“You shall be ashamed
Of the oaks In which you delighted.
You shall blush
For the gardens
That you have chosen.
You shall be
Like an oak
Whose leaf withers.
You shall be
Like a garden
Without water.
The strong shall become
Like tinder.
Their work shall become
Like a spark.
They shall burn.
Their work shall burn together
With them.
No one will quench them.”
Here Isaiah attacks the pagan practice as well as the practices in Samaria, outside of Jerusalem. These were the places where people worshiped at sacred trees. He wanted them to be ashamed of their oak trees and their wonderful gardens that so delighted them. These worshipers were like dying trees or gardens without water. Soon there would be no water, as the oak leaves would wither away. These strong trees would be like tinder kindling wood. They and their works would burn together in a fire that could not be put out. Thus he called for the destruction of the oak tree idol worship and their worshipers, preferably by an unquenchable fire.