Yesaya 9:4

9:4 For their oppressive yoke

and the club that strikes their shoulders,

the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, ¹ 

you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat. ² 

Yesaya 60:6

60:6 Camel caravans will cover your roads, ³ 

young camels from Midian and Ephah.

All the merchants of Sheba ⁴  will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing praises to the Lord. ⁵ 

[9:4]  ¹ tn Heb “for the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the scepter of the oppressor against him.” The singular pronouns are collective, referring to the people. The oppressed nation is compared to an ox weighed down by a heavy yoke and an animal that is prodded and beaten.

[9:4]  ² sn This alludes to Gideon’s victory over Midian (Judg 7-8), when the Lord delivered Israel from an oppressive foreign invader.

[60:6]  ³ tn Heb “an abundance of camels will cover you.”

[60:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “all of them, from Sheba.”

[60:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “and they will announce the praises of the Lord.”