3 The fortress H4013 also shall cease H7673 from Ephraim, H669 and the kingdom H4467 from Damascus, H1834 and the remnant H7605 of Syria: H758 they shall be as the glory H3519 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
And the mountains H2022 shall be molten H4549 under him, and the valleys H6010 shall be cleft, H1234 as wax H1749 before H6440 the fire, H784 and as the waters H4325 that are poured H5064 down a steep place. H4174 For the transgression H6588 of Jacob H3290 is all this, and for the sins H2403 of the house H1004 of Israel. H3478 What is the transgression H6588 of Jacob? H3290 is it not Samaria? H8111 and what are the high places H1116 of Judah? H3063 are they not Jerusalem? H3389 Therefore I will make H7760 Samaria H8111 as an heap H5856 of the field, H7704 and as plantings H4302 of a vineyard: H3754 and I will pour down H5064 the stones H68 thereof into the valley, H1516 and I will discover H1540 the foundations H3247 thereof. And all the graven images H6456 thereof shall be beaten to pieces, H3807 and all the hires H868 thereof shall be burned H8313 with the fire, H784 and all the idols H6091 thereof will I lay H7760 desolate: H8077 for she gathered H6908 it of the hire H868 of an harlot, H2181 and they shall return H7725 to the hire H868 of an harlot. H2181 Therefore I will wail H5594 and howl, H3213 I will go H3212 stripped H7758 H7758 and naked: H6174 I will make H6213 a wailing H4553 like the dragons, H8577 and mourning H60 as the owls. H1323 H3284 For her wound H4347 is incurable; H605 for it is come H935 unto Judah; H3063 he is come H5060 unto the gate H8179 of my people, H5971 even to Jerusalem. H3389
Therefore now shall they go captive H1540 with the first H7218 that go captive, H1540 and the banquet H4797 of them that stretched H5628 themselves shall be removed. H5493 The Lord H136 GOD H3069 hath sworn H7650 by himself, H5315 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 the God H430 of hosts, H6635 I abhor H8374 the excellency H1347 of Jacob, H3290 and hate H8130 his palaces: H759 therefore will I deliver up H5462 the city H5892 with all that is therein. H4393 And it shall come to pass, if there remain H3498 ten H6235 men H582 in one H259 house, H1004 that they shall die. H4191 And a man's uncle H1730 shall take him up, H5375 and he that burneth H5635 him, to bring out H3318 the bones H6106 out of the house, H1004 and shall say H559 unto him that is by the sides H3411 of the house, H1004 Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, H559 No. H657 Then shall he say, H559 Hold thy tongue: H2013 for we may not make mention H2142 of the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068 For, behold, the LORD H3068 commandeth, H6680 and he will smite H5221 the great H1419 house H1004 with breaches, H7447 and the little H6996 house H1004 with clefts. H1233
Have ye offered H5066 unto me sacrifices H2077 and offerings H4503 in the wilderness H4057 forty H705 years, H8141 O house H1004 of Israel? H3478 But ye have borne H5375 the tabernacle H5522 of your Moloch H4428 and Chiun H3594 your images, H6754 the star H3556 of your god, H430 which ye made H6213 to yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity H1540 beyond H1973 Damascus, H1834 saith H559 the LORD, H3068 whose name H8034 is The God H430 of hosts. H6635
Publish H8085 in the palaces H759 at Ashdod, H795 and in the palaces H759 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and say, H559 Assemble H622 yourselves upon the mountains H2022 of Samaria, H8111 and behold H7200 the great H7227 tumults H4103 in the midst H7130 thereof, and the oppressed H6217 in the midst H8432 thereof. For they know H3045 not to do H6213 right, H5229 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 who store H686 up violence H2555 and robbery H7701 in their palaces. H759 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 An adversary H6862 there shall be even round about H5439 the land; H776 and he shall bring down H3381 thy strength H5797 from thee, and thy palaces H759 shall be spoiled. H962 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 As the shepherd H7462 taketh out H5337 of the mouth H6310 of the lion H738 two H8147 legs, H3767 or a piece H915 of an ear; H241 so shall the children H1121 of Israel H3478 be taken out H5337 that dwell H3427 in Samaria H8111 in the corner H6285 of a bed, H4296 and in Damascus H1833 in a couch. H6210 Hear H8085 ye, and testify H5749 in the house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 the God H430 of hosts, H6635 That in the day H3117 that I shall visit H6485 the transgressions H6588 of Israel H3478 upon him I will also visit H6485 the altars H4196 of Bethel: H1008 and the horns H7161 of the altar H4196 shall be cut off, H1438 and fall H5307 to the ground. H776 And I will smite H5221 the winter H2779 house H1004 with the summer H7019 house; H1004 and the houses H1004 of ivory H8127 shall perish, H6 and the great H7227 houses H1004 shall have an end, H5486 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 For three H7969 transgressions H6588 of Israel, H3478 and for four, H702 I will not turn away H7725 the punishment thereof; because they sold H4376 the righteous H6662 for silver, H3701 and the poor H34 for a pair of shoes; H5275 That pant H7602 after the dust H6083 of the earth H776 on the head H7218 of the poor, H1800 and turn aside H5186 the way H1870 of the meek: H6035 and a man H376 and his father H1 will go H3212 in unto the same maid, H5291 to profane H2490 my holy H6944 name: H8034 And they lay themselves down H5186 upon clothes H899 laid to pledge H2254 by H681 every altar, H4196 and they drink H8354 the wine H3196 of the condemned H6064 in the house H1004 of their god. H430 Yet destroyed H8045 I the Amorite H567 before H6440 them, whose height H1363 was like the height H1363 of the cedars, H730 and he was strong H2634 as the oaks; H437 yet I destroyed H8045 his fruit H6529 from above, H4605 and his roots H8328 from beneath.
Though he be fruitful H6500 among his brethren, H251 an east wind H6921 shall come, H935 the wind H7307 of the LORD H3068 shall come up H5927 from the wilderness, H4057 and his spring H4726 shall become dry, H954 and his fountain H4599 shall be dried up: H2717 he shall spoil H8154 the treasure H214 of all pleasant H2532 vessels. H3627 Samaria H8111 shall become desolate; H816 for she hath rebelled H4784 against her God: H430 they shall fall H5307 by the sword: H2719 their infants H5768 shall be dashed in pieces, H7376 and their women with child H2030 shall be ripped up. H1234
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: H7826 as a leopard H5246 by the way H1870 will I observe H7789 them: I will meet H6298 them as a bear H1677 that is bereaved H7909 of her whelps, and will rend H7167 the caul H5458 of their heart, H3820 and there will I devour H398 them like a lion: H3833 the wild H7704 beast H2416 shall tear H1234 them.
Ephraim H669 is smitten, H5221 their root H8328 is dried up, H3001 they shall bear H6213 no fruit: H6529 yea, though they bring forth, H3205 yet will I slay H4191 even the beloved H4261 fruit of their womb. H990 My God H430 will cast them away, H3988 because they did not hearken H8085 unto him: and they shall be wanderers H5074 among the nations. H1471
When Ephraim H669 saw H7200 his sickness, H2483 and Judah H3063 saw his wound, H4205 then went H3212 Ephraim H669 to the Assyrian, H804 and sent H7971 to king H4428 Jareb: H3377 H7378 yet could H3201 he not heal H7495 you, nor cure H1455 you of your wound. H4205 For I will be unto Ephraim H669 as a lion, H7826 and as a young lion H3715 to the house H1004 of Judah: H3063 I, even I, will tear H2963 and go away; H3212 I will take away, H5375 and none shall rescue H5337 him.
Woe H1945 to the crown H5850 of pride, H1348 to the drunkards H7910 of Ephraim, H669 whose glorious H6643 beauty H8597 is a fading H5034 flower, H6731 which are on the head H7218 of the fat H8081 valleys H1516 of them that are overcome H1986 with wine! H3196 Behold, the Lord H136 hath a mighty H2389 and strong one, H533 which as a tempest H2230 of hail H1259 and a destroying H6986 storm, H8178 as a flood H2230 of mighty H3524 waters H4325 overflowing, H7857 shall cast down H3240 to the earth H776 with the hand. H3027 The crown H5850 of pride, H1348 the drunkards H7910 of Ephraim, H669 shall be trodden H7429 under feet: H7272 And the glorious H6643 beauty, H8597 which is on the head H7218 of the fat H8081 valley, H1516 shall be a fading H5034 flower, H6733 and as the hasty fruit H1061 before the summer; H7019 which when he that looketh H7200 upon it seeth, H7200 while it is yet in his hand H3709 he eateth it up. H1104
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 17
Commentary on Isaiah 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Isa 17:1-11. Prophecy Concerning Damascus and Its Ally Samaria, that is, Syria and Israel, which had leagued together (seventh and eighth chapters).
Already, Tiglath-pileser had carried away the people of Damascus to Kir, in the fourth year of Ahaz (2Ki 16:9); but now in Hezekiah's reign a further overthrow is foretold (Jer 49:23; Zec 9:1). Also, Shalmaneser carried away Israel from Samaria to Assyria (2Ki 17:6; 18:10, 11) in the sixth year of Hezekiah of Judah (the ninth year of Hoshea of Israel). This prophecy was, doubtless, given previously in the first years of Hezekiah when the foreign nations came into nearer collision with Judah, owing to the threatening aspect of Assyria.
1. Damascus—put before Israel (Ephraim, Isa 17:3), which is chiefly referred to in what follows, because it was the prevailing power in the league; with it Ephraim either stood or fell (Isa 7:1-25).
2. cities of Aroer—that is, the cities round Aroer, and under its jurisdiction [Gesenius]. So "cities with their villages" (Jos 15:44); "Heshbon and all her cities" (Jos 13:17). Aroer was near Rabbahammon, at the river of Gad, an arm of the Jabbok (2Sa 24:5), founded by the Gadites (Nu 32:34).
for flocks—(Isa 5:17).
3. fortress … cease—The strongholds shall be pulled down (Samaria especially: Ho 10:14; Mic 1:6; Hab 1:10).
remnant of Syria—all that was left after the overthrow by Tiglath-pileser (2Ki 16:9).
as the glory of … Israel—They shall meet with the same fate as Israel, their ally.
4. glory of Jacob—the kingdom of Ephraim and all that they rely on (Ho 12:2; Mic 1:5).
fatness … lean—(See on Isa 10:16).
5. harvestman, &c.—The inhabitants and wealth of Israel shall be swept away, and but few left behind just as the husbandman gathers the corn and the fruit, and leaves only a few gleaning ears and grapes (2Ki 18:9-11).
with his arm—He collects the standing grain with one arm, so that he can cut it with the sickle in the other hand.
Rephaim—a fertile plain at the southwest of Jerusalem toward Beth-lehem and the country of the Philistines (2Sa 5:18-22).
6. in it—that is, in the land of Israel.
two or three … in the top—A few poor inhabitants shall be left in Israel, like the two or three olive berries left on the topmost boughs, which it is not worth while taking the trouble to try to reach.
7. look to his Maker—instead of trusting in their fortresses—(Isa 17:3; Mic 7:7).
8. groves—A symbolical tree is often found in Assyrian inscriptions, representing the hosts of heaven ("Saba"), answering to Ashteroth or Astarte, the queen of heaven, as Baal or Bel is the king. Hence the expression, "image of the grove," is explained (2Ki 21:7).
images—literally, "images to the sun," that is, to Baal, who answers to the sun, as Astarte to the hosts of heaven (2Ki 23:5; Job 31:26).
9. forsaken bough—rather "the leavings of woods," what the axeman leaves when he cuts down the grove (compare Isa 17:6).
which they left because of—rather, "which (the enemies) shall leave for the children of Israel"; literally, "shall leave (in departing) from before the face of the children of Israel" [Maurer]. But a few cities out of many shall be left to Israel, by the purpose of God, executed by the Assyrian.
10. forgotten … God of … salvation … rock—(De 32:15, 18).
plants—rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [Maurer].
set in—rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds.
strange slips—cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable.
11. In the day … thy plant—rather, "In the day of thy planting" [Horsley].
shalt … make … grow—Maurer translates, "Thou didst fence it," namely, the pleasure-ground. The parallel clause, "Make … flourish," favors English Version. As soon as thou plantest, it grows.
in the morning—that is, immediately after; so in Ps 90:14, the Hebrew, "in the morning," is translated "early."
but … shall be a heap—rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone" [Horsley].
in … day of grief—rather, "in the day of (expected) possession" [Maurer]. "In the day of inundation" [Horsley].
of desperate sorrow—rather, "And the sorrow shall be desperate or irremediable." In English Version "heap" and "sorrow" may be taken together by hendiadys. "The heap of the harvest shall be desperate sorrow" [Rosenmuller].
Isa 17:12-18:7. Sudden Destruction of a Great Army in Judea (namely that of the Assyrian Sennacherib), AND Announcement of the Event to the Ethiopian Ambassadors.
The connection of this fragment with what precedes is: notwithstanding the calamities coming on Israel, the people of God shall not be utterly destroyed (Isa 6:12, 13); the Assyrian spoilers shall perish (Isa 17:13, 14).
12. Woe … multitude—rather, "Ho (Hark)! a noise of," &c. The prophet in vision perceives the vast and mixed Assyrian hosts (Hebrew, "many peoples," see on Isa 5:26): on the hills of Judah (so "mountains," Isa 17:13): but at the "rebuke" of God, they shall "flee as chaff."
to the rushing … that make—rather, "the roaring … roareth" (compare Isa 8:7; Jer 6:23).
13. shall … shall—rather, "God rebuketh (Ps 9:5) them, and they flee—are chased"; the event is set before the eyes as actually present, not future.
chaff of … mountains—Threshing floors in the East are in the open air on elevated places, so as to catch the wind which separates the chaff from the wheat (Ps 88:13; Ho 13:3).
rolling thing—anything that rolls: stubble.
14. eventide … before morning—fulfilled to the letter in the destruction "before morning" of the vast host that "at eveningtide" was such a terror ("trouble") to Judah; on the phrase see Ps 90:6; 30:5.
he is not—namely, the enemy.
us—the Jews. A general declaration of the doom that awaits the foes of God's people (Isa 54:17).