Isaiah 48:5
Therefore I declared it to you long ago;
What it says
The advance declarations prevented them from saying their idols had caused these events.
What it is doing
This verse closes the first unit by blocking idolatrous misattribution.
In context
1“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, 2who indeed call yourselves after the holy city 3I foretold the former things long ago; 4For I knew that you are stubborn; 5Therefore I declared it to you long ago; 6You have heard these things; look at them all. 7They are created now, and not long ago; 8You have never heard; you have never understood; 9For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; 10See, I have refined you, but not as silver; 11For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act;