Isaiah 17

Chap. XVII. Ver. 1—14. The oracle concerning Damascus and Israel.—‘‘This prophecy, by its title, (says Bp. Lowth,) should relate only to Damascus; but it full as much concerns, and more largely treats of, the kingdom of Samaria, and the Israelites, who confederated with Damascus and Syria against Judah.” The first three verses describe the judgments of Damascus; the next five those of Israel, and the good effects of those judgments on the small remnant, or gleaning, that should escape them; the following verses represent the same judgments in other, but stronger terms, and impute them to their irreligion and neglect of God. “This prophecy was fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser’s taking Damascus, and carrying the people captives to Kir, ((2 Kings 16:9).) and by his over-running great part of the kingdom of Israel, and carrying a great number of the Israelites also captive to Assyria. In regard to Israel, the prophecy was still more fully accomplished by the final overthrow of the kingdom, and the captivity of the people, a few years after, by Shalmanezer. “The three last verses of the chapter are a distinct prophecy, a beautiful detached piece, worked up with the greatest elegance, sublimity, and propriety; and forming a noble description of the formidable invasion and sudden overthrow of Sennacherib, exactly agreeable to the event, (ch. xxxvii. 35—38.) Such ruin, remarks the prophet, (ver. 14.) is the portion of the enemies of God’s people.’ Dr. J. Smith.

Notes on the verses

_ Chap. XVII. Ver. 1. The burden.—Heb. Mashal. See this word explained in the note on (Proverbs 1:1). But in the prophets, it usually means an Oracle (or inspired prediction) of some great calamity. [This prophecy, as Bishop Lowth observes, was probably delivered soon after the prophecies of the seventh and eighth chapters: and was fulfilled by Tiglath Pileser’s taking Damascus, and carrying the people captives to Kir. (2 Kings 16:9).]—Bagster. Ver. 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken._(This Aroer was probably not the city of Moab on the Arnon, but the plain of Damascus, called Et Gauta; Aroer, it is probable, being the same as the Arabic ghawr, a valley, or plain, which is also applied to Phoenicia and a district in Arabia.)—Bagster. Lowth follows the LXX. in reading, “* The cities are deserted (or forsaken) for ever;” and the difference in the original is but small. Ver. 8. The altars, the work of his hands.—That is, ‘dedicated” to his idols. Lowth.—Either the groves, &c.—Lowth, ‘Nor the groves, nor the solar statues.” See margin. Ver. 9. His strong cities be as a forsaken bough, &c.—That is, as a bough stripped of leaves and fruit, and therefore totally disregarded; so shall their cities be stripped of inhabitants and treasure. But Lowth, following the LXX. reads, “His strongly fenced cities shall become like the desertion of the Hivites and Amorites, when they deserted the land before the face of the sons (or ere OF en = wed a become hacer ae _ Ver.

10. Therefore.—Literally, ** Upon now,” at the time when; (as. ix. 13.) i. e. when thou shalt plant, &c. Ver. 11, The harvest shall be a heap.—See margin. The meaning is, that after taking the greatest possible pains to cultivate their vineyards and their gardens, the enemy shall forcibly take away the produce.