3:12 Oppressors treat my 1 people cruelly;
creditors rule over them. 2
My people’s leaders mislead them;
they give you confusing directions. 3
23:12 He said,
“You will no longer celebrate,
oppressed 4 virgin daughter Sidon!
Get up, travel to Cyprus,
but you will find no relief there.” 5
30:12 For this reason this is what the Holy One of Israel says:
“You have rejected this message; 6
you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick, 7
and rely on that kind of behavior. 8
1 sn This may refer to the prophet or to the Lord.
2 tc The Hebrew text appears to read literally, “My people, his oppressors, he deals severely, and women rule over them.” The correct text and precise meaning of the verse are debated. The translation above assumes (1) an emendation of נֹגְשָׂיו (nogÿsayv, “his oppressors”) to נֹגְשִׂים (nogÿshim, “oppressors”) by moving the mem (ם) on the following form to the end of the word and dropping the vav (ו) as virtually dittographic; (2) an emendation of מְעוֹלֵל (mÿ’olel, a singular participle that does not agree with the preceding plural subject) to עֹלְלוּ (’olÿlu), a third plural Poel perfect from עָלַל (’alal, “deal severely”; note that the following form begins with a vav [ו]; the text may be haplographic or misdivided); and (3) an emendation (with support from the LXX) of נָשִׁים (nashim, “women”) to נֹשִׁים (noshim, “creditors”; a participle from נָשַׁא, nasa’). Another option is to emend מְעוֹלֵל to עוֹלְלִים (’olÿlim, “children”) and read, “My people’s oppressors are children; women rule over them.” In this case the point is the same as in v. 4; the leadership void left by the judgment will be filled by those incompetent to lead the community – children and women. (The text reflects the ancient Israelite patriarchal mindset.)
3 tn Heb “and the way of your paths they confuse.” The verb בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”; HALOT 135 s.v. I בלע) is a homonym of the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”; see HALOT 134 s.v. בלע).
4 tn Or “violated, raped,” the point being that Daughter Sidon has lost her virginity in the most brutal manner possible.
5 tn Heb “[to the] Kittim, get up, cross over; even there there will be no rest for you.” On “Kittim” see the note on “Cyprus” at v. 1.
7 tn The sentence actually begins with the word “because.” In the Hebrew text vv. 12-13 are one long sentence.
8 tn Heb “and you trust in oppression and cunning.”
9 tn Heb “and you lean on it”; NAB “and depend on it.”