As we have seen these chapters are part of the portion of the Book of Isaiah which deals with Adonai’s judgment on the nations.
Introduction to Chapter 17.
Chapter 17 deals with the judgment on Syria (Aram) and Ephraim. At the time of Isaiah’s vision, Syria and Ephraim (Israel) were joined together in alliance and therefore they are dealt with together.
Isaiah’s vision sees the levelling of Damascus, the principal city of Syria, and its satellite cities. It is left as a desolate ruin. Because of their alliance with Syria, Ephraim will suffer the same fate. Ephraim will be stripped of its defences. Damascus will be stripped of its kingdom and the people stripped of their glory.
Damascus is located northwest of Mount Hermon on the main land route from Mesopotamia to Egypt. This gave it its importance. Syria’s domination, at its height, extended as far south as Aroer in Moab, east of the Dead Sea and the Arnon River.
Damascus was destroyed by the Assyrians in 733 BC and Samaria fell some ten years later.
Ephraim (the ten northern tribes) had joined with Syria for defence against Assyria. But most of its cities fell in the campaign which Syria waged. Ephraim fell because of idolatry. Within 65 years of Isaiah’s vision, they would cease to be a people. Most of them were taken captive by Assyria (2 Kings 17:6). And the country was taken over by the importation of foreign settlers into the land around 670 BC (2 Kings 17:24 and Ezra 4:2).
Verses 12 – 14 of Chapter 17 refer to Judah and the failure of Assyria to take Jerusalem because of Adonai’s intervention. The army of Sennacherib would be suddenly destroyed; between “eventide” and “morning” (Isaiah 37:36 – 38).
Further verses in chapters 17 and 18 picture 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. There is an obvious parallel here between the destruction of the Assyrian army which marched against Hezekiah and Israel in the end-times.
Chapter 17:1 – 3.
“The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be for flocks which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. The fortress will also cease from Ephraim, the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” says the Lord of Hosts.”
In his vision Isaiah sees the devastation of Damascus and its satellite cities. As we said Areor in Moab was the southernmost area of Syria’s domination. Syria and Ephraim are dealt with together because they were in alliance. The destruction will be the work of Assyria (as the instrument of Adonai) at the time of the kings Ben-Hadad the First and the Second of Syria.
Where people once lived, the land is left deserted except for flocks of animals whom no one will disturb.
Jeremiah 49:27. The words of Adonai.
“I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.”
Because of its alliance with Syria, Ephraim will be stripped of its defences. Damascus will be stripped of its kingdom and its people stripped of their glory and pride.
Damascus was destroyed by the Assyrians in 730 BC and Ephraim fell ten years later. Syria will have “remnant” after the Assyrian onslaught, but not a kingdom.
Chapter 17:4 – 6.
““In that day it shall come to pass that the glory of Jacob will wane, and the fatness of his flesh grow lean. It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, and reaps the heads with his arm; it shall be as he gathers heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in its most fruitful branches,” says the Lord God of Israel.”
In his vision, Isaiah sees the effects of the Assyrians bringing the wrath of Adonai on Ephraim. In this future judgment (“in that day”), nothing fruitful will be left in the northern kingdom. Ephraim will be decimated, disgraced and starving, with only a remnant left after the “harvesting” of its people.
In Hebrew “Rephaim” come from a root word meaning “shades” or “ghosts”. Thus, the Valley of Rephaim could be said to be “the valley of death.” Only a pitifully small remnant will be left.
Chapter 17:7 – 8.
“In that day a man will look to his maker, and his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands; he will not respect what his fingers have made, nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.”
The prophet Hosea foretold the demise of Ephraim because of idolatry (chapter 4:17 – 19), “Ephraim is joined to idols … and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.”
But there will be change. At last, there will be a remnant in Ephraim who will trust in the Holy One of Israel. The verb translated simple as “look” in these verses, could meaningly be translated as “look with interest” or “look with favour”.
The “altars” and “the works of his hands” refer to pagan worship and such items as Asherah poles. Baal worship was widespread among the Canaanite peoples involving such matters as temple prostitution. But that has ended for the remnant of Ephraim.
Hosea 3:5.
“Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.”
Isaiah 31:7.
“For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold – sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.”
Chapter 17:9 – 11.
“In that day the strong cities will be as a forsaken bough and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel; and there will be desolation. Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold. Therefore you will plant pleasant plants and set out foreign seedlings; in that day you will make your plant to grow, and in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; but the harvest will be a heap of ruins in the day of grief and desperate sorrow.”
Ephraim’s strong, fortified cities will be laid waste; fragile as a little branch. Both Ephraim and Syria will be abandoned. The people of Ephraim had committed every sin which had warned them not to. They had also forgotten that Adonai had saved them from slavery. Failure to remember Adonai, will leave Ephraim unprotected. Isaiah seeks to remind his readers of the futility of trying to meet their needs without the Lord’s help.
Deuteronomy 8:11 – 19. The words of Moses.
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I commanded you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage … if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”
In verse 11 of Chapter 17, the phrase “make your plant to grow” may allude to the ancient practice of force-growing potted plants and allowing them to die. Pagan belief was that this re-enacted the life cycle and would secure fertile fields.
But even after performing this rite, “the harvest will be a heap of ruins”. Just as the Lord’s choice vines disappointed Him (Chapter 5:1 – 7). So, His errant people would find their harvest hopes shattered. Because Adonai’s people had forgotten Him and turned to foreign “seedlings” i.e., foreign alliances, religions and customs. For this reason, the harvest would be disastrous.
Chapter 17:12 – 14.
“Woe to the multitude of many people who make a noise like the roar of the seas, and to the rushing of nations that make a rushing like the rushing of many waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters; but God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who rob us.”
Isaiah now turns to the coming armies of Judah’s enemies, “the multitude of many peoples” and he pronounces “woe” upon them. The use of the terms, “seas” and “mighty waters”, speak of shame and death. But Adonai will deal with them.
Isaiah 41:11.
“Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.”
Suddenly these enemies are turned back by Adonai who puts them to flight. When morning comes the invading force has disappeared. Adonai protects His people. The army of Sennacherib of Assyria would be destroyed between “eventide” and morning.
2 Kings 19:35 and 36. (see also Isaiah 37: 36 – 38)
“And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning there were the corpses – all dead”.
These invading armies are compared to “chaff” which lacks life and stability. The chaff was winnowed on windy “mountains” or hilltops. Adonai judges the unrelenting roaring seas; the nations that troubled His people. They will become like mere tumbleweed rolling before “the whirlwind” of Adonai’s judgment.
Compare this with the end-times invasion of Israel in Revelation Chapter 19
Introduction to Isaiah Chapter 18.
This chapter deals with the judgment against Ethiopia (known as Cush in scripture). This was the southern-most part of Isaiah’s world. A Cushite dynasty took over Egypt in 715 BC and possibly sent ambassadors to Jerusalem.
Cush was a grandson of Noah, and the country was an ancient kingdom. Moses married a Cushite woman. Later Cush was subjugated by the Assyrians under Ahasuerus.
Cush lay to the south of Egypt including territory belonging to Ethiopia and Sudan and part of what is now Egypt.
In verse 7 of chapter 18, the pronouncement of judgment against the Cushites, foretells a remnant in the Messianic kingdom who will worship Adonai. Desolation will bring peace with Israel and the worship of Adonai. But before then: –
Isaiah 20:4.
“… so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives…”
Isaiah 43: 3.
“For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.”
In the kingdom, there will be peace between Israel and Ethiopia because of conquest and conversion.
Isaiah 45:14.
“The labour of Egypt and merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; they shall walk behind you, they shall come over in chains; and they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you saying, “Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.”
Chapter 18:1 and 2.
“Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, which sends ambassadors by sea, even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying,” Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide.”
It is suggested that the “buzzing wings” refers to the flapping of the sails of the substantial Ethiopian fleet. “The sea” may refer to the River Nile and “the rivers” to its various tributaries.
So, it is suggested that the Ethiopians are sending ambassadors up the Nile attempting to find allies (notably Egypt) on the way to face Assyria.
Why would the Egyptians be referred to as “smooth of skin”? Apparently, it was an Egyptian custom to shave the entire body.
But as we have seen, Ethiopian efforts to avoid destruction are doomed to fail (Isaiah 20:4, Ezekiel 30:4). The Lord’s judgment is inescapable.
Ezekiel 30:4.
“… great anguish shall be in Ethiopia.”
Zephaniah 2:12.
“You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by My sword.”
Chapter18 verses 3 and 4.
“All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: when he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it, and when he blows a trumpet, you hear it. For so the Lord said to me, ”I will take my rest, and I will look from My dwelling place like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
In these verses the prophet turns his attention to address the entire human race; warning them to be alert for the signals that Adonai is at work in the world (verse 4).
Nations will continue to prey upon His chosen people and for a time, Adonai will watch silently. The Lord will wait patiently until the appropriate time (of His choosing), before intervening in human affairs. The prophet uses the analogy of appropriate climatic conditions (“sunshine” and “dew”) to illustrate Adonai’s chosen timing.
We can compare this warning to the world with the warning to Israel in Isaiah Chapter 5:24 – 26.
“Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people … He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, and will whistle to them from the end of the earth; surely they will come with speed, swiftly.”
Chapter 18: 5,6.
“For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripened in the flower, He will both cut out the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey and for the beasts of the earth; the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.”
Having bided His time, Adonai will act against the nations which have preyed upon His people. As an all-wise farmer, Adonai’s pruning activity (i.e., His direct intervention) will be neither too early nor too late.
The dead bodies of the slain (which will be numerous) shall be left together for the scavenging birds of the mountains and the beast of the earth to consume. These dead are the victims of Adonai’s judgment.
Chapter 18 :7
“In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth of skin, and from a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide – to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, to Mount Zion.”
So, what is this “present” for the Lord of hosts?
Psalm 68:31
“Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.”
The answer would therefore seem to be (and what other gift could Adonai be given), worshipping converts for the Holy One of Israel from Ethiopia and that part of Africa.
Jerusalem, of course, is “the place of the name of the Lord of hosts”. Jerusalem was and remains the place on earth where the Lord has chosen to dwell. Isaiah’s vision here stretches to the distant future when the peoples of the world bring tribute to Jerusalem, the capital of Messiah’s kingdom.
Malachi 1:11.
“” From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, a pure offering, for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.”