« Previous Post | Next Post »
« Previous post in category | Next post in category »

Bible - OT - Isaiah: Burden of the Beasts

[Print] | [PDF] | [Email]

The Hebrew word massa’ introduces a number of oracles in Isaiah’s prophecy (13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; etc.). It is often translated “oracle,” but it comes from a root (nasa’) that means “carry” or “bear,” and is thus sometimes rendered as “burden.”

Isaiah 30:6-8 is a brief massa’ concerning the beasts of the Negev, and it confirms that Isaiah was aware of the etymological weight of the term. The oracle describes a wilderness wandering in reverse, as Israelites laden with treasures go through the beast-infested wilderness back to Egypt to form an alliance with their former masters. Instead of plundering Egypt and taking Egypt’s treasures to the land, they have plundered Israel and are taking Israel’s treasures to Egypt.

In the massa’, the prophet sees donkeys and camels that nasa’ riches and treasures on their backs (v. 8). It is a burden about burdens, an oracle shouldered by the prophet, who bears God’s treasures on his shoulders, about animals that bear Israel’s treasures on their shoulders.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:55 am

Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.

« Previous Post | Next Post » « Previous post in category | Next post in category »

Bible - OT - Isaiah: Burden of the Beasts

« Previous Post | Next Post »
« Previous post in category | Next post in category »