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The futuristic vision of ch. 33 now shifts its focus to the correlative idea of judgment. Many modern scholars insist that the eschatological, neoapocalyptic language of chs. 34 and 35 requires that they be given an exilic date. It is further reasoned that these chapters originally provided the introduction to chs. 40-55. As with much of the ancient biblical material, it is extremely difficult to date particular verses with accuracy. In my judgment, however, chs. 34 and 35 provide a continuation of the futuristic vision we saw in ch. 33. So there is no compelling reason to posit a different location and date. Further, the judgment of God against the nations is a theme that occurs repeatedly throughout the book and is part and parcel of the theology of Zion (cf. Ps 2, also Isa 2:12-22; 13:1-27:13; 29:5-8; 30:27-28; 33:10-13; see also the judgment pronounced against the nations in Am 1 and 2).
Reminiscent of the opening lines of the book, the scene is a law court, and the entire world is called to hear God’s verdict. Now the judgment is not against Israel; it is against the nations. Consistent with the royal theology that undergirds Isaiah’s thoughts is the notion that Jerusalem stands over against the nations (again, see Ps 2). Jerusalem has been properly punished; now the prophet looks to the judgment against the nations.
In v.2 the prophet employs “day of the Lord” language to portray the widespread destruction, which extends even to the heavens (v.4, probably a reference to the destruction of the astral deities of the nations).
Edom, which had a long history of hostility against Israel, is singled out in v.5 but is a symbolic particularization of all the nations. The language is that of sacrifice in vv.6-7, as if the people are in some measure sacrificed before God. The punishment is due in part because of the nations' crimes against Zion as suggested by the reference in v.8 to Zion’s cause.
The slaughter of vv.1-7 will lead to total desolation (vv.9-15). Like a forerunner of Dante’s Inferno, the prophet’s depictions of destruction employ hauntingly graphic imagery. Vv.12-15 use language typically employed to portray complete desolation. Edom will become a total wasteland.
While it is uncertain what the reference to the scroll of the Lord (v.16) means, the point of the concluding verses is that this final destruction will surely come to pass because God stands behind it.