Isaiah 14:31-32

14:31 Wail, O city gate!

Cry out, O city!

Melt with fear, ¹  all you Philistines!

For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke,

and there are no stragglers in its ranks. ² 

14:32 How will they respond to the messengers of this nation? ³ 

Indeed, the Lord has made Zion secure;

the oppressed among his people will find safety in her.

[14:31]  ¹ tn Or “despair” (see HALOT 555 s.v. מוג). The form נָמוֹג (namog) should be taken here as an infinitive absolute functioning as an imperative. See GKC 199-200 §72.v.

[14:31]  ² tn Heb “and there is no one going alone in his appointed places.” The meaning of this line is uncertain. בּוֹדֵד (boded) appears to be a participle from בָּדַד (badad, “be separate”; see BDB 94 s.v. בָּדַד). מוֹעָד (mo’ad) may mean “assembly” or, by extension, “multitude” (see HALOT 558 s.v. *מוֹעָד), but the referent of the third masculine pronominal suffix attached to the noun is unclear. It probably refers to the “nation” mentioned in the next line.

[14:32]  ³ sn The question forces the Philistines to consider the dilemma they will face – surrender and oppression, or battle and death.