57.6
The Book of Isaiah 57.6 · Your portion is among the smooth stones57.6Your portion is among the smooth stones
Still the accusation of idolatry. The stones of the wadi receive the offerings that belong to God.
· · ·
בְּחַלְּקֵי־1
bə-ḥalləqê-
Among the smooth stonesin smooth ones of
נַחַל2
naḥal
of the wadi
is
חֶלְקֵךְ3
ḥelqēḵ
your portion
; הֵם4
hēm
they
הֵם5
hēm
they
are
גּוֹרָלֵךְ6
gôrālēḵ
your lot
. גַּם־7
gam-
Evenalso
לָהֶם8
lāhem
to them
שָׁפַכְתְּ9
šāp̄aḵt
you poured out
נֶסֶךְ10
neseḵ
a drink offeringa libation
הֶעֱלִית11
heʿĕlîṯ
you offered upyou made go up
מִנְחָה12
minḥâ
a grain offeringa gift
. אֶנָּחֵם׃13
ʾennāḥēm
Shall I relentI will be sorry
הַעַל14
ha-ʿal
forupon
אֵלֶּה15
ʾēlleh
these things
? Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion; they, they are your lot. Even to them you poured out a drink offering you offered up a grain offering. Shall I relent over these things?
Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion; they, they are your lot. Even to them you poured out a drink offering you offered up a grain offering. Shall I relent over these things?
57.7
The Book of Isaiah 57.7 · On a high mountain you made your bed57.7On a high mountain you made your bed
The picture of unfaithfulness continues, with the high places as the setting for both bed and altar.
· · ·
On a high and lofty mountain you set your bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice.
A wordplay runs through this line. “Your portion” is ḥelqēḵ, and the smooth stones of the wadi are ḥallqê: your share is the smooth things. Hebrew has two roots that sound alike, one meaning “smooth” and one “divide, share”, and the line plays them against each other. Israel was supposed to have YHWH as its portion (Psalm 16:5); these people have chosen river stones.