Isaiah 3

Supply and support will be withdrawn  1
Children will rule; anyone will be asked to rule  4
Jerusalem and Judah are about to fall; Confirm the righteous  8
Woe to the wicked; women rule; led out of the path  12
The Lord rises to judge the oppressors  13
Women of Zion are proud; they will get sores  16
Your men will fall in battle  25
The gates will lament; she will sit on the ground  26


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Text
Comments
In the previous chapter, we saw that the mountain of the Lord – Judah and Jerusalem – would be established. It would be above the other mountains. Then we saw the terrible day of the Lord. And now judgment of punishment. Thus the story will finally end for God's glory.
.1 ¶ For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,
 2  The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
 3  The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
  1 - Take away ... the stay The Lord is about to withdraw His hand of protection. It pictures our day. The end is not a new world of one worship on the earth but punishment and desolation.
  2 - Mighty man ... judge, prudent The nation will lose leadership and direction.
  3 - Captain ... honourable man Nebuchadnezzar would carry these talented and sincere people to Babylon. 2ki2414, je2401, da0104.
.4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
 5  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
 6  When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
 7  In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
  4 - I will give children The nation would be left under immature leaders.
  6 - Let this ruin be under thy hand The leaders would govern what was to become ruins.
  7 - I will not be an healer Those with financial strength to help were apparently not interested and keeping their money and houses to protect themselves.
.8  For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
 9 ¶ The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
  8 - Because ... tongue ... doings Simply rebellion against God.
  8 - To provoke they eyes ... Literally "to rebel before the eyes of his glory." They knew he was watching!
  9 - Sin as sodom Isaiah's reference may be general – that sin had become an open practice.
  Male adultery is a case in point. Sex is a very large business in our world today. An Internet Jewish friend of mine joined his life with another man. I feel really bad but no logic or Bible text would help. Sin is sin. See ex2014. I've also been criticized about Romans 1 where Paul is crystal clear on the topic. The defense was that Paul was not really an inspired writer.
.10  Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
 11  Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
  10 - Say to the righteous ... These must have been a distinct minority.
  11 - Reward of his hands His punishment will be real. Sin brings misery. ga0607.
.12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.   Children ... women We think of a number of kings who began to reign as youth and children. 2ki1532, 2ki1602, 2ki1801, 2ki2101, 2ki2201. Jezebel was the mastermind behind Ahab 1ki2105 and her daughter became Queen Athaliah 2ki1101.
.13  The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
 14  The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
 15  What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
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.16 ¶ Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
.17  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
 18  In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
  16 - Daughters of Zion An example of degenerate womanhood. Contrast Peter's ideal for women, 1pe0301.
  16 - Walk To attract the attention of men.
  18 - Bravery Rather, "beauty."

Remember to read more than the first verse linked to.

 19  The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
 20  The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
.21  The rings, and nose jewels,
 22  The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
.23  The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
  19 - Chains A continuation of what the Lord would take away.
  21 - Rings From tabba'oth. The word also describes signet rings ge4142, ex3522, nu3150, es0808.
  21 - Crisping pins Probably "purses." 2ki0523.
.24  And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. -
.25  Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
.26  And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.
  The theme continues in the next chapter
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