Isaiah 2:13

2:13 for all the cedars of Lebanon,

that are so high and mighty,

for all the oaks of Bashan; ¹ 

Isaiah 33:9

33:9 The land ²  dries up ³  and withers away;

the forest of Lebanon shrivels up ⁴  and decays.

Sharon ⁵  is like the desert; ⁶ 

Bashan and Carmel ⁷  are parched. ⁸ 

[2:13]  ¹ sn The cedars of Lebanon and oaks of Bashan were well-known for their size and prominence. They make apt symbols here for powerful men who think of themselves as prominent and secure.

[33:9]  ² tn Or “earth” (KJV); NAB “the country.”

[33:9]  ³ 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.

[33:9]  ⁴ 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.

[33:9]  ⁵ sn Sharon was a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast. See 35:2.

[33:9]  ⁶ tn Or “the Arabah” (NIV). See 35:1.

[33:9]  ⁷ sn Both of these areas were known for their trees and vegetation. See 2:13; 35:2.

[33:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “shake off [their leaves]” (so ASV, NRSV); NAB “are stripped bare.”