Isaiah 28 Study Notes

28:15 The rulers of Judah had entered a dangerous agreement. The agreement is said to be with Death and Sheol. Sheol refers to the grave and in some contexts signifies the underworld. Isaiah probably referred to treaties with foreign nations to try to keep Assyria (the overwhelming catastrophe) from defeating them.

28:16 It was not foreign alliances that made Judah strong. It was their relationship with God. He was the one who had built it, cornerstone and foundation. A precise identification of the tested stone is elusive. John Goldingay (Isaiah) remarks that the stone “has been identified with the law, the temple, the monarchy, the city, the saving work of Yahweh, the people’s relationship with Yahweh, the true believing community, Zion itself, the Messiah, faith, the remnant, or the actual promise about the one who trusts.” The allusion may be to all of the above. This verse is quoted in Rm 9:33; 10:11; 1Pt 2:6.

28:17 God’s standards are justice and righteousness—fair treatment of fellow citizens and trusting obedience. Both were lacking in Judah.

28:18 The dark pact with Death (see note at v. 15) is doomed to failure.

28:20 The arrangements that Judah had made to protect itself against Assyria were inadequate, like a bed that was too short.

28:21 At Perazim (described in 2Sm 5:20 as a “bursting flood”) God gave David a great victory over the Philistines. At the Valley of Gibeon, God used hailstones to allow Joshua to defeat the southern coalition of Canaanite city-states (Jos 10:11). Though this pronouncement and many of Isaiah’s pronouncements describe God’s violent judgment against the nations, here it is called unexpected and unfamiliar. It was not the typical, normal, hoped-for mode of relationship, particularly with his covenant people.

28:22 Though God’s judgment against the mocking leaders of Judah is certain, their future behavior will determine whether it becomes even worse (your shackles will become stronger).

28:23-29 In this section Isaiah drew an analogy between a farmer’s task and God’s treatment of Judah. Good results come from different actions and different methods applied at different times. The passage has the feel of a parable.

28:24-26 The farmer (plowman) does not just keep plowing; he also sows seed. He places the various seeds in their separate places. This order comes from God himself.

28:27 Each plant has its proper treatment. The analogy may point to the fact that God exercises his judgment against sinners in a way that is appropriate to their specific situation.

28:28-29 But the crushing and threshing, images of judgment, are not endless activities. It comes to an end. Threshing and the cessation of threshing produce good bread, so judgment and its aftermath produce good results as well. The order of the farmer’s task as well as God’s “unexpected work” (v. 21) are a result of God’s great wisdom.