Isaiah 24:22-23

24:22 They will be imprisoned in a pit, ¹ 

locked up in a prison,

and after staying there for a long time, ²  they will be punished. ³ 

24:23 The full moon will be covered up, ⁴ 

the bright sun ⁵  will be darkened; ⁶ 

for the Lord who commands armies will rule ⁷ 

on Mount Zion in Jerusalem ⁸ 

in the presence of his assembly, in majestic splendor. ⁹ 

[24:22]  ¹ tn Heb “they will be gathered [in] a gathering [as] a prisoner in a cistern.” It is tempting to eliminate אֲסֵפָה (’asefah, “a gathering”) as dittographic or as a gloss, but sound repetition is one of the main characteristics of the style of this section of the chapter.

[24:22]  ² tn Heb “and after a multitude of days.”

[24:22]  ³ tn Heb “visited” (so KJV, ASV). This verse can mean to visit for good or for evil. The translation assumes the latter, based on v. 21a. However, BDB 823 s.v. פָּקַד B.Niph.2 suggests the meaning “visit graciously” here, in which case one might translate “they will be released.”

[24:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “will be ashamed.”

[24:23]  ⁵ tn Or “glow of the sun.”

[24:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “will be ashamed” (so NCV).

[24:23]  ⁷ tn Or “take his throne,” “become king.”

[24:23]  ⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[24:23]  ⁹ tn Heb “and before his elders [in] splendor.”