INTRODUCTION

In the opening section of this chapter, Isaiah prophesies the coming Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36-37). David’s city is under siege (Isaiah 29:1), yet Yahweh intervenes at the last moment to disperse Jerusalem’s enemies like chaff (v. 5).

THE TEXT

“Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; let feasts come around. Yet I will distress Ariel; there shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel. I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you . . . .” (Isaiah 29:1-24).

ARIEL

The first woe (vv. 1-14) is addressed to “Ariel,” identified as the “city of David” (v. 1) and “Mount Zion” (v. 7-8). “Ariel” is a complex pun. It means “lion of God” and sometimes describes mighty warriors (2 Samuel 23:30; 1 Chronicles 11:22) who fight for David, the lion of Judah (cf. Genesis 49:9). Zion is a city of lions. The Hebrew word also sounds like word for “mountain of God” ( har-el , or har-elohim ; cf. Exodus 3:1; 4:27). Zion is God’s Holy Mountain. Ezekiel 43:15-16 uses both “Ariel” and har-el to describe the altar. God’s altar is on Zion; Zion is, like Sinai, an altar-mountain.

SIEGE BROKEN

These meanings of “Ariel” come together in the brief narrative of siege and deliverance in verses 1-8. Yahweh Himself encircles the city (v. 2), reading to slaughter and burn until Ariel is only a cloud of smoke ascending to heaven. The people of Zion will go to the dust, their voices reduced to the whisper of ghosts (v. 4). Verse 5 changes perspectives: Now Ariel’s enemies, not Yahweh, attack the city, and Yahweh promises to make them vanish like a dream (v. 7). The Assyrians will imagine they eat and drink the plunder of the city, but their hunger and thirst will not be satisfied (v. 8).

MARVELLOUS WORK

Even after this dramatic deliverance, Yahweh still has marvelous work to do (v. 13). As in chapter 28:7, Isaiah condemns the prophets as drunks who cannot read the book of the future (vv. 9-12). Though the people approach God in prayer and confession, their hearts are far away. They don’t worship, but only repeat what they learned in Sunday School (v. 13). Yahweh brings the wisdom of the world to nothing, so that it can be replaced by His own wisdom (v. 14; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:19).

FIELD TO FOREST

Yahweh intends to transform Ariel/Zion and the surrounding country. After the devastating of the Assyrian invasion, He will make Lebanon a field, then a forest (v. 18). More dramatically, He will transform people. The deaf will hear (v. 18), the afflicted and needy will rejoice in the Holy One (vv. 18-19), society will no longer be dominated by ruthless politicians and cynical comedians (vv. 20-21). In this the Lord will fulfill His promises to Abraham (v. 22), as the children of Jacob hallow His Name (v. 23) and learn His truth (v. 24).

POTTER/CLAY

This transformation of the land and society is rooted in a renewed knowledge of who Yahweh is. Isaiah condemns those who “hide their counsel from Yahweh” and think God will not see (v. 15). This turns the Creator-creature relationship upside down. Yahweh is potter, Israel is His clay. Genuine wisdom, individual renewal and social transformation depends on getting this right.