NOTES for Isa 13:12

The infinite value and originality of the human life, about which speaks the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, became almost evident today, although constantly trespassing against the principle. But it is useful to remember that it was not always like that. At the period when the Lord pronounced these words, it was in no way like that, and people were sold and bought, and life cost almost nothing. Besides, importance was more attached to race, tribe or other "historic community" of men, than to a particular personality. Even the notion “personality” didn’t exist. The problem is not even in ancient and semi-forgotten realities. Less than a century ago the relatively civilized countries brought uncountable human sacrifices for social and political ideas. Today we witness wars, in which people have to give their life for things, to choose words carefully more, unconvincing. But God's will doesn’t change, and God's word that human life is dearer than all the rest in this world, is always actual. Certainly, it is pleasant to realize that from the 8th century B.C., when Isaiah wrote these words, the humanity approached considerably their realization. Unpleasant, but considerably more useful to realize, of how much we are still far from it.