What does Isaias Chapter 34 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions. The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed. Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 34 summons nations, people, earth and its fullness to hear wrath against nations and armies. Slain bodies, rising stench and mountains melting in blood accompany the host of heaven pining away and heavens folding like a book; host falls like vine and fig leaves. The edition identifies the host as sun, moon and stars. A sword inebriated in heaven descends on Idumea. The edition separately interprets Idumea through enemies of the Jews and wicked enemies of God's Church.

The sword is filled with blood and animal fat; Bosra has a victim and Idumea a great slaughter. Unicorns, bulls and mighty animals descend. The edition interprets these as great and mighty enemies. Vengeance and recompense concern Sion. Streams become pitch, ground brimstone and land burning pitch; smoke rises and none passes through it. Bittern, ericius, ibis and raven occupy it under a line bringing it to nothing and a plummet of desolation. No nobles are present to be called king and princes become nothing.

Thorns, nettles and thistles fill houses and fortresses. Dragons and ostriches, demons and monsters, hairy ones and lamia inhabit the desolation. The ericius makes its hole, raises its young and cherishes them in shadow; kites gather to one another. Readers are told to search the Lord's book: none is missing or seeks the other, for his mouth commands and spirit gathers. Lot and measuring line assign perpetual possession. The source's named creatures and images remain intact without substituting owls, jackals, wild oxen or a Sodom comparison.

The story inside

Opening: The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions. Development: The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed. Conclusion: Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions.
2
The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed.
3
Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 81291–81302
34:4. And all the host of the heavens shall pine away, and the heavens shall be folded together as a book: and all their host shall fall down as the leaf falleth from the vine, and from the fig tree. And all the host of the heavens.... That is, the sun, moon, and stars. 34:5. For my sword is inebriated in heaven: behold it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my slaughter unto judgment. Idumea.... Under the name of Idumea, or Edom a people that were enemies of the Jews, are here understood the wicked in general, the enemies of God and his church.
Lines 81315–81327
34:8. For it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord, the year of recompenses of the judgment of Sion. The year of recompenses, etc.... When the persecutors of Sion, that is, of the church, shall receive their reward. 34:9. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the ground thereof into brimstone: and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. 34:10. Night and day it shall not be quenched, the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste, none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Lines 81348–81355
34:16. Search ye diligently in the book of the Lord, and read: not one of them was wanting, one hath not sought for the other: for that which proceedeth out of my mouth, he hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. 34:17. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it to them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation they shall dwell therein.