This verse pictures a feast. Who are those feasting? Some scholars believe the leaders of Judah are in view. However, the party-goers are more likely the military and political leaders in Babylonia. These leaders feast when they should be preparing for an attack coming from Elam and Media (verse 2).

At the beginning of this verse Good News Translation adds the words “In the vision” to remind readers that this happens within the visionary experience of the prophet.

The first four verbs in this verse (prepare, spread, eat, drink) are infinitive absolutes in Hebrew. Like Revised Standard Version, many scholars and most translations consulted render them as indicative verbs. However, an infinitive absolute in this position can function as an imperative. This is especially true in the context of other imperatives, such as in the second half of this verse (Arise, oil). So New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is justified in rendering the first four verbs as imperatives. But translators may choose to follow the majority view and use the indicative rather than the imperative form for these verbs. If this is done, the first half of the verse provides the setting for the two imperatives that follow.

They prepare the table: Since Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute verb here as an indicative, it has to supply the pronoun They. This pronoun refers to the princes at the end of the verse, who are most likely the leaders of Babylonia. The Hebrew word for table can refer not only to the object itself but also to the feast that is spread on it, so Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “banquet” (compare Psa 23.5). Tables were generally low since people reclined on the floor to eat a meal.

They spread the rugs since the diners reclined on the floor on rugs. The rugs were carpets or mats rather than blankets. The Hebrew words for spread and rugs come from the same root. This same root is rendered “watchman” in verse 6 and “watchtower” in verse 8 According to BDB, this root can have either meaning. This explains the New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh rendering here: “Let the watchman watch!” No other version gives the sense of “watch” in this verse. The idea of spreading rugs fits this context better.

They eat, they drink describes the feasting of the Babylonian leaders.

Arise, O princes, oil the shield!: Arise and oil are clearly imperative verbs. The feasting leaders are suddenly called to prepare for battle. Good News Translation makes this clear by adding the quote frame “Suddenly the command rings out” and placing quote marks around these two lines (similarly Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant). This may be helpful in other languages. Arise may be meant literally since they need to get up from their dining position. On the other hand, the Hebrew verb rendered Arise is often used to begin an action. Here it may simply introduce the action of oiling the shields. Good News Translation understands it in this way by omitting it. Many versions keep it since it adds drama to the scene. As in 1.23 and 3.4, the Hebrew word for princes refers to leaders rather than sons of kings.

Oil the shield means they have to prepare their shields for battle. A shield was a broad piece of protective armor that a warrior carried on his arm. Since shields were made of or covered by leather, they had to be greased to preserve them (see 2 Sam 1.21). Some commentators suggest that the greasing was done to deflect arrows (so FRCL footnote|prj:FRC97.Isa 21.5); others think it was a ritual act dedicating them for battle. The singular word shield has a collective sense, so it may be rendered plural if necessary. Good News Translation brings out the underlying meaning of the whole clause with “Prepare your shields!” Bible en français courant says “Pick up your weapons!” which means “Get ready for battle!”

Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• They prepare the feast, spread the carpets,
they eat and drink.
Suddenly there is a shout:
“Officers, prepare your shields!”

• Prepare the feast, spread the carpets, eat and drink!
Officers, oil your shields!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .