9:6 Look! 1 Even if 2 they flee from the destruction,
Egypt will take hold 3 of them,
and Memphis will bury them.
The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure 4 –
thorn bushes will occupy their homes. 5
32:13 Mourn 6 over the land of my people,
which is overgrown with thorns and briers,
and over all the once-happy houses 7
in the city filled with revelry. 8
34:13 Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns;
thickets and weeds will grow 9 in her fortified cities.
Jackals will settle there;
ostriches will live there. 10
1 tn The deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “Behold!”) is used frequently in prophetic announcements, introducing a solemn or important declaration, particularly in threats of judgment (BDB 244 s.v. הִנֵּה b.β). Many modern English versions leave this particle untranslated here.
2 tn The conjunction כִּי (ki) introduces a concessive clause: “Although, when, if, even if” (BDB 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.β). It has a force approximating “even if” (so NIV, NCV, NRSV, CEV, NLT), but it represents a situation as more likely to occur than אִם (‘im, “if”). The concessive use of כִּי is normally followed by an imperfect, but occasionally a perfect is used, as is the case here (e.g., Mic 7:8; Nah 1:10; Pss 21:12; 119:83).
3 tn The verb קָבַץ (qavats, “to gather together”) should be nuanced “grab hold” in this context (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ). This pictures a personified Egypt taking the fugitives prisoner.
4 tn Heb “the treasured things of their silver”; NASB, NIV, TEV, NLT “treasures of silver.”
5 tn Heb “their tents” (so NIV, NRSV); CEV “your tents.”
6 tn “Mourn” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text vv. 12-13 are one long sentence.
7 tn Heb “indeed, over all the houses of joy.” It is not certain if this refers to individual homes or to places where parties and celebrations were held.
8 sn This same phrase is used in 22:2.
9 tn The words “will grow” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
10 tc Heb “and she will be a settlement for wild dogs, a dwelling place for ostriches.” The translation assumes an emendation of חָצִיר (khatsir, “grass”) to חָצֵר (khatser, “settlement”). One of the Qumran scrolls of Isaiah (1QIsaa) supports this emendation (cf. HALOT 344 s.v. II חָצִיר)