Burden of the Beasts

The Hebrew word massa’ introduces a number of oracles in Isaiah’s prophecy (13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; etc.). It is often translated “oracle,” but it comes from a root ( nasa’ ) that means “carry” or “bear,” and is thus sometimes rendered as “burden.”

Isaiah 30:6-8 is a brief massa’ concerning the beasts of the Negev, and it confirms that Isaiah was aware of the etymological weight of the term. The oracle describes a wilderness wandering in reverse, as Israelites laden with treasures go through the beast-infested wilderness back to Egypt to form an alliance with their former masters. Instead of plundering Egypt and taking Egypt’s treasures to the land, they have plundered Israel and are taking Israel’s treasures to Egypt.

In the massa’ , the prophet sees donkeys and camels that nasa’ riches and treasures on their backs (v. 8). It is a burden about burdens, an oracle shouldered by the prophet, who bears God’s treasures on his shoulders, about animals that bear Israel’s treasures on their shoulders.