Isaiah 9:3

and not increased the joy Lit., "unto it thou hast increased the joy." Lô", "not" and lô, "to it," being pronounced alike, are sometimes confused in the text of the O.T. There is no reason for assuming such a confusion here, and R.V. ("thou hast increased their joy") rightly adheres to the Massoretic text. But it is still better to adopt a very simple emendation, approved by many expositors (הנילה for הנוילא) and translate: Thou hast multiplied the exultation; thou hast increased the joy.

before thee as at the festivals in the sanctuary, a phrase often used in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 12:7; Isaiah 14:26, &c.).

the joy in harvest Psalms 4:8; Psalms 126:5-6.

asmen rejoice when they divide the spoil cf. ch. Isaiah 33:23; Judges 5:30; Psalms 119:162. For "rejoice" read exult.