Isaiah 17:12-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 17:12-14

These verses read the doom of those that spoil and rob the people of God. If the Assyrians and Israelites invade and plunder Judah, if the Assyrian army take God's people captive and lay their country waste, let them know that ruin will be their lot and portion. They are here brought in, 1. Triumphing over the people of God. They relied upon their numbers. The Assyrian army was made up out of divers nations: it was the multitude of many people (Isa. 17:12), by which weight they hoped to carry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:12

Woe to the multitude of many people ,..... Not as lamenting the people of the Jews with Hezekiah, as if they were the words of the prophet bemoaning their condition, saying, "O the multitude", &c.; nor intending the Syrians and Israelites joined together against Judah; but the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, which consisted of people of many nations, and was very numerous, who are either threatened or called unto. A new subject is here begun, though a short one. which make a noise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:13

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters ,.... With great force and noise, and run over the whole land, as the Assyrian army did, until it came to Jerusalem, and there it stopped; see Isaiah 8:7 , but God shall rebuke them ; as he did the waters of the Red Sea, Psalm 106:9 and as Christ rebuked the winds and sea, and made a calm, Matthew 8:26 . The word "God" is not in the text, but rightly supplied; for as none but he can rebuke the mighty waters of the sea, so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 17:12

Wo to the multitude - The three last verses of this chapter seem to have no relation to the foregoing prophecy, to which they are joined. It is a beautiful piece, standing singly and by itself; for neither has it any connection with what follows: whether it stands in its right place, or not, I cannot say. It is a noble description of the formidable invasion and the sudden overthrow of Sennacherib; which is intimated in the strongest terms and the most expressive images, exactly suitable to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:12

Woe to the multitude of many people ; rather, Ho for the tumult of many peoples! The advance of an army composed of soldiers from many nations is descried. They advance with noise and tumult—a tumult compared with that of "seas that are tumultuous." Under the circumstances of the time, it is reasonable to suppose the Assyrians to be intended (comp. Isaiah 22:6 , Isaiah 22:7 ). The rushing sound of the advance is borne in strongly upon the prophet's mind, and made the subject of three... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:12-14

A PROPHECY AGAINST ASSYRIA . This passage is, apparently, out of place. At any rate, it is quite unconnected with what precedes, and almost equally so with what follows. Still, it must be borne in mind that, until the destruction of Sennacherib's army, Isaiah has the thought of the Assyrians, as the pressing danger, always before him, and continually reverts to it, often abruptly, and without preparation (see Isaiah 5:26-30 ; Isaiah 7:17-25 ; Isaiah 8:5-8 ; Isaiah 10:5-19 , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:12-14

Sounds from afar. In the distance the prophet hears a vague tumult, like that of the sea with its roaring, incoming tide. It is the noise of the invading host. Readers will recollect the powerful passage describing the eve of the battle of Waterloo—the dull distant sound repeated until the conviction flashes, "It is—it is—the cannon's opening roar!" So does the prophet listen to the uproar of the advancing Assyrians. I. THE POETIC REPRESENTATION . It is one of sublimity and terror,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:12-14

The overthrow of the enemies of God. I. THAT THE ENEMIES OF GOD 'S PEOPLE ARE THE ENEMIES OF GOD HIMSELF . "God will rebuke" those who come up against his people to spoil and to rob them. Those who assail Israel come beneath his ban, and are subject to his "woe." Jesus Christ taught nothing more plainly or emphatically than that they who befriended his disciples were, in his estimation, befriending him ( Matthew 10:40-42 ; Matthew 25:40 ). It is equally true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:13

God shall rebuke them ; literally, he shall rebuke them—he who alone can do so. There is no need to mention his name. They shall flee far off . The destruction of the great bulk of Sennacherib's army in the night was followed, as soon as morning came, by the hasty flight of the survivors ( 2 Kings 19:36 ; Isaiah 37:37 ). And shall be chased. Herodotus says that the Egyptians pursued the army of Sennacherib and slew vast numbers (2:141). As the chaff of the mountains (comp. Hosea... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 17:12

Wo to the multitude ... - The word ‘woe’ (הוי hôy) may be either an interjection simply directing the attention to them, or it may be a word indicating approaching calamity and judgment (see the note at Isaiah 5:6). Gesenius supposes that it is rather the language of compassion, on account of the evil which they threatened to bring upon the people of God, like 1 Kings 13:30, ‘Ah! wo, my brother!’The multitude of many people - Or, the tumult of many nations - a description of the noise... read more

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