Isaiah 3:12

“[As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors, &c.] Or rulers; for çgwn, in the Ethiopic language, signifies a king: or “exactors”, as in (<236017>Isaiah 60:17) princes are so called, because they exact tribute of their subjects, and sometimes in a tyrannical and oppressive manner, and so get the name of oppressors. The sense is the same with (<230304>Isaiah 3:4). The words may be rendered, “as for my people, everyone of their governors, is a child”f61; not in age, but in understanding: and women rule over them, or “over him”f62; either over the people of Israel, as Alexandra before Hyrcanus, and Helena queen of the Adiabenes; or over the child their governor, as women had great…”

“(See Isa 3:4). oppressors--literally, "exactors," that is, exacting princes (Isa 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as "children," as effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court. lead--Hebrew, "call thee blessed"; namely, the false prophets, who flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political "rulers" are meant in the first clause. way of thy paths-- (Jer 6:16). The right way set forth in the law. "Destroy"--Hebrew, "Swallow up," that is, cause so utterly to disappear that not a vestige of it is left.”

“As for my people, children are their oppressors - This refers, doubtless, to their civil rulers. They who “ought” to have been their “protectors,” oppressed them by grievous taxes and burdens. But whether this means that the rulers of the people were “literally” minors, or that they were so in “disposition and character,” has been a question. The original word is in the singular number (מעולל me‛ôlēl), and means a “child,” or an infant. It may, however, be taken collectively as a noun of multitude, or as denoting more than one. To whom reference is made here cannot easily be determined, but possibly to “Ahaz,” who began to reign when he was twenty years old; 2 Kings 16:2. Or it may mean…”

“Women - Weak and effeminate rulers. They - Thy rulers civil and ecclesiastical. Isaiah 3:13”

“children: Isa 3:4; Kg2 11:1; Nah 3:13 lead thee: or, which call thee blessed, Isa 9:15; Num 6:23-27; Jer 5:31; Mat 15:14 destroy: Heb. swallow up, Mat 23:14 Isaiah 3:13”

“"My people, its oppressors are boys, and women rule over it; my people, thy leaders are misleaders, who swallow up the way of thy paths." It is not probable that me‛olel signifies maltreaters or triflers, by the side of the parallel nâshim; moreover, the idea of despotic treatment is already contained in nogesaiv. We expect to find children where there are women. And this is one meaning of me‛olel. It does not mean a suckling, however, as Ewald supposes (160, a), more especially as it occurs in connection with yonek ( Jer 44:7; Lam 2:11), and therefore cannot have precisely the same meaning; but, like עולל and עולל (the former of which may be contracted from meolēl), it refers to the boy…”