Yesaya 29:8

29:8 It will be like a hungry man dreaming that he is eating,

only to awaken and find that his stomach is empty. ¹ 

It will be like a thirsty man dreaming that he is drinking,

only to awaken and find that he is still weak and his thirst unquenched. ² 

So it will be for the horde from all the nations

that fight against Mount Zion.

Yeremia 2:3

2:3 Israel was set apart to the Lord; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. ³  All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says the Lord.’”

[29:8]  ¹ tn Or “that he [or “his appetite”] is unsatisfied.”

[29:8]  ² tn Or “that he is faint and that he [or “his appetite”] longs [for water].”

[2:3]  ³ sn Heb “the first fruits of his harvest.” Many commentators see the figure here as having theological significance for the calling of the Gentiles. It is likely, however, that in this context the metaphor – here rendered as a simile – is intended to bring out the special relationship and inviolability that Israel had with God. As the first fruits were the special possession of the Lord, to be eaten only by the priests and off limits to the common people, so Israel was God’s special possession and was not to be “eaten” by the nations.