Isaiah 29:2

29:2 I will threaten Ariel,

and she will mourn intensely

and become like an altar hearth ¹  before me.

Isaiah 51:13

51:13 Why do you forget ²  the Lord, who made you,

who stretched out the sky ³ 

and founded the earth?

Why do you constantly tremble all day long ⁴ 

at the anger of the oppressor,

when he makes plans to destroy?

Where is the anger of the oppressor? ⁵ 

Isaiah 29:7

29:7 It will be like a dream, a night vision.

There will be a horde from all the nations that fight against Ariel,

those who attack her and her stronghold and besiege her.

[29:2]  ¹ tn The term אֲרִיאֵל (’ari’el, “Ariel”) is the word translated “altar hearth” here. The point of the simile is not entirely clear. Perhaps the image likens Jerusalem’s coming crisis to a sacrificial fire.

[51:13]  ² tn Heb “and that you forget.”

[51:13]  ³ tn Or “the heavens” (also in v. 16). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[51:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “and that you tremble constantly all the day.”

[51:13]  ⁵ tn The question anticipates the answer, “Ready to disappear!” See v. 14.