1 Raja-raja 18:26

18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, ¹  and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped ²  around on the altar they had made. ³ 

Yesaya 65:12

65:12 I predestine you to die by the sword, ⁴ 

all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, ⁵ 

because I called to you, and you did not respond,

I spoke and you did not listen.

You did evil before me; ⁶ 

you chose to do what displeases me.”

[18:26]  ¹ tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”

[18:26]  ² tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).

[18:26]  ³ tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew mss and the ancient versions have the plural form of the verb.

[65:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “I assign you to the sword.” Some emend the Qal verb form מָנִיתִי (maniti, “I assign”) to the Piel מִנִּיתִי (minniti, “ I ordain”). The verb sounds like the name of the god Meni (מְנִי, mÿni, “Destiny, Fate”). The sound play draws attention to the irony of the statement. The sinners among God’s people worship the god Meni, apparently in an effort to ensure a bright destiny for themselves. But the Lord is the one who really determines their destiny and he has decreed their demise.

[65:12]  ⁵ tn Or “at the slaughter”; NIV “for the slaughter”; NLT “before the executioner.”

[65:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”