Isaiah chapter 33 contains the sixth and final “woe” of this section (from chapter 28). It differs from the others as it is addressed, not to Israel, but to Assyria (“the plunderer”).

By focusing on Assyria’s defeat and Judah’s salvation, the prophet magnifies Judah’s exalted King. We can note this specifically in verses 3, 5 and 10).

This woe oracle commences with an introduction to the main theme (the defeat of Assyria) in verses 1 – 6. The prophet then switches his emphasis to Judah’s need for salvation and the Lord’s response to that need (verses 7 – 13). The Lord’s spiritual impact on sinners is covered in verses 14 – 16. And the chapter concludes with a description of the majestic King in His glory and beauty (verses 17 – 24).

Outline of chapter 33.

Verses 1 – 6. Adonai turns the destructiveness and treachery of the nation of Assyria back on it.

Verses 7 – 9. The prophet returns to the failed mission of King Hezekiah who sent ambassadors to Sennacherib of Assyria to offer tribute in exchange for peace.

Verses 10 – 12. Adonai deals with His foes.

Verses 13 – 16. The fire of Adonai’s judgment.

Verses 17 – 19. Only a harmless memory will be left of this moment of terror.

Verses 20 – 22. The millennial Zion.

Verses 23 – 24. In the kingdom, the iniquity of the people will be forgiven and there will be no sickness.

Verses 1 – 6. Adonai will turn the destructiveness of the nation of Assyria back on itself.

Verse 1.

“Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; and you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, you will be plundered; when you make an end to dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you.”

This, of course, refers to Assyria who broke treaties and invaded its neighbours.

King Hezekiah of Judah (2 Kings 18: 13 – 17) paid tribute to Assyria of 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold to sue for peace (He took the precious metals from the temple).

Despite this payment, Sennacherib still came against Jerusalem plundering the rest of Judah on his way.

Whilst this verse refers to Assyria, we can see the same principle for any nation that came against Israel.

Habakkuk 2: 8.

“Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.”

Arrogant Assyria will be judged.

Isaiah 10: 12.

“Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”

Assyria will be destroyed.

Isaiah 14: 25.

“I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains trample him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”

It is the Lord who will dispose of them.

Isaiah 31: 8.

“Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labour.”

Verse 2.

“O Lord be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.”

The faithful remnant (including Isaiah) in the besieged city of Jerusalem, have waited for the Lord in prayer.

They plead with Adonai to be their “arm”; the defender of His servants. They seek deliverance in this time of trouble.

The prayer of King Hezekiah.

Isaiah 37: 20.

“Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

The remnant recognised the importance of waiting with patient expectation on the Lord.

Isaiah 40: 31.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Adonai gives His protection to those who wait on Him.

Isaiah 25: 9.

“And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.””

To receive rescue by Adonai, Isaiah had made this plea to the people:

Isaiah 31: 6.

“Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.”

Verse 3.

“At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee; when You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered …”

The “tumult” is the noise caused by the voice of Adonai, as He demonstrates His power causing the nations to scatter leaving their spoil behind (which is what Sennacherib did).

The power of Adonai.

Numbers 10: 35.

“Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.”

The power of Adonai is irresistible.

Isaiah 17: 13.

“The nations will 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!”

Verse 4.

“And Your plunder shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar; as the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.”

The Assyrians in their terror will abandon their camp and what they had gathered through pillage. Their loot will be scooped up by Judah. It will be gathered swiftly and completely.

The “caterpillar” and the “locusts” can strip a field in no time. So, the Lord’s judgment will come quickly and without warning.

The “plunder” of the Lord’s war with His enemies belongs to Him; the true victor.

Isaiah 23: 18.

“Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.”

Verse 5.

“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.”

When Adonai demonstrates His might, He will be exalted above all. He will be known as sovereign over all creation. He will demonstrate “justice and righteousness” i.e., true justice; the justice of the messianic kingdom.

The people will recognize the true nature of Adonai.

Psalm 97: 9.

“For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.”

Verse 6.

“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.”

This verse looks forward to the messianic kingdom. It is inspired by the same Spirit which moves in Messiah. The same qualities possessed by Messiah will belong to His people and characterise the city when He has returned.

With the Lord Yeshua enthroned in Zion, the city will be full of “wisdom and knowledge”. The reverent worship of the Lord and adoration of Him will be the people’s treasure and His. This will all be made possible by the Lord Yeshua.

Isaiah 11: 2.

“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

Verses 7 – 9. The prophet returns to King Hezekiah’s failed mission of sending ambassadors of peace to Sennacherib of Assyria paying over 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold (2 Kings 18: 13 – 16).

Verses 7 – 8.

“Surely the valiant ones shall cry outside, the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the travelling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no man.”

These are the men who were sent.

Isaiah 36: 3.

“And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder …” (For the judgment on Shebna see Chapter 22: 15 – 25).

The term “valiant ones” is distinctly ironic. Despite their efforts Assyria was determined to attack Jerusalem. They wept bitterly at the situation when their “gift” did not avert this attack. This is the treachery of the Assyrian mentioned in verse 1. They would move against Judah leaving a trail of havoc and suffering. The enemy would cut off the city; all travel and trade suspended.

Verse 9.

“The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shrivelled; Sharon is like a wilderness, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.”

Lebanon was known for its forests. Sharon is a fertile pastoral region south of Mount Carmel. Bashan is a broad fertile plateau east of the Jordan.

These scenic and fertile regions have been laid waste and spoiled by the Assyrians.

Verses 10 –12. Adonai deals with His foes.

Verse 10.

“Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “Now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up.”

The repetition of the word “now” indicates that Adonai has decided that the time is right to deal with the foe.

He is about to assume the authority described in verses 5 and 6.

When the oppressor’s power had reached its zenith, the time was right for the Lord to assert His will in judging the plunderer.

Psalm 12: 5.

“For the oppressor of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

Isaiah 2: 19. The might of Adonai.

“They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth mightily.”

Verse 11.

“You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring forth stubble; your breath as fire shall devour you.”

The “you” referred to here are the Assyrians. In biting sarcasm, Isaiah describes them as “chaff” and “bringing forth stubble”, i.e., their schemes will be futile, and Adonai will consume them quickly.

This reaffirms verse 1 which stated that the plunderer would be plundered.

Psalm 7: 14.

“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.”

Verse 12.

“And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire.”

The phrases “burnings of lime” and the cut up thorns “burned in the fire”, indicate total destruction. All that is left after burning lime is a dust. And cut up thorns burn rapidly.

Thus, we have the same kind of terror imposed on others by the Assyrians coming upon them.

Isaiah 9: 18. Punishment as a devouring fire.

“For wickedness burns as the fire; it shall devour the briers and the thorns, and kindle in the thickets of the forest; they shall mount up like rising smoke.”

Verses 13 – 16. The fire of Adonai’s judgment.

Verse 13.

“Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might.”

This is a call to acknowledge Adonai as sovereign.

Isaiah 34: 1.

“Come near, you nations to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth from it …”

In verse 13, those who are “afar off” are the Gentile nations. And those who are “near” are the apostate people of Judah. The warning is for all that the mighty judgment of Adonai is coming.

Psalm 48: 10.

“According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.”

Verse 14.

“The sinners of Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

When wilful sinners and the double-minded comprehend the might of Adonai fear will take hold of them. They know that they are in peril. The only ones who will survive the judgment of Adonai are those who live righteously and separate themselves from sin.

Deuteronomy 4: 24. Adonai as a devouring fire.

“For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.”

Isaiah 30: 30. He does not come quietly in judgment.

“The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones.”

Acts 5: 11. When He acts comes great fear e.g. the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.

“So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.”

Verse 15.

“He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressors, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil …”

This is the detailed answer to the questions posed in verse 14. Only the righteous will survive in the presence of Almighty God.

It should be noted that to “stop the ears” and “shut the eyes”, does not imply ignoring evil.

Rather they are a call to ensure that one has no part in or participation in evil.

Scripture is full of advice on how to walk righteously.

Psalm 1: 1 – 2.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful …”

Psalm 15: 1 – 3.

“Lord who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour. Nor does he take a reproach against his friend …”

Psalm 24: 3 – 4.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully …”

Isaiah 58: 6 – 7. Fasting that pleases Adonai.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him …”

Because we have been saved by the Lord, we seek to do that which pleases Him but remembering that salvation is by faith not by works.

1 Thessalonians 5: 9.

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us …”

Verse 16.

“He will dwell on high; his place of defence will be a fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure.”

Those persons who are right with Adonai will enjoy perfect security and ample provision. They will dwell “on high”. The righteous will live with Adonai in His excellent lofty place.

Isaiah 32: 15 – 18. The excellence of the millennial kingdom.

“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest … the work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places …”

Verses 17 – 19. Only a harmless memory will be left of the terror they have known.

Verse 17.

“Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off.”

The King, of course, is the Lord Yeshua. Seeing Him in His glory will be the reward of the righteous. The near future deliverance from Sennacherib anticipates a more distant wonder; when Messiah will sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem and the land of Israel will be much expanded.

Isaiah 26: 15.

“You have increased the nation, O Lord, you have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land.”

Psalm 27: 4. The beauty of the Lord.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”

Verse 18.

“Your heart will meditate on terror: “Where is the scribe? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?”

In the future the people will only have a harmless memory of this time of trouble. They will remember the scribe who weighed out the silver and gold for tribute to Sennacherib (2 Kings 18: 14). They will remember the Assyrians counting the towers of the city in preparation for their attack. But the hardship they experienced under foreign domination will be gone.

Verse 19.

“You will not see a fierce people, a people of obscure speech, beyond perception, of a stammering tongue that you cannot understand.”

Israel had been warned that disobedience to Adonai would bring curse upon them. Now they knew that for sure.

Deuteronomy 28: 47 – 50.

“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord your God will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness and in need of everything … The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favour to the young.”

Jeremiah 5: 15.

“Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” says the Lord. “It is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.”

Verses 20 – 22. The millennial kingdom.

Verse 20.

“Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, a tabernacle that will not be taken down; not one of its stakes will ever be removed, nor will any of its cords be broken.”

In the millennial Zion the feasts will be celebrated in the hearts of the people, not in a perfunctory way.

Isaiah 30: 29.

“You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel.”

Thus Zion will be secure, “a tabernacle that will not be taken down”.

Adonai’s presence will permanently inhabit the restored Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom.

Psalm 125: 1 – 2.

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”

Verses 21 and 22.

“But there the majestic Lord will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will sail, nor majestic ships pass by (For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us) …”

Israel will be protected by the Lord. Figuratively its protection is likened to broad rivers and streams.

Cities like Tyre and Thebes (or Amon) were protected by waterways.

However, no enemies will approach Israel because the Lord Himself will protect her. He will also provide refreshment and bounty.

Isaiah 2: 2 – 4.

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above all the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

Verses 23 and 24. In the kingdom, the iniquity of the people will be forgiven and there will be no sickness.

Verse 23.

“Your tackle is loosed, they could not strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail. Then the prey of great plunder is divided; the lame take the prey.”

Commentators disagree on the meaning of this verse.

It possibly refers to Jerusalem and its need for the Lord. In her own strength, she is as helpless as a ship deprived of its ropes and pulleys, preventing the setting of sails. But the Lord enables the weak city to defend itself from invaders and there is spoil even for the weakest.

Verse 24.

“And the inhabitant will not say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity.”

Verse 24 seems to continue to talk of Jerusalem in the kingdom.

When the Lord reigns in Zion, the city will be free from physical and spiritual problems. Sickness and sin will be removed.

Isaiah 40: 2.

“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand double for her sins.”

Jeremiah 50: 20.

“In those days and in that time,” says the Lord, “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve.”