Q.-Will some of your learned contributors kindly say—
1. Whether the word “wicked” in the end of verse 4, Isa. 11, is, in the original, singular or plural?
2. Whether the word “consummation” in Dan. 9:27, is the same as “consumption” in Isa. 10:22?
3. Is “consumption” the same word in verses 22 and 23 of Isa. 10? It is variously translated in the Revised Version.—LEARNER
A. 1..-The word is in the singular, though the preceding words “poor” and “meek” are plural. It occurs many times throughout the Old Testament and in both forms. As is well known the singular may be used in a collective sense as well as individually. And here Robert Lowth (1778) would appear to be right in his rendering— “the wicked one.” This is confirmed by the fuller light of the New Testament; for “no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.” See 2 Thess. 2:3-8. The Targum of Jonathan singularly paraphrases it “he will slay the wicked Armillus” —the name given by Jewish writers to a future personage to appear in Rome, and who is to kill Messiah, Joseph's son, but himself to be slain by Messiah, David's son!—thus understanding it of a particular individual.
2. Our English rendering “consummation” in Dan. 9:27, appears here only; but the Hebrew word “kahlah” occurs 22 Times and is variously rendered. Isaiah uses it twice only (10:23; 28:22, “consumption”), and so also Daniel (9:27, “consummation"; 11:16, “which... shall be consumed” lit. “and destruction” in his hand). In Isa. 10:22 The word is not “kahlah” but “killahyohn” (“the consumption”); and Deut. 28:65 (“and failing of”) is the only other instance of its use. Thus the original words are not exactly the same, though both these nouns are from the same verbal root and are closely allied.
3. The answer to this question has been anticipated in the answer just given— “Idllahyohn” being the word in Isa. 10:22, and the more general word “kahlah” in verse 23.