28:9 Who is the Lord 1 trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining a message? 2
Those just weaned from milk!
Those just taken from their mother’s breast! 3
60:16 You will drink the milk of nations;
you will nurse at the breasts of kings. 5
Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your deliverer,
your protector, 6 the powerful ruler of Jacob. 7
55:1 “Hey, 8 all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk
without money and without cost! 9
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “Who is he teaching knowledge? For whom is he explaining a message?” The translation assumes that the Lord is the subject of the verbs “teaching” and “explaining,” and that the prophet is asking the questions. See v. 12. According to some vv. 9-10 record the people’s sarcastic response to the Lord’s message through Isaiah.
3 tn Heb “from the breasts.” The words “their mother’s” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The translation assumes that this is the prophet’s answer to the questions asked in the first half of the verse. The Lord is trying to instruct people who are “infants” morally and ethically.
4 tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated, see note on 2:2.
7 sn The nations and kings are depicted as a mother nursing her children. Restored Zion will be nourished by them as she receives their wealth as tribute.
8 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
9 sn See 1:24 and 49:26.
10 tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.
11 sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”