Isaiah 29:1

Jerusalem's time of joyous security shall speedily come to an end. Ho Ariel, Ariel, city where David encamped! (R.V.). Of the word "Ariel" two explanations (both ancient) are given. (a) That which renders it "Lion of God" is undoubtedly the one most naturally suggested by the form of the word. It is also thought to be confirmed by the proper name "ar"çlîin Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17; and the "lion-like men" ("ǎrîçl) of 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Chronicles 11:22; although all these analogies are very doubtful (cf. ch. Isaiah 33:7). But is it suitable in the present context? Hardly, unless we take Isaiah 29:2 to mean that Jerusalem when driven to bay, will exhibit a prowess worthy of her mystic appellation; which is not at all the idea of the passage. The name is in any case a strange one for a city, and it would be difficult to account for its selection by Isaiah. (b) The other (and preferable) explanation is given by the Targum, and is supported by a word which occurs in two forms (har"çland "ǎrî"êl) in Ezekiel 43:15 f. It appears to mean "altar-hearth"; and occurs, probably in the same sense, in the inscription of the Moabite Stone. The translation here will be either "hearth of God" or (better) simply "altar-hearth." How Isaiah was led to such a designation we shall see from Isaiah 29:2.

where David dwelt R.V. encamped. Not "against which" David encamped, as the LXX. fancied (see on Isaiah 29:3), but which he occupied and fortified.

add ye year to year i.e. "let a year or two more come and go": cf. Isaiah 32:10. The discourse was probably delivered at the leading festival, the Feast of Tabernacles, which was the "turn of the year" (Exodus 34:22) in ancient Israel.

let them kill sacrifices R.V. has the true rendering: let the feasts come round; "run their round" but only a few times more.