24:4 The earth 1 dries up 2 and withers,
the world shrivels up and withers;
the prominent people of the earth 3 fade away.
24:7 The new wine dries up,
the vines shrivel up,
all those who like to celebrate 4 groan.
33:9 The land 5 dries up 6 and withers away;
the forest of Lebanon shrivels up 7 and decays.
Sharon 8 is like the desert; 9
Bashan and Carmel 10 are parched. 11
1 tn Some prefer to read “land” here, but the word pair אֶרֶץ/תֵּבֵל (erets/tevel [see the corresponding term in the parallel line]) elsewhere clearly designates the earth/world (see 1 Sam 2:8; 1 Chr 16:30; Job 37;12; Pss 19:4; 24:1; 33:8; 89:11; 90:2; 96:13; 98:9; Prov 8:26, 31; Isa 14:16-17; 34:1; Jer 10:12; 51:15; Lam 4:12). According to L. Stadelmann, תבל designates “the habitable part of the world” (The Hebrew Conception of the World [AnBib], 130).
2 tn Or “mourns” (BDB 5 s.v. אָבַל). HALOT 6-7 lists the homonyms I אבל (“mourn”) and II אבל (“dry up”). They propose the second here on the basis of parallelism.
3 tn Heb “the height of the people of the earth.” The translation assumes an emendation of the singular form מְרוֹם (mÿrom, “height of”) to the plural construct מְרֹמֵי (mÿrome, “high ones of”; note the plural verb at the beginning of the line), and understands the latter as referring to the prominent people of human society.
4 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “all the joyful in heart,” but the context specifies the context as parties and drinking bouts.
5 tn Or “earth” (KJV); NAB “the country.”
6 tn Or “mourns” (BDB 5 s.v. I אָבַל). HALOT 6-7 lists homonyms I אבל (“mourn”) and II אבל (“dry up”). They propose the second here on the basis of parallelism. See 24:4.
7 tn Heb “Lebanon is ashamed.” The Hiphil is exhibitive, expressing the idea, “exhibits shame.” In this context the statement alludes to the withering of vegetation.
8 sn Sharon was a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast. See 35:2.
9 tn Or “the Arabah” (NIV). See 35:1.
10 sn Both of these areas were known for their trees and vegetation. See 2:13; 35:2.
11 tn Heb “shake off [their leaves]” (so ASV, NRSV); NAB “are stripped bare.”