·Hear [Listen to] the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom [^CJerusalem is compared sarcastically to evil Sodom and Gomorrah]! listen to the ·teaching [instruction] of our God, You people of Gomorrah!

Many ·nations [peoples] will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the God of Jacob. ·Then [or So that] he will teach us his ·ways [standards; path], and we will ·obey his teachings [^Lwalk in his paths].” ·His teachings [The Law; Instruction; ^LTorah] will go out from Jerusalem; the ·message [word] of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.

·Heavenly creatures of fire [^LSeraphim; ^Cthe word means “burning ones” and points to purity, power, or judgment] ·stood above [or attended] him [Rev. 4:6–9]. Each creature had six wings: It used two wings to cover its face [^Cas a shield from God’s awesome glory], two wings to cover its ·feet [or body; ^Cindicating humility; “feet” can be a euphemism for genitals], and two wings for flying.

·Israel is led by the city of Samaria [^LThe head of Ephraim is Samaria; ^Cits capital], and ·Samaria is led by its weak king, [^Lthe head of Samaria is] the son of Remaliah [^Cthese human kings were no match for God]. If ·your faith is not strong [you do not stand firm in faith], you will not ·have strength enough to last [endure/stand firm at all; ^Cthe words translated “your faith is strong” and “have strength enough to last” are related in Hebrew].’”

So ·they make fun of the Lord’s prophet and say [or the Lord must repeat himself again and again; ^LFor it is]: “·A command here, a command there [^TPrecept upon precept, precept upon precept]. ·A rule here, a rule there [^TLine upon line, line upon line; ^CHebrew: tsav latsav tsav latsav / kav lakav kav lakav; it may be the people mocking the words of the prophets as nonsense; or it may refer to God repeating himself because the people will not listen]. A little lesson here, a little lesson there [^LA little there, a little there].”

So the words of the Lord will be, “·A command here, a command there [^TPrecept upon precept, precept upon precept]. ·A rule here, a rule there [^TLine upon line, line upon line]. ·A little lesson here, a little lesson there [^LA little there, a little there; ^Csee v. 10; God now uses the same words to mimic the foreign language of the Assyrian invaders].” They will fall back and be ·defeated [broken]; they will be ·trapped and captured [snared and taken].

The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers fall, but the word of our God will ·live [endure; stand] forever.”

The Lord Challenges False Gods

The Lord says, “Present your case.” The King of Jacob says, “·Tell me [Produce; Bring forth] your ·arguments [evidence; ^Lstrong words].