1 Woe, O Ariel, Ariel the city where David once camped! Add year to year, observe your feasts on schedule. 2 I will bring distress to Ariel, And she will be a city of lamenting and mourning; And she will be like an Ariel to me. 3 I will camp against you encircling you, And I will set siegeworks against you, And I will raise up battle towers against you. 4 Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust. Isaiah 29:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Woe to you, city of Ariel, against which David waged war! Gather produce year after year! Eat, for you will eat with Moab. 2 For I will squeeze Ariel, and its strength and wealth will be mine. 3 And like David, I will surround you; and I will place an entrenched camp around you, and I will put towers around you. 4 And your words will be brought low into the earth, and into the earth your words will sink, and your voice will be like those who call from the earth, and your voice will be weak, down toward the ground. Isaiah 29:1–4 (LES2)

The word “Ariel” means “like a lion.”

I suppose a connection can be made between “camped” and “waged war,” but God’s war against rebellious Israel through the agency of Babylon seems to be a focus of this prophecy. Therefore, I prefer the LXX’s rendering.

The rest of verse 1 is a warning that, even though life seems to go on as usual, judgment in surely coming. The idea of bringing distress and squeezing is close enough. Jerusalem was noted for its strength and wealth, which the LXX says will become God’s. The MT says nothing like that.

Verse 3 is close enough. Verse 4, however is different. The MT says that “you will be brought low,” but the LXX says Jerusalem’s “words will be brought low into the earth.”

5 But the multitude of your enemies will become like fine dust, And the multitude of the ruthless ones like the chaff which blows away; And it will happen instantly, suddenly. 6 From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire. 7 And the multitude of all the nations who wage war against Ariel, Even all who wage war against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, Will be like a dream, a vision of the night. 8 It will be as when a hungry man dreams— And behold, he is eating; But when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied, Or as when a thirsty man dreams— And behold, he is drinking, But when he awakens, behold, he is faint And his thirst is not quenched. Thus the multitude of all the nations will be Who wage war against Mount Zion. Isaiah 29:5–8 (NASB95) 

5 And the wealth of the impious will be like a cloud of dust from a wall, and the multitude of those who oppress you like dust carried along; and it will happen as a moment, suddenly 6 from the Lord Sabaoth, for there will be an examination with thunder and quaking and a great sound, a rushing storm and a consuming flame of fire. 7 And the wealth of all the nations will be like one who dreams during the sleep of night, every nation that waged war against Jerusalem and all those who are waging war against Jerusalem and all those who gathered together against it and afflicted it. 8 And like those who drink and eat in their sleep, and when they awake the dream is to no avail, the way the one who is thirsty dreams as if he were drinking and when he awakes, he is still thirsty, and his soul hoped in vain, so will be the wealth of all the nations, every one that waged war against the mountain of Zion. Isaiah 29:5–8 (LES2) 

I am not sure what to make of the LXX’s “wealth” of the ungodly. Perhaps it was an idiomatic saying or perhaps it was an error by a scribe. The Greek word for wealth is plutos and the one for multitude is plethos. It seems in this case that the MT makes more sense by using the word “multitude.” 

In verse 6, the MT and LXX are close. The Hebrew word translated “punished” can also mean “visited.” The Greek word in the LXX for “examined” can also imply a visitation. Both agree that this “visitation” will be very unusual containing natural terrors.

In verse 7, the MT continues using the word Ariel for Jerusalem, but the LXX calls the city by its actual name. The rest of this passage emphasizes the surreal nature of the siege against Jerusalem to the minds of the inhabitants. 

Interestingly, this passage says that “all the nations” will wage war against the city.

9 Be delayed and wait, Blind yourselves and be blind; They become drunk, but not with wine, They stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers. Isaiah 29:9–10 (NASB95) 

9 Be feeble and out of your senses! Be intoxicated not from sikera or from wine. 10 Because the Lord has made you drunk with a wind of bewilderment; and he will close the eyes of them and their prophets and their rulers, those who see the secrets. Isaiah 29:9–10 (LES2) 

11 The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, “Please read this,” he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I cannot read.” 13 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, Isaiah 29:11–13 (NASB95) 

11 And all these sayings to you will be like the words of the sealed scroll, which if they give it to a person who understands letters and say, “Read these things!” he will say, “I am unable to read it, for it has been sealed.” 12 And this scroll will be given into the hands of a person who does not understand letters, and he will say to him, “Read this!” and he will say, “I do not understand letters.” 13 And the Lord said, “This people approaches me with their mouth, and with their lips they honor me, but their heart remains far from me. And they are pious to me pointlessly, teaching human rules and instructions. Isaiah 29:11–13 (LES2)

Verses 11 and 12 show much agreement. Verse 13 is quoted by Jesus in the New Testament in Matthew 15:8-9 and Mark 7:6-7. Although Mark’s quote is abbreviated, both quotes agree more with the LXX. The quote from Matthew is below.

8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Matthew 15:8–9 (NKJV)

The same hypocrisy that Jesus condemned also existed in Isaiah’s time. The same judgment followed in both cases – the destruction of Jerusalem.

The Jews had parted ways with God, as was clearly revealed when their leaders rejected and murdered their Messiah (Acts 2:23), our Lord Jesus. One cannot hold on to the Father while at the same time rejecting his Son. (1 John 2:23) Rabbinic Jews who reject Christ no longer worship the true God.

14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.” Isaiah 29:14 (NASB95) 

14 Because of this, Look! I will continue to change this people, and I will change them, and I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will hide the intelligence of the intelligent.” Isaiah 29:14 (LES2)

The MT says God will once again “deal marvelously,” but the LXX says God will “change” them. This is the Greek word metatithemi, which means to “transfer or transpose”. It is the same word used to describe what God did to Enoch when he transferred or relocated him from earth to heaven. (Genesis 5:24) The LXX, therefore, could be translated to say that God will relocate his people to Babylon. 

The next part of the verse was quoted by Paul.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 1 Corinthians 1:18–19 (NKJV)

Although two of the verbs are different in Paul’s quote of the LXX, the meaning is the same. He was paraphrasing from memory, it seems. The LXX and Paul’s quote agree, also, in having God be the agent of destroying and hiding the wisdom and understanding of the disobedient and unbelieving Jews. This agrees with other scriptures which indicates that God imposes spiritual blindness upon some, rendering them incapable of responding properly to his Spirit and Word (Romans 9:18). My understanding of this is that God simply leaves the reprobate to their own devices. Only those whom God actively draws to himself are capable of faith. (John 6:44)

15 Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?” 16 You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 29:15–16 (NASB95) 

15 Woe to those who make a plan deeply, and their deeds will be in darkness, and they will say, “Who has seen us, and who will know us or what we are doing?” 16 Will you not be reckoned as the clay of the potter? Surely the shape will not say to the one who shapes it, “You did not shape me.” Or the thing made to the one who makes it, “You did not make me intelligently.” Isaiah 29:15–16 (LES2) 

17 Is it not yet just a little while Before Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field, And the fertile field will be considered as a forest? 18 On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:17–19 (NASB95)

17 It is no longer a little while and Lebanon will be changed as Mount Carmel, and Carmel will be considered a forest. 18 And on that day deaf people will hear the words of a scroll, and the eyes of blind people will see in the darkness and in the fog, 19 and poor people will rejoice with cheer because of the Lord, and those people who are despairing will be filled with cheer. Isaiah 29:17–19 (LES2) 

This passage in both the MT and LXX points to Jesus. Our Lord paraphrased verses 18-19 and Isaiah 35:4-6.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:2–6 (NKJV)

20 For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished, Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off; 21 Who cause a person to be indicted by a word, And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate, And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments. Isaiah 29:20–21 (NASB95)

20 A lawless person has come to an end and an arrogant person has perished, and those acting lawlessly in vice have been utterly destroyed, 21 even those who make people sin in word. And they will set up an obstacle for all those who reprove in the gates because they have turned the righteous aside unjustly. Isaiah 29:20–21 (LES2)

22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale; 23 But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, They will sanctify My name; Indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob And will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 24 “Those who err in mind will know the truth, And those who criticize will accept instruction. Isaiah 29:22–24 (NASB95)

22 Because of this, this is what the Lord says about the house of Jacob, which he set apart from Abraham: “Not now will Jacob be ashamed, and not now will his face change. 23 Rather, when their children see my deeds, they will sanctify my name because of me, and they will sanctify the holy one of Jacob, and they will fear the God of Israel.” 24 And those who wander by the wind will know understanding, and those who grumble will learn to listen, and the faltering tongues will learn to speak peace. Isaiah 29:22–24 (LES2)