Yesaya 8:12

8:12 “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. ¹ 

Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.

Yesaya 23:13

23:13 Look at the land of the Chaldeans,

these people who have lost their identity! ² 

The Assyrians have made it a home for wild animals.

They erected their siege towers, ³ 

demolished ⁴  its fortresses,

and turned it into a heap of ruins. ⁵ 

Yesaya 37:12

37:12 Were the nations whom my predecessors ⁶  destroyed – the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar – rescued by their gods? ⁷ 

Yesaya 56:11

56:11 The dogs have big appetites;

they are never full. ⁸ 

They are shepherds who have no understanding;

they all go their own way,

each one looking for monetary gain. ⁹ 

[8:12]  ¹ tn Heb “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ with respect to all which these people say, ‘Conspiracy.’” The verb translated “do not say” is second masculine plural, indicating that this exhortation is directed to Isaiah and other followers of the Lord (see v. 16).

[8:12]  sn The background of this command is uncertain. Perhaps the “conspiracy” in view is the alliance between Israel and Syria. Some of the people may even have thought that individuals in Judah were plotting with Israel and Syria to overthrow the king.

[23:13]  ² tn Heb “this people [that] is not.”

[23:13]  ³ tn For the meaning of this word, see HALOT 118 s.v. *בַּחוּן.

[23:13]  ⁴ tn Or “laid bare.” For the meaning of this word, see HALOT 889 s.v. ערר.

[23:13]  ⁵ sn This verse probably refers to the Assyrian destruction of Babylon.

[37:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “fathers” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); NIV “forefathers”; NCV “ancestors.”

[37:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “Did the gods of the nations whom my fathers destroyed rescue them – Gozan and Haran, and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who are in Telassar?”

[56:11]  ⁸ sn The phrase never full alludes to the greed of the leaders.

[56:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “for his gain from his end.”