Isaiah 3:2-3

3:2 the mighty men and warriors,

judges and prophets,

omen readers and leaders, ¹ 

3:3 captains of groups of fifty,

the respected citizens, ² 

advisers and those skilled in magical arts, ³ 

and those who know incantations.

Micah 3:1

God Will Judge Judah’s Sinful Leaders

3:1 I said,

“Listen, you leaders ⁴  of Jacob,

you rulers of the nation ⁵  of Israel!

You ought to know what is just, ⁶ 

[3:2]  ¹ tn Heb “elder” (so ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); NCV “older leaders.”

[3:3]  ² tn Heb “the ones lifted up with respect to the face.” For another example of the Hebrew idiom, see 2 Kgs 5:1.

[3:3]  ³ tn Heb “and the wise with respect to magic.” On the meaning of חֲרָשִׁים (kharashim, “magic”), see HALOT 358 s.v. III חרשׁ. Some understand here a homonym, meaning “craftsmen.” In this case, one could translate, “skilled craftsmen” (cf. NIV, NASB).

[3:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “heads.”

[3:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “house.”

[3:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “Should you not know justice?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course you should!”