Isaiah 7:18

7:18 At that time ¹  the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. ² 

Isaiah 48:20

48:20 Leave Babylon!

Flee from the Babylonians!

Announce it with a shout of joy!

Make this known!

Proclaim it throughout the earth! ³ 

Say, ‘The Lord protects ⁴  his servant Jacob.

Isaiah 56:11

56:11 The dogs have big appetites;

they are never full. ⁵ 

They are shepherds who have no understanding;

they all go their own way,

each one looking for monetary gain. ⁶ 

Isaiah 62:11

62:11 Look, the Lord announces to the entire earth: ⁷ 

“Say to Daughter Zion,

‘Look, your deliverer comes!

Look, his reward is with him

and his reward goes before him!’” ⁸ 

[7:18]  ¹ tn Heb “in that day” (so KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[7:18]  ² sn Swarming flies are irritating; bees are irritating and especially dangerous because of the pain they inflict with their sting (see Deut 1:44; Ps 118:12). The metaphors are well chosen, for the Assyrians (symbolized by the bees) were much more powerful and dangerous than the Egyptians (symbolized by the flies). Nevertheless both would put pressure on Judah, for Egypt wanted Judah as a buffer state against Assyrian aggression, while Assyrian wanted it as a base for operations against Egypt. Following the reference to sour milk and honey, the metaphor is especially apt, for flies are attracted to dairy products and bees can be found in the vicinity of honey.

[48:20]  ³ tn Heb “to the end of the earth” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).

[48:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “redeems.” See the note at 41:14.

[56:11]  ⁵ sn The phrase never full alludes to the greed of the leaders.

[56:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “for his gain from his end.”

[62:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “to the end of the earth” (so NASB, NRSV).

[62:11]  ⁸ sn As v. 12 indicates, the returning exiles are the Lord’s reward/prize. See also 40:10 and the note there.