Isa 28:1-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 28:1: 28:1–33:24 This section is connected by a series of six threats of judgment or woes (cp. 5:8-23 ). Apart from the initial address to Samaria in 28:1-13 , the remainder of the section is addressed to Judah, especially because of their inclination to trust Egypt to rescue them from Assyria (30:2 ). Summary for Isa 28:1-29: 28:1-29 The glory of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, is here contrasted with the glory of the Lord. This section represents the first of the six woes ( What sorrow ... ). 28:1 The drunks of Israel epitomized pride, spiritual complacency, and scorn for God and his commands. • Unlike Jerusalem, Samaria was in a fertile valley.

Summary for Isa 28:1: 28:1–33:24 ^a This section is connected by a series of six threats of judgment or woes (cp. 5:8-23 ^b). Apart from the initial address to Samaria in 28:1-13 ^c, the remainder of the section is addressed to Judah, especially because of their inclination to trust Egypt to rescue them from Assyria (30:2 ^d).
Summary for Isa 28:1-29: 28:1-29 ^e The glory of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, is here contrasted with the glory of the Lord. This section represents the first of the six woes (What sorrow ...). 28:1 ^f The drunks of Israel epitomized pride, spiritual complacency, and scorn for God and his commands.

• Unlike Jerusalem, Samaria was in a fertile valley.
28:2 ^g the Lord will send: The covenant God will act against his own people, whose behavior had effectively disqualified them as God’s people (see Hos 1:9 ^h).

• The mighty army is that of the Assyrians, who destroyed Samaria in 722 BC.
Summary for Isa 28:5-6: 28:5-6 ⁱ In the future, after God’s judgment has purged his people, he will restore a righteous remnant, transforming the desires and character of his people. Samaria will no longer be the source of Israel’s pride; instead, they will glory in the Lord, their true crown.
Summary for Isa 28:7-13: 28:7-13 ^j The focus returns to the lamentable present situation in Israel (and Judah). The leaders and people will be ensnared by their own schemes. 28:7 ^k The priests and prophets led the people astray.

• Intoxicating beverages such as wine and alcohol were prohibited for priests while fulfilling their duties (Lev 10:9 ^l).
Summary for Isa 28:9-10: 28:9-10 ^m The people had become hardened to God’s revelation (1 Cor 14:21 ⁿ).
28:11 ^o God will have to speak through circumstances such as hardship, exile, and death in order to get through to his hardened people.

• a strange language: In the New Testament, Paul applied this text to the spiritual gift of tongues as a sign of judgment to unbelievers (see 1 Cor 14:21-22 ^p).
28:12 ^q Had his people listened, God’s revelation would have led them to rest (see 48:18-19 ^r). But they would not listen because of their hard hearts (65:12 ^s).
28:13 ^t one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there: The Hebrew here is difficult to understand. The words might be intentional nonsense to illustrate the point that the people were so spiritually blind that God’s clearest revelation was nonsense to them (see 6:9-10 ^u).