"A Brand Mark Instead of Prettiness

After denouncing the wrongs of the leaders, Jehovah turns to the women of Zion, or Jerusalem.  Apparently for reasons of fashion, "the daughters of Zion" wear "step chains" -chainlets fastened to their ankles - which make a melodious tinkling sound.  The women restrict  their stride and walk along  "with tripping steps," cultivating  what might be considered a genteel feminine gait.  What, if anything is wrong with this? It is the attitude of these women.  Jehovah says: "The daughters of Zion have become haughty and they walk with their throats stretched forth and ogling with their eyes."  (Isaiah 3:16)  Such haughtiness does not escape retribution.

Hence, when Jehovah's judgment comes upon the land, these haughty "daughters of Zion" will lose everything - even the beauty of which they are so proud.  Jehovah prophesies: "Jehovah also will actually make the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion scabby, and Jehovah himself will  lay their very forehead bare.  In that day Jehovah will take away the beauty of the bangles and the headbands and the moon-shaped ornaments, the eardrops and the bracelets and the veils, the headdresses and the step chains and the breastbands and the 'houses of the soul'  [probably perfume receptacles] and the ornamental humming shells [or charms], the finger rings and the nose rings, the robs of state and the overtunics and the cloaks and the purses, and the hand mirrors and the undergarments and the turbans and the  large veils."  (Isaiah 3:17-23) What a tragic reveal! 

The prophetic message goes on to say:  "Instead of balsam all there will come to be merely a musty smell; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of an artistic hair arrangement, baldness; and instead of a rich garment, a girding of sackcloth; a brand mark instead of prettiness."  (Isaiah 3:24)   In 607 B.C.E., the proud women of Jerusalem fall from wealth to poverty.   They lose their freedom and receive "a brand mark" of slavery.

Next time: "She Will Certainly Be Cleaned Out'

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind