27:1 Leviathan, the twisting serpent While the apocalyptic imagery in ch. 25 alluded to the watery chaos of the flood and victory as swallowing death (25:8), here Yahweh’s ultimate victory is represented as an assault on the serpent—invoking an ancient theme of gods bringing order by subduing the chaos monster. See note on Gen 1:21; note on Job 41:1.

On that day A phrase used to introduce both prophecies of judgment and prophecies of restoration. See note on Isa 26:1.

he will kill the sea monster See 51:9 and Psa 74:14 for similar mythological allusions to the divine combat imagery.

27:2 A vineyard of beauty See Isa 5:1–7, where God is keeper of a less pleasant vineyard.

27:4 Whatever gives me thorns and briers, I will step forth against in battle God’s protection is so thorough that there are no longer any enemies coming against His vineyard, but He longs for some to show the extent of His protection. Compare 10:17, where Yahweh burns up the metaphorical thrones and briers of Assyria.

27:6 they will fill the face of the world with fruit Israel will be a blessing to the entire world (see Gen 12:2–3).

27:7 he strike him Even though judgment was brought against Judah and Israel, the nations whom God used to punish them received a far worse fate (see Isa 1:5; 19:22).

27:8 the east wind Alludes to the east wind that brought the plague of locusts in Exod 10:13 (compare Jer 18:17).

27:9 no poles of Asherah worship or incense altars will stand Full and total repentance is required for the guilt of Jacob to be atoned for. They must fully turn away from the idolatrous practices that brought them under punishment.

poles of Asherah worship Wooden poles symbolizing worship of the goddess Asherah. See note on Exod 34:13.

incense altars Part of temple worship as well as idol worship. Their primary purpose was burning incense to mask unpleasant smells.

27:10 deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness The city is abandoned, left to the wild animals (compare Isa 24:10; 25:2).

27:11 not a people of understanding All they need to do is repent and turn from idolatry, but they are not even able to discern this need.

27:12 on that day The day of Yahweh imagery is used to point both to the coming day of judgment and the ultimate day of God’s salvation. See note on 4:2.

the floodwaters of the Euphrates to the wadi of Egypt The judgment will extend from one end of the promised land to the other (Gen 15:18) when the day of Yahweh comes.

you will be gathered one by one The remnant of God’s chosen people will be saved one by one.

27:13 that day The hope for restoration is projected into the eschatological “someday,” when all of God’s people will be gathered again (see Isa 43:6). While reference to “that day” in v. 12 is the day of judgment, this is the day of salvation (see note on v. 12).

a great trumpet will be blown The trumpet blast precedes destruction in Rev 8:7.

Assyria Located in central Mesopotamia. Assyria and Egypt were the opposing superpowers of the day.

the holy mountain at Jerusalem Mount Zion was seen as Yahweh’s dwelling place. See Isa 2:2 and note.