chaldee-paraphraseapocrypha
Targum Isaiah 60
The Targum renders Isaiah 60 with its central theological signature exposed: where the Hebrew reads 'glory,' Jonathan inserts 'Shekinah' — the indwelling Presence of Jehovah literally taking up residence in the restored Jerusalem. The chapter is a single sustained address to Zion as a city-bride awakening from captivity-darkness into redemptive light. The sons of the captivity stream home like doves returning to dove-houses; the nations and their kings come not as conquerors but as servants carrying treasure; the altar receives their offerings with acceptance. Violence ceases, pastors become peace, rulers become righteousness. The final movement: the Lord Himself replaces sun and moon as Zion's everlasting light, and the smallest among the remnant becomes a thousand — the least-last becoming the greatest-first, the Joseph-pattern sealed in its appointed time.
1
Arise, shine, O Jerusalem, for the time of thy redemption is come, and the glory of the Lord is revealed upon thee.
2
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the kingdoms: but in thee the Shekinah of the Lord shall dwell, and His glory shall be revealed upon thee.
3
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to thy brightness.
4
Lift up thine eyes, O Jerusalem, round about, and see all the children of the people of thy captivity, who are gathered together: thy sons shall come from far into thy midst, and thy daughters shall be carried upon the arms.
5
Then thou shalt see and be enlightened, and thou shalt be struck with awe, and thine heart shall be enlarged on account of the terror of sinners, for the riches of the west shall be transferred unto thee; the treasures of the nations shall be brought unto thee.
6
A multitude of Arabians shall cover thee round about, the dromedaries of Midian and Holad, all of them from Sheba shall come: they shall be laden with gold and frankincense, and those that are coming with them, shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
7
All the sheep of the Arabians shall be gathered unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall be offered up with acceptance upon mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
8
Who are these that are coming openly like swift clouds, and tarry not? the captives of Israel, who are gathered together, come to their land, lo, as doves which return to their dove-houses.
9
Surely, the isles shall wait for my WORD, and those that embark in the ships of the sea, the hand that stretcheth out their sails shall be first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee.
10
And the sons of the nations shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
11
Thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the treasures of the nations, and their kings in chains.
12
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, 0 Jerusalem, shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly destroyed.
13
The glory of Lebanon shall be brought unto thee, the fir-tree, the elm, and the box together, to beautify the place of the house of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of the dwelling of my Shekinah glorious.
14
The sons of them that enslaved thee shall come and bow down to thee, and all that provoked thee to anger shall prostrate themselves at the soles of thy feet to make supplication unto thee; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion in which the Holy One of Israel delights.
15
Whereas thou hast been forsaken, and an outcast, so that none went through thee, I will make thee an eternal glory, the house of joy for generation and generation.
16
And thou shalt be satisfied with the riches of the nations, and in the spoil of their kings thou shalt delight thyself; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord, thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
17
For the brass which they spoiled thee of, o Jerusalem, I will bring gold, and for the iron I will bring silver, and for the wood brass, and for the stones iron: I will also make thy pastors peace, and thy rulers righteousness.
18
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, spoil nor destruction within thy borders; but they shall proclaim salvation on thy walls, and on thy gates there shall be those that praise.
19
Thou shalt need no more the sun for a light by day, neither for brightness the moon by night: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20
Thy kingdom shall cease no more, and thy glory shall not be removed: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
21
Thy people shall be all righteous: for ever shall they inherit the land, the plant of my delight, the work of my might, that I may assuredly be glorified.
22
He that is little amongst them shall become a thousand, and he that is weak shall become a strong nation: I the Lord will bring it to pass in its time.
