M-W-F Bible study: Isaiah 3: 16-26

16The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.17Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald."18In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,19the earrings and bracelets and veils,20the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms,21the signet rings and nose rings,22the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses23and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.25Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.26The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)

"Commentary on Isaiah 3:16-26

The prophet reproves and warns the daughters of Zion of the sufferings coming upon them. Let them know that God notices the folly and vanity of proud women, even of their dress. The punishments threatened answered the sin. Loathsome diseases often are the just punishment of pride. It is not material to ask what sort of ornaments they wore; many of these things, if they had not been in fashion, would have been ridiculed then as now. Their fashions differed much from those of our times, but human nature is the same. Wasting time and money, to the neglect of piety, charity, and even of justice, displease the Lord. Many professors at the present day, seem to think there is no harm in worldly finery; but were it not a great evil, would the Holy Spirit have taught the prophet to expose it so fully? The Jews being overcome, Jerusalem would be levelled with the ground; which is represented under the idea of a desolate female seated upon the earth. And when the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem, they struck a medal, on which was represented a woman sitting on the ground in a posture of grief. If sin be harboured within the walls, lamentation and mourning are near the gates."