All your rulers have fled together: When Jerusalem was attacked, the leaders fled in an attempt to save themselves (see an example in Jer 39.4). The Hebrew word for rulers probably refers to military leaders here, as in Josh 10.24 (see 3.6-7, where the same word is rendered “leader”). Revised English Bible has “commanders” and Bible en français courant “officers.” These officers fled together, so it appears they had a joint plan to abandon their people.

Without the bow they were captured is literally “from a bow they were bound.” A footnote in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh notes that the meaning of this clause is uncertain. It may mean that the officers “fled from the bow” in the sense that they fled from the battle (so Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible gives a different interpretation by saying they were “captured without a bow between them,” that is, they were captured since they did not have even one bow between them to defend themselves. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “Taken captive without their bows.” They abandoned their bows in their haste to flee. Another possible meaning for this clause is that they were captured without an arrow being shot by them (so Good News Translation) or by their enemies. New International Version expresses this sense, but it leaves ambiguous those who do not use their bows: “they have been captured without using the bow” (similarly New American Bible). We suggest that translators render this line according to the view that the officers of Judah were captured without an arrow being shot. Although it is a minor point, a footnote could be added to indicate the ambiguity of the Hebrew text.

The Hebrew verb rendered were captured comes from a root meaning “bind” or “tie up.” The passive form of this verb is found only in this verse. Dead Sea Scrolls has a different passive form, but it does not differ in meaning from the one found in Masoretic Text. For languages that need to change this passive verb into an active one, it may be rendered “the enemy captured them.” This verb is repeated later in the verse.

All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away: Instead of All of you who were found, the Septuagint has “the captives.” New English Bible and Revised English Bible say “all your stoutest warriors,” but this is based on an emendation that seems unjustified. We accept de~Waard’s comments and the decision of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project that Masoretic Text should be kept. Good News Translation suggests that all the officers were found and captured while New Jerusalem Bible is less certain, claiming that “all who could be found” were taken captive. Either understanding is possible. Though they had fled far away notes that some of the officers had managed to flee a long distance from Jerusalem, but eventually they were caught. In Hebrew there is a pronoun mismatch in these two lines: All of you were found … they had fled far away. Translators may harmonize them for the sake of naturalness; see Good News Translation and the examples below. Some languages may prefer to reverse these two lines by saying “Although they had fled far away, all of them were found and captured.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• All your military chiefs fled as a group [or, together],
they were captured without an arrow being shot;
all were found and captured, no matter how far they had fled.

• Your military chiefs all fled together from the battle.
But without an arrow being fired, they were captured;
any who were found were captured, though some had fled far.

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 .