As I have mentioned (here) I am participating in “Greek Isaiah in a Year” reading group. These are my notes from this week (1:26-2:21).

1:26—In the MT there are parallel words for “beginning”— כבראשנה and כבתחלה. Genesis 1:1 in the LXX translates בראשית as Ἐν ἀρχῇ. In this passage the ראשון word is translated as πρότερον. The תחלהword is translated as ἀρχῆς.

The vision here is that Zion would return to her former status, lost according to v. 21.

The description of Zion as μητρόπολις is interpretive.

1:27—The theme of “restoration/repentance” is found here and in v. 26. In v. 26 God will “restore” (אשיבה) the judges and in v. 27 the “restored/repentant ones” (שביה) will be redeemed in righteousness. The LXX calls the restored ones the “captives” (ἡ αἰχμαλωσία). Maybe the “restoration” here is seen primarily as to the land, or maybe there is a dual meaning, restoration from exile is tied to repentance.

Interesting choice to translate בצדקה as ἐλεημοσύνης, rather than a form of δίκαιος.

1:29-30—Oak/Garden motif plays across these lines w. a different emphasis in v. 29 and 30.

τοῖς εἰδώλοις = the oaks are idols?

Yet in v. 30 = τερέβινθος.

Also, garden in v. 29 (מהגנות) translated as κήποις, but in v. 30 (כגנה) as “paradise” (παράδεισος).

2:2—Would ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις automatically lead people to think of some final days of the world or the final days of a period being described? In other words, would readers of Is. 2:2 have thought of the “eschatological events” as we think now (all Mayan style)?

2:6-8—filled, filled, filled with silver, gold, horses, chariots, idols, the work of hands, etc.

γῆ for ארץ makes me wonder if Isaiah contains a universalizing element?

2:16—Why θέαν πλοίων κάλλους for כל־שכיות החמדה?

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See notes on:

1:1-1:25