8. groves—A symbolical tree is often found in Assyrian inscriptions, representing the hosts of heaven ("Saba"), answering to Ashteroth or Astarte, the queen of heaven, as Baal or Bel is the king. Hence the expression, "image of the grove," is explained ( :-). images—literally, "images to the sun," that is, to Baal, who answers to the sun, as Astarte to the hosts of heaven (2 Kings 23:5; Job 31:26). read more
9. forsaken bough—rather "the leavings of woods," what the axeman leaves when he cuts down the grove (compare Isaiah 17:6). which they left because of—rather, "which (the enemies) shall leave for the children of Israel"; literally, "shall leave (in departing) from before the face of the children of Israel" [MAURER]. But a few cities out of many shall be left to Israel, by the purpose of God, executed by the Assyrian. read more
10. forgotten . . . God of . . . salvation . . . rock— (Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18). plants—rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [MAURER]. set in—rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds. strange slips—cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable. read more
11. In the day . . . thy plant—rather, "In the day of thy planting" [HORSLEY]. shalt . . . make . . . grow—MAURER translates, "Thou didst fence it," namely, the pleasure-ground. The parallel clause, "Make . . . flourish," favors English Version. As soon as thou plantest, it grows. in the morning—that is, immediately after; so in Psalms 90:14, the Hebrew, "in the morning," is translated "early." but . . . shall be a heap—rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone"... read more
12. Woe . . . multitude—rather, "Ho (Hark)! a noise of," c. The prophet in vision perceives the vast and mixed Assyrian hosts (Hebrew, "many peoples," see on :-): on the hills of Judah (so "mountains," :-): but at the "rebuke" of God, they shall "flee as chaff." to the rushing . . . that make—rather, "the roaring . . . roareth" (compare Isaiah 8:7 Jeremiah 6:23). read more
13. shall . . . shall—rather, "God rebuketh (Psalms 9:5) them, and they flee—are chased"; the event is set before the eyes as actually present, not future. chaff of . . . mountains—Threshing floors in the East are in the open air on elevated places, so as to catch the wind which separates the chaff from the wheat (Psalms 88:13; Hosea 13:3). rolling thing—anything that rolls: stubble. read more
14. eventide . . . before morning—fulfilled to the letter in the destruction "before morning" of the vast host that "at eveningtide" was such a terror ("trouble") to Judah; on the phrase see Psalms 90:6; Psalms 30:5. he is not—namely, the enemy. us—the Jews. A general declaration of the doom that awaits the foes of God's people (Psalms 30:5- :). read more
The oracle against Damascus and Ephraim chs. 17-18This oracle deals with Syria (or Aram-Damascus was its capital) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim being its leading tribe), which had formed an alliance to Judah’s north in 735-732 B.C. Even though the oracle is addressed to Damascus, it focuses quickly on Israel (Isaiah 17:4). It is probably a mosaic composition alluding to events that happened over many years of Isaiah’s ministry that the prophet pieced together under divine... read more
God announced that Damascus and the cities of Syria, plus Samaria ("the fortified city," Isaiah 17:3), would soon fall. Assyria destroyed Damascus in 732 B.C. and Samaria in 722 B.C. These cities would lose their sovereignty and glory and would become grazing lands instead of population centers. Nevertheless the almighty God promised that there would be a few people left in Syria, as there would be in Ephraim (cf. Isaiah 18:7). read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 17:7
7. look to his Maker—instead of trusting in their fortresses— (Isaiah 17:3; Micah 7:7). read more