Isaiah 17

A Prophecy concerning the ruine of the cities of Damascus and Samaria, vers.1, &c. As likewise of the cities of Israel by the Assyrians, 2. Affliction causeth attention, 7. A Prophecy concerning the overthrow of the Assyrians, 12.

1. The burthen [See above, chap.13.o vers.1.] of Damascus. Behold Damascus shall be taken away, that it be no more a ruinous heap of stones. [Damascus was the Metropolis, or chief City in Syria. See above, chap.7.vers.8. But here must be understood not onely the destruction of the city of Damascus, but also of the Kingdom of Syria. (Damascus shall be taken away) that is, it shall be subdued, and the inhabitants carried away captive. This was done by Salmanassar, King of Assyria. (it shall be a ruinous heap of stones) Heb. An heap of ruine.]

2. The Cities of Aroer [That is, the Cities that lie round about, or neer the City of Aroer, by the brook Arnon, Deut.2.36. The Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites had formerly inhabited them] shall be forsaken: they shall be for the flocks, [the Hebrew word signifieth the flocks, both of small and great beasts, as appeareth, Gen.32. vers.14,15,16.] they shall lie down (there,) and none shall make them afraid. [forasmuch as no enemies shall fall into the land; for it shall lie waste and desolate, after that Salmanassar shall have carried the inhabitants away captive. Read the accomplishment hereof, 2 Kings 15:29. and 17.6 and 1 Chron.5.26.]

3. And the fortress [Meaning the fenced city of Samaria, and other cities or towns depending thereon] shall cease from Ephraim, [that is, from the Kingdom, or the ten tribes of Israel] and the Kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of the Syrians: [Heb. Aram, so the Syrians are called, because they sprang from Aram] they [to wit, the Syrians] shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, [the Syrians shall be bereaved of their glory, as well as the Israelites. It shall happen to both alike, to the one as well as to the other. (as the glory of the children of Israel) so that Prophet called all things, whereof they were proud, and whereon they relied; as namely, their Kingdom, their strong and fair Cities, Castles, Forts, Money, and goods, also their confederacies with other Kings; as chap.16.vers.14.] saith the LORD of hosts.

4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Israel, [that is, the glory of the Israelites, or of ten tribes, as vers.3.] shall be made thin: [that is, their glory shall be improverished, vanish away, be diminished] and that the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

5. For he [To wit, Jacob] shall be as (when) a reaper, [Hebr. The harvest; that is, an Harvest-man] gathereth the standing corn, and his arm reapeth ears: yea, he shall be, as (when) one gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. [the meaning is, that all the ten tribes of Israel shall be carried away captive, as in harvest-time all the corn, even to the very ears, is gathered up, and carried into the barn. Others understand hereby He, the King of Assyria. The valley of Rephaim was a pleasant and fruitful place lying neer Jerusalem, Jos.15.8.]

6. But a gleaning shall be left in it, [To wit, in Jacob, or in Israel, in Samaria. That is, some, but very few, (who shall likewise be afterward carried away captive by Esar-haddon) shall yet be left in the land. But as in the vintage the grapes, those that at first were passed by, are afterward sought out, and plucked off, or gleaned: So shall it likewise happen to the Israelites. See the accomplishment of this Prophecy, 2 Kings 17:24. and those few shall be scattered here and there from one another] as (in) the shaking of an Olive-tree, two (or) three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, and four (or) five on the fruitful branches thereof, [or, on the branches of the fruitful (olive tree)] saith the LORD God of Israel.

7. And that day shall man look to him that made him, and his eyes shall look upon the holy one of Israel. [At that day, etc. To wit, when those judgements and plagues, shall light upon the people. The Prophet doth intimate here, that the chastening, of God shall yet as length bring forth some good effect in his children, in humbling them, and bring them to a sight and knowledge of their sins. (Shall man) That is, some or certain men; to wit, the believing Israelites, (shall man look to him that made him) Oth. Let man look, taking it for, a man ought to look to him, etc. (and his eyes shall look upon the Holy one of Israel.) That is, upon God, who is holy, and maketh holy, helpeth, instructeth, comforteth, and delivereth all those that come unto him, to seek help and comfort of him, and in him.]

8. And he shall not look to the altars, the works of his hands, [Oth. Places the words thus: And let him not look to the altars, etc.] neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made, [Oth. Namely, he shall not, &c.] neither the groves, nor the images of the Sun. [Of the images of the Sun, see Levit.chap.26. the annotate.on v.30.]

9. In that day, [To wit, when the enemy cometh marching on] shall his [to wit, Israel’s and Syria’s] strong Cities, [Heb. The Cities of his strength; namely, whereof he had relied more, than on God Almighty] be as a forsaken bush [Hebr. The forsaking of a bush] and uppermost branch, [that is, as a branch in the uppermost part of the tree, when the pruners of trees either regard not, or which they are not able to reach. So shall it happen to the Israelites, and to the Syrians] which they [to wit, the Assyrians] did forsake, because of the children of Israel; [that is, because God would at that time yet spare some Israelites. The Assyrians did not indeed wittingly and willingly let these few Israelites remain, but this is here said in respect of the purpose of God, who would yet reserve a remnant among the Israelites. Therefore God so moved and inclined the hearts of the Assyrians, that they spared yet some; namely, those, whom God would have to be spared in Israel. As for the Hebrew phrase, that is used here in the text: See the like, Genes.36.6,7. Exod.9.11. Job 37:18,19.] howbeit, there shall be desolation. [to wit, upon Israel and Syria.]

10. For thou [To wit, thou daughters of Israel; that is, thou people of Israel] hast forgotten God, thy salvation, [that is, Thou hast forgotten that God, who is the author both of thy temporal and eternal welfare] and (hast) not remembered the Rock of thy strength: [that is, the strong God, unto whom thou mightiest have fled, and oughtest to flee for refuge and safety in trouble] Therefore shalt thou indeed plant pleasant plants, [the meaning is, albeit thy land be diligently sown and planted, upon hopes of enjoying much fair and precious fruit] and thou shalt set [Hebr. Sow] it [to wit, thy vineyard] with foreign vine-branches.

11. On the day when thou shalt have planted them, shalt thou make (them) to grow, [That is, thou shalt indeed do thy utmost endeavour to cause thy plantings to grow, namely, by watering and other ways] and in the morning [that is, in due season, without neglecting any fit opportunity] shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: (but) it shall be but an heap of that which is reaped in the day of sickness, and of painful sorrow. [The meaning is, thou mayst have used all diligence and industry, according to thy utmost power and ability, yet when the camp of the Assyrians shall set upon thee, all that thou hast sowen and planted, shall be for so great an army, but as an heap of corn, which they shall eat up and devour as it were in a moment. (in the day of sickedness, and of painful sorrow.) That is, in the time of the destruction of the land, of the invasion, of the siege, which the Assyrians shall make. Oth. In the day of anguish]

12. Wo to the multitude of great nations, [Some begin here the 18th. Chapter, because here beginneth a prophecy against the Assyrians and the Ethiopians. The Prophet foretelleth here, and in the words following, that indeed many strange Nations should assault the people of God, but that it should at length tend to their own destruction. (Wo to the multitude of great nations,) That shall serve the King of Assyria in his camp or army against the Israelites] which roar like as the seas do roar: and (wo) to the noise of the Nations, that make a noise, as the mighty waters do make a noise.

13. The nations shall (indeed) make a noise as great waters do make a noise, but he [To wit, the Lord] shall rebuke [See the annotate. Psal.9.on v.6.] him, [To wit, the King of Assyria. Oth. It, to wit, the people: Or, them; to wit, the Nations] then shall be [To wit, the King of Assyria,] flee far away, [To wit, into Assyria. See 2 Kings 19 36.] yea he shall be chased, [To wit, by the Angel, that pursued and smote the camp of Sanherib] as the chaff of the mountains by the wind, [That is, as the chaff, or, dust, which lieth upon the mountains, where the wind may easily come at. Compare Job 21:18. Psal.1.4. and 35.5. and 83.14. Hos.13.3.] and like a Clod, [Or, round bowl, or, bull, or, bottom of yarn, or, clews. Oth. As a round thing. See Psal.83.14.] by the whirl-wind.

14. At evening-tide, [Or, in the night] behold, then there is terror, [To wit, risen in the camp of Sanherib, when the destroying Angel came] before it is morning he is there no more: [He, to wit, Sanherib, who fled away, when he perceived that his army was smitten by the Angel of the Lord, 2 Kings 19:35.] This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us. [These are the words of the people of God. (This is the part, (or portion) of them that spoil us.) That is, this is the punishment, which God inflicteth upon them. See Job chap.20.on vers.29. (of them that spoil us,) Or, have trodden us underfoot.]