover or lay bare" (cf. ibid., p. 788). Moreover, some scholars contend that at some time in the history of the text the Hebrew form "TSW'R," here translated "neck," was inadvertently set down instead of "TSWR," which means literally "rock" (cf. Kittel: Biblia Hebraica; and Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 849). Consequently Smith translates: "Laying bare the foundations even to the rock;" while Moffatt has: "Thou hast unroofed the enemy's house, hast laid it bare to the foundations."

"That cover with a covering, but not of my spirit" (Isa. 30:1)—The Hebrew word "nasak," here translated "cover," and its cognate noun "masseka" (covering), are used in a variety of senses. The usual meaning of "nasak" is "to pour," especially "to pour a libation ... in making a covenant" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 651); hence the Septuagint translates: "Ye have made covenants that are not by my Spirit;" Smith: "who form an alliance that is not according to my mind;" Kent: "establishing a treaty contrary to my spirit;" and the American Revised Version: "that make a league, but not of my spirit."

"The Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose" (Isa. 30:7)—Scholars contend that this thirtieth chapter of Isaiah was composed shortly before 700 B.C. Palestine at this period was under the power of Assyria, and the death of the Assyrian ruler Sargon, in 705 B.C., appears to have encouraged the Jews to oppose his successor Sennacherib (705–681 B.C.) with a view to regaining their independence. It is held that Isaiah here opposes an attempted alliance with Egypt against Assyria, reminding the Jews that their true strength lay "in quietness and confidence" (Isa. 30:15). The prophet's counsel was amply justified. When Sennacherib finally encamped against Jerusalem, King Hezekiah prayed for God's protection (II Kings 19:15–19), and was commended by Isaiah (19:20); while in verse 35 we find no reference to Egyptian aid. It was, we read, "the angel of the Lord" that "smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.... So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed" (verse 36). (Cf. Wade: Isaiah, p. xxivff.; G. A. Smith: Isaiah, Vol. I, p. 312; Skinner: Isaiah, Vol. 1, p. xxxix, etc.)