Judgment against Israel

On that day
the splendor of Jacob will fade,
and his healthy body[a] will become emaciated.(A)
It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain—
his arm harvesting the heads of grain—
and as if one had gleaned heads of grain
in Rephaim Valley.(B)

Only gleanings will be left in Israel,(C)
as if an olive tree had been beaten—
two or three olives at the very top of the tree,
four or five on its fruitful branches.
This is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel.

On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.(D) They will not look to the altars(E) they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and shrines[b](F) they made with their fingers.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit and the fat of his flesh
  2. 17:8 Or incense altars

A Time of Weakness for Israel

“At that time,[a] Jacob’s glory will have become weakened,
    and his strong[b] flesh will turn gaunt;
it will be as if harvesters gather standing grain,
    reaping the ears by hand,[c]
or it will be as if grain is harvested
    in the valley of Rephaim.[d]
Nevertheless, gleanings will remain in Israel,[e]
    as when an olive tree is beaten—[f]
two or three ripe olives left in the topmost branches,
    four or five left among the branches of a fruit-filled tree,”[g]
        declares the Lord God of Israel.

Revival to Come to Israel

At that time, men will look upon[h] their Maker, and their eyes will honor the Holy One of Israel. They will not look upon[i] the altars, the products[j] that their own fingers[k] have made, and they will have no regard for Asherah poles[l] or incense altars.[m]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 17:4 Lit. On that day
  2. Isaiah 17:4 Lit. fat
  3. Isaiah 17:5 Lit. ears with his arm
  4. Isaiah 17:5 Lit. Giants
  5. Isaiah 17:6 Lit. it
  6. Isaiah 17:6 Or harvested
  7. Isaiah 17:6 So 1QIsaa; MT reads among its branches
  8. Isaiah 17:7 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; MT reads to
  9. Isaiah 17:8 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; MT reads to
  10. Isaiah 17:8 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read the product
  11. Isaiah 17:8 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read hands
  12. Isaiah 17:8 I.e. images of the Babylonian-Canaanite goddess of fortune
  13. Isaiah 17:8 So 1QIsaa MT; LXX reads for trees or for their abominations