Isaiah 17

Isaiah 17:1

5. Judgment on Damascus (Chap. 17)17:1-3 The third oracle foretells the leveling of Damascus, the chief city-state of Syria, and of its satellite cities. Because of its alliance with Syria, Ephraim (Israel) will share a similar downfall. Ephraim will be stripped of its defenses, Damascus of its kingdom, and the surviving Syrians of their glory. Damascus was destroyed by the Assyrian armies in 732 B.C., and Samaria fell ten years later. 17:4-6 In the day of its judgment, Israel will be disgraced and starved. It will be stripped like harvested fields in the Valley of Rephaimonly a small remnant will be left. 17:7-11 Then people will turn to the true and living God, their Maker, the Holy One of Israel, and will renounce everything that has to do with idolatry. Fortified cities will lie waste, like the cities of the Hivites and Amorites after the invading Israelites had conquered them. And why will all this happen? Because God’s people have forgotten Him and have turned to foreign seedlings, i.e., foreign alliances, religions, and customs. The harvest will be disastrous. 17:12-14 Beginning with verse 12 and continuing throughout chapter 18, we have a short interlude with two movements, each beginning with “Woe.” The first movement pictures the Gentile nations moving against Israel with the awesome noise of modern warfare. But suddenly they are turned back by the Lord, and the threat to Israel is lifted overnight, as in the destruction of the Assyrian army.