"She Will Certainly Be Cleaned Out"

Speaking new to the city of Jerusalem, Jehovah proclaims:  "By the sword your own men will fall, and your mightiness by war. And her entrances will have to mourn and express sorry, and she will certainly be cleaned out.  She will sit down on the very earth."  (Isaiah 3:25, 26)  The men of Jerusalem, even her mighty ones, will be slain in battle.  the city will be leveled to the ground.  For "her entrances," it will be a time to  "mourn and express sorrow."  Jerusalem will be "cleaned out" and laid desolate.

The loss of men by the sword will have drastic consequences for the women of Jerusalem.  Concluding this part of the prophetic book, Isaiah  foretells:  "Seven women will actually grab hold of one man in that day, saying:  "We shall eat our own bread and wear our own mantles; only may we be called by your name to take away our reproach.' " (Isaiah 4:1)  The shortage of marriageable men will become so severe that several women will attach themselves to one man in order to be called by his name -that is, to be publicly known as his wives - and thus be free of reproach of being without a husband.  the Mosaic Law required that  a husband provide sustenance and clothing for his wife.  (Exodus21:10)  However, agreeing to  'eat their own bread and wear their own clothing,' these women are willing to release the man from his legal obligations. What a desperate situation for the once haughty "daughters of Zion"! 

Jehovah humiliates self-exalted ones.  In 607 B.C.E., he does indeed make the haughtiness of his chosen people  "bow down" and cause their "loftiness" to become  "low."  May true Christians never forget that "God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones." -James 4:6.

Next time: Jehovah God Has Mercy on a Remnant, chapter six

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind