Isaiah 10:30
Lift vp thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to bee heard vnto Laish, O poore Anathoth. Isaiah 10:30 (KJV)
Isaiah 10 belongs to a larger prophetic section in which the prophet warns Israel of the looming Assyrian threat and announces divine judgment on the nation’s disobedience. Within this context the quoted sentence addresses two small towns near Jerusalem—Gallim and Anathoth—drawing attention to their vulnerable situation. The phrase “daughter of Gallim” is understood as a poetic reference to the inhabitants of Gallim, urging them to raise an alarm, to lift up their voice, and to make their distress known beyond their own borders. The call to have the voice “heard unto Laish” emphasizes the urgency of broadcasting the warning to neighboring communities, thereby seeking broader assistance.
Anathoth, identified in Joshua 21:18 as a priestly town allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, is described as “poor Anathoth.” This description underscores the town’s economic or spiritual fragility and its need for divine help. By linking Gallim’s cry to Anathoth, the passage suggests a communal responsibility: the distress of one town should resonate with others, prompting a collective response to impending danger.
The broader implication for Israel is a clear exhortation to vocalize suffering and to reach out for help in times of crisis. The verse encourages unity among the people, urging them to support one another and to turn to God for deliverance. It highlights the importance of communal prayer, mutual aid, and the recognition that divine intervention is sought through earnest, public pleading.
It is worth noting, as indicated in one of the source drafts, that this exact wording does not appear in the canonical text of Isaiah. The sentence is not found in Isaiah chapter 10 or elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, suggesting that the quotation may be a later editorial addition or a paraphrase rather than a direct scriptural verse. Nonetheless, the themes it conveys—warning, communal solidarity, and reliance on God—remain consistent with the overall message of Isaiah’s prophetic warnings.
