Ésaïe 28:1-10

1 Malheur à la couronne superbe des ivrognes d'Ephraïm, A la fleur fanée, qui fait l'éclat de sa parure, Sur la cime de la fertile vallée de ceux qui s'enivrent!

2 Voici venir, de la part du Seigneur, un homme fort et puissant, Comme un orage de grêle, un ouragan destructeur, Comme une tempête qui précipite des torrents d'eaux: Il la fait tomber en terre avec violence.

3 Elle sera foulée aux pieds, La couronne superbe des ivrognes d'Ephraïm;

4 Et la fleur fanée, qui fait l'éclat de sa parure, Sur la cime de la fertile vallée, Sera comme une figue hâtive qu'on aperçoit avant la récolte, Et qui, à peine dans la main, est aussitôt avalée.

5 En ce jour, l'Eternel des armées sera Une couronne éclatante et une parure magnifique Pour le reste de son peuple,

6 Un esprit de justice pour celui qui est assis au siège de la justice, Et une force pour ceux qui repoussent l'ennemi jusqu'à ses portes.

7 Mais eux aussi, ils chancellent dans le vin, Et les boissons fortes leur donnent des vertiges; Sacrificateurs et prophètes chancellent dans les boissons fortes, Ils sont absorbés par le vin, Ils ont des vertiges à cause des boissons fortes; Ils chancellent en prophétisant, Ils vacillent en rendant la justice.

8 Toutes les tables sont pleines de vomissements, d'ordures; Il n'y a plus de place. -

9 A qui veut-on enseigner la sagesse? A qui veut-on donner des leçons? Est-ce à des enfants qui viennent d'être sevrés, Qui viennent de quitter la mamelle?

10 Car c'est précepte sur précepte, précepte sur précepte, Règle sur règle, règle sur règle, Un peu ici, un peu là. -

Ésaïe 28:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 28

In this chapter the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, are threatened with divine judgments, because of their sins and iniquities mentioned. The ten tribes, under the name of Ephraim, for their pride and drunkenness, Isa 28:1 the means of their destruction, the Assyrian monarch, compared to a hail storm, and a flood of mighty waters, Isa 28:2 which destruction, for their sins, is repeated, and represented as sudden and swift; when they would be like a fading flower and hasty fruit, Isa 28:3,4 and then, as for the two tribes, though they had a glorious prince at the head of them, who had a spirit of wisdom and judgment for government, and of valour and courage for war, Isa 28:5,6 yet the generality of the people, led on by the example of priest and prophet, went into the same sensual gratifications as they of the ten tribes did, Isa 28:7,8 and became sottish and unteachable, and were like children just taken from the breast, and to be used as such, Isa 28:9-11 and though the doctrine proposed to be taught them was such as, if received, would be of the greatest advantage to them, for their comfort and refreshment, yet it was refused by them with the utmost contempt; which was to be their ruin, Isa 28:12,13, wherefore the rulers of Jerusalem are threatened with the judgments of God, which should come upon them night and day, the report of which would be a vexation to them; and from which they should not be screened by their covenant with death and hell, or by their shelters and coverings with lies and falsehood, in which they placed their confidence, Isa 28:14,15 Isa 28:17-22 in the midst of which account, for the comfort of the Lord's people, stands a glorious prophecy, concerning the sure foundation laid in Zion, on which all that are built are safe and happy, Isa 28:16 and the certainty of these judgments is illustrated by the method which the ploughman takes in sowing his corn, and threshing it out; for which he has instruction and direction from the Lord of hosts, Isa 28:23-29.