Isa 4 | TNotes | STEP | 4:1 During Isaiah’s ministry, Jerusalem’s population was so decimated through war, famine, and disease (3:1-3 ; 6:13 ; 14:30 ; 22:2 ; 37:4 ) that there were few men left, creating an absence of leadership (see 3:1-12 ). Even worse conditions lay ahead with the approaching war between Judah and the alliance of Syria and Israel in 734–732 BC (2 Chr 28 ) and eventually the conquest and fall of Jerusalem (605

4:1 ^a During Isaiah’s ministry, Jerusalem’s population was so decimated through war, famine, and disease (3:1-3 ^b; 6:13 ^c; 14:30 ^d; 22:2 ^e; 37:4 ^f) that there were few men left, creating an absence of leadership (see 3:1-12 ^g). Even worse conditions lay ahead with the approaching war between Judah and the alliance of Syria and Israel in 734–732 BC (2 Chr 28 ^h) and eventually the conquest and fall of Jerusalem (605–586 BC).
Summary for Isa 4:2-6: 4:2-6 ⁱ In bold contrast to the desperate picture of 3:16–4:1 ^j, this prophecy of salvation and hope (see also 2:2-4 ^k) promised cleansing, consecration, and the renewal of God’s presence with the remnant. The imagery in 4:5-6 ^l alludes to Israel’s exodus from Egypt, when a pillar of cloud and of fire guided and protected them. Israel’s restoration from exile would be a second exodus. 4:2 ^m The branch in this context probably refers to the remnant that would constitute Israel’s new beginning after the Exile (see 6:13 ⁿ). Some also understand it as representing the ideal descendant of David, the Messiah (see 11:1 ^o; Jer 23:5 ^p; 33:15-16 ^q; Zech 3:8 ^r; 6:12 ^s).

• A beautiful and glorious transformation from shame and disgrace (Isa 3:17-25 ^t) to fertility and beauty would manifest God’s presence and blessing among the remnant (4:6 ^u).

• The fruit of the land, nature itself, would also be transformed from desolation to glory. Elsewhere, Isaiah described the future circumstances as resembling the Garden of Eden (see 51:3 ^v; 65:22 ^w). The message of renewal finds its ultimate fulfillment in the new creation (see Rom 8:19-27 ^x; 2 Cor 5:17 ^y; Gal 6:15 ^z; Eph 2:15 ^aa; 4:24 ^ab; Rev 21:22-27 ^ac).

• Those who survive in Israel—the remnant—would be the true citizens of Zion.
4:3 ^ad To be holy was the requirement for citizenship in Zion, where God dwells in his glorious majesty (see 6:3 ^ae; Heb 12:14 ^af).

• The remnant would have their names recorded among the living in the Book of Life (Exod 32:32 ^ag; Dan 12:1 ^ah; Mal 3:16 ^ai; Rev 3:5 ^aj; 20:12 ^ak).
4:4 ^al God’s judgment has a purifying effect on his covenant people (see Mal 3:3 ^am). Justice must be satisfied before restoration can be offered.
4:5 ^an The references to a canopy of cloud ... and smoke and flaming fire recall God’s continuous presence and protection during the exodus from Egypt (Exod 13:21-22 ^ao; 14:21-22 ^ap).
4:6 ^aq shelter (literally shadow; see 32:2 ^ar): See 32:2 ^as; God’s protection would keep the remnant safe from enemies and from the destruction he would bring on the wicked (33:14-16 ^at).