Isaiah 3:1-5
Summary for Isa 3:1-12: 3:1-12 a These verses continue the subject of judgment against Israel’s leadership (see 1:23-25 b). The removal of leadership at all levels would allow the mob to gain control. Chaos and famine would turn Judah and Jerusalem into a social wasteland. 3:1 c take away ... bread ... water: God had long ago warned of famine, with its horrible conditions that sometimes led to desperate acts, as one possible judgment for wickedness (Lev 26:26-29 d).Summary for Isa 3:2-3: 3:2-3 e Regardless of their status, all military, civil, judicial, and religious leaders would be removed in the day of judgment (39:7 f; 2 Kgs 24:14-16 g). God would eventually give his people good leaders again (Isa 1:26 h) but not diviners and others who used pagan forms of revelation (47:9 i, 12-13 j; see Deut 18:10-12 k).
3:4 l Conditions would be so severe that boys and toddlers would qualify as candidates for office. By this, Isaiah either meant that adult leaders would be so decimated that only children would be left alive to assume the role or simply that the new leaders would be as immature, unwise, strong willed, and inexperienced as children.
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