The Oppressing City
1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city! 2 She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t receive correction. She didn’t trust in Yahweh. She didn’t draw near to her God. 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day. 4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. 5 Yahweh, within her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame.
The woe that seemed aimed at Nineveh turns out to be aimed at Jerusalem, and the city's four leaderships are indicted one after another.
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city. The name is withheld for a verse, and after chapter 2 the reader expects Nineveh. It is Jerusalem.
Verse 2 states the charge in four refusals, each a missed opportunity rather than a crime: she did not obey the voice, did not receive correction, did not trust in Yahweh, did not draw near to her God. Nothing there is idolatry. It is a relationship declined.
Then the four offices fail in turn. Princes are roaring lions; judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till morning; prophets are arrogant and treacherous; priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law. Every institution meant to restrain the city is feeding on it.
Verse 5 sets one figure against all four: Yahweh, within her, is righteous, bringing his justice to light every morning without fail. He has not left. The last clause is the tragedy — he does not fail, but the unjust know no shame.
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