ÉsaïeChapitre 28

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Woe to the proud crown of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, set on the head of the fertile valley — the crown of those overcome with wine!

Look, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm, like a destroying tempest, like a torrent of mighty, overwhelming waters, he will hurl it to the ground with his hand.

The proud crown of Ephraim's drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, set on the head of the fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before summer: whoever sees it snatches it and swallows it while it is still in his hand.

On that day the LORD of Hosts will himself be a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem for the remnant of his people,

a spirit of justice for the one who sits in judgment, and strength for those who turn back the battle at the gate.

But these men stagger with wine and reel with strong drink: priest and prophet stagger with strong drink; they are swallowed up by wine, they reel from strong drink. They stagger in their visions; they stumble when they render judgment.

For every table is covered with vomit and filth; there is not a spot left untouched.

"Who does he think he is teaching? To whom does he explain his message? To children just weaned from milk, just taken from the breast?

For it is order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there."

So then, with stammering lips and a foreign tongue he will speak to this people —

he who once said to them, "This is the resting place; give rest to the weary. This is the place of repose." But they would not listen.

So the word of the LORD will be to them: order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there — so that they will go and stumble backward, be broken, ensnared, and captured.

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.

You say, "We have made a covenant with death; with the grave we have an agreement. When the raging flood sweeps by, it will not touch us, for we have made falsehood our refuge and taken shelter in a lie."

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not be shaken.

I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the raging flood sweeps by, it will beat you down.

As often as it passes through, it will carry you off; morning after morning it will pass through, by day and by night. And the understanding of this message will bring nothing but terror.

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow to wrap yourself in.

The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim; he will rouse himself as he did in the Valley of Gibeon — to do his work, his strange work, to perform his task, his alien task.

So now, stop your scoffing, or your chains will be made heavier; for I have heard from the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, of destruction decreed against the whole land.

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.

Does the plowman plow all day long before he sows? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?

No — once he has leveled its surface, he scatters caraway and sows cumin; he plants wheat in rows and barley in its place, and spelt along the edge.

He is instructed in the right way, for his God teaches him.

Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick.

Grain must be ground for bread, but no one threshes it endlessly. Though he drives the wheels of his cart over it, his horses do not crush it to powder.

All this too comes from the LORD of Hosts: wonderful is his counsel, and great his wisdom.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 28

Main Theme: Isaiah warns against false security and proclaims judgment over the proud leaders of Ephraim and Jerusalem, yet also points to God’s faithful cornerstone in Zion.

Content: The prophet pronounces woe upon the drunken leaders of Ephraim, whose proud splendor will be trampled down. The priests and prophets of Jerusalem are also criticized for being so drunk that they cannot judge rightly. The leaders of Jerusalem have made a "covenant with death" in false security, but the Lord lays a tested cornerstone in Zion—the one who believes will not be put to shame. The chapter concludes with a parable about a farmer who treats different crops with wisdom, illustrating God’s wise and just judgment adapted to each situation.

Key Words/Images:

The fading crown of Ephraim: Symbolizes the passing splendor and pride of the Northern Kingdom that will be destroyed.
The cornerstone in Zion: A tested, precious foundation stone representing God’s faithful promise and salvation for those who believe.
The covenant with death: The false security of Jerusalem’s leaders through political alliances and lies, which will not endure.
The farmer and the crops: A parable showing that God acts with wisdom and adapts His judgment according to the situation.

Contexte historique

Historical and Cultural Context for Isaiah 28

Places

Samaria and "the crown of the rich valley" (v. 1, 4): Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim/Israel) and stood on a hill surrounded by fertile valleys. The city was founded by King Omri around 875 B.C. and was known for its wealth and beauty. The expression "the crown of the rich valley" (רֹאשׁ גֵּיא־שְׁמָנִים) describes the city's location atop a hill overlooking fertile areas. The first part of the chapter (v. 1–6) was likely proclaimed shortly before Samaria fell to Assyria in 722 B.C.

Mount Perazim and the Valley of Gibeon (v. 21): These places refer to David's victories over the Philistines. Baal-Perazim is mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:20, while the event at Gibeon is found in 1 Chronicles 14:16 (see also Joshua 10:10–12 for an earlier event at Gibeon). Isaiah uses these historical locations to illustrate that God will now act against His own people—a "strange work"—in the same way He previously fought on their behalf.

Events and Customs

Drinking culture (v. 1, 7–8): The description of drunk priests and prophets with tables full of vomit reflects an extravagant banquet culture among the Israelite upper class. Archaeological finds from this period, including luxury items and wine jars, confirm the wealth of the elite in both Samaria and Jerusalem. Isaiah criticizes religious leaders who are so intoxicated that they cannot carry out their duties to teach (v. 9) and judge fairly.

Covenant with death (v. 15, 18): The leaders of Jerusalem had likely entered into political alliances—probably with Egypt—which they relied on for protection against Assyria. Isaiah describes this trust in human alliances rather than God as a "covenant with death" and "a refuge of lies." This was a sharp critique of the political strategy under King Hezekiah.

Key Terms

"Tsav latsav, kav lakav" (v. 10, 13): This Hebrew phrase (צַו לָצָו קַו לָקָו) has been much discussed. It may imitate stammering, unintelligible speech—either childlike language or the speech of drunkards—which the leaders used to mock Isaiah's repetitive preaching. God turns their mockery back on them: they will hear "unintelligible speech" when the Assyrians come (v. 11).

Cornerstone (v. 16): The Hebrew terms אֶבֶן בֹּחַן (tested stone) and פִּנַּת יִקְרַת (precious cornerstone) use building terminology to describe a sure foundation that God lays in Zion. This stands in contrast to the false security found in political alliances. The concept later became central to Jewish and Christian messianic interpretation.

Chapter-Specific Insights

Farming tools (v. 24–29): Isaiah's detailed parable about the farmer who adapts his methods to different crops—black cumin (קֶצַח), cummin (כַמֹּן), wheat, barley, and spelt—reflects actual agricultural practices in ancient Israel. Archaeological discoveries of threshing sledges (חָרוּץ) and threshing wheels confirm the techniques Isaiah describes. The point is that God, like the wise farmer, adapts His discipline to the situation and does not continue punishment indefinitely.

Personnages

Aucun personnage connu dans ce chapitre.

Mots-clés9

The Lord's hand — Symbolizes God's power and influence in the world.
Punishment — The consequences of human actions, especially when they go against God's will.
Justice — The principle of acting rightly and ethically, in accordance with God's laws.
Judgment — God's process of evaluating human actions and determining their fate.
Foundation — The basis or groundwork for something, often used as a metaphor for faith and teaching.
Cornerstone — A key component or fundamental principle, often used as a metaphor for Jesus.
Tongues — Unintelligible languages or ways of communicating, sometimes used to describe God's word to prophets.
Drunkenness — A state of intoxication or lack of self-control, often used as a metaphor for spiritual confusion.
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