Isaiah 17:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-5

We have here the burden of Damascus; the Chaldee paraphrase reads it, The burden of the cup of the curse to drink to Damascus in; and, the ten tribes being in alliance, they must expect to pledge Damascus in this cup of trembling that is to go round. 1. Damascus itself, the head city of Syria, must be destroyed; the houses, it is likely, will be burnt, as least the walls, and gates, and fortifications demolished, and the inhabitants carried away captive, so that for the present it is taken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:5

And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn ,.... The "standing" corn, as in the Hebrew text: "and reapeth the ears with his arm"; or "his arm reaps the ears" F15 וזרעו שבלים יקצור "et brachium ejus spicas demeteret", Junius & Tremellius; "demetit", Piscator, &c.; ; that is, with one hand he gathers the standing corn into his fist, and then reaps it with his other arm; and just so it should be with the people of Israel: they were like a field of standing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 17:5

As when the harvestman gathereth "As when one gathereth" - That is, the king of Assyria shall sweep away the whole body of the people, as the reaper strippeth off the whole crop of corn; and the remnant shall be no more in proportion than the scattered ears left to the gleaner. The valley of Rephaim near Jerusalem was celebrated for its plentiful harvest; it is here used poetically for any fruitful country. One MS., and one ancient edition, has באסף beesoph , "In gathering," instead of ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-6

Reduction. In the spoliation and consequent decrepitude of Damascus and Samaria we have a picture of— I. A NATION DENUDED OF ITS POWER . Under the judgments of Jehovah the proud city of Damascus becomes a "ruinous heap" ( Isaiah 17:1 ), the populous towns are pasturage of herds and flocks ( Isaiah 17:2 ), the strong places are reduced to utter weakness like the departed glory of Israel ( Isaiah 17:3 ); under his judgment Ephraim also shall waste away, shall be as barren... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-8

Damascus and Israel. The present oracle bids us turn to a different scene—to the famed city and territory of Damascus. It lies in the vast rich plain east of Mount Antilibanus, on the border of the desert. Through the plain flows the river Barada, probably the Abaca in which Naaman delighted. "In the midst of the plain lies at your feet the vast lake or island of deep verdure—walnuts and apricots waving above, corn and grass below; and in the midst of the mass of foliage rises, striking... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:4-11

A DENUNCIATION OF WOE ON ISRAEL , COMBINED WITH THE PROMISE OF A REMNANT . Israel, having united herself with Syria to resist the Assyrians, will incur a similar fate. Her glory will decay, her population dwindle and almost disappear. Still there will be a few left, who, under the circumstances, will turn to God ( Isaiah 17:7 ). But it will be too late for anything like a national recovery; the laud will remain "a desolation" on account of the past sins of its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:5

As when the harvestman gathereth the corn . Death is the "harvestman" here, and gathers the Israelites by shocks, or sheaves, into his garner. A great depopulation appears in 2 Kings 17:25 , where we learn that lions so multiplied in the land as to become a terror to the few inhabitants. Reapeth the ears . Mr. Cheyne well remarks that the "ears" only were reaped, the stalk being cut close under the ear. This was the practice also in Egypt. In the valley of Rephaim . The valley of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 17:5

And it shall be ... - This is the other figure by which the prophet sets forth the calamities that were coming upon Ephraim - an image designed to denote the fact that the inhabitants and wealth of the land would be collected and removed, as the farmer gathers his harvest, and leaves only that which is inaccessible in the upper boughs of the tree, or the gleanings in the field.As when the harvest-man gathereth the corn - The wheat, the barley, etc.; for so the word “corn” - now applied by us... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 17:3-6

Isaiah 17:3-6. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim The meaning may be, that Damascus being destroyed, that fortress or protection, in which the Ephraimites had placed their confidence, should be taken; or, that at what time Damascus should be overthrown, and deprived of all government and power, the Ephraimites also should be weakened, and deprived of their chief fortresses by the Assyrians; which latter seems to be the true sense: see Hosea 10:14; Micah 1:6. The reader will observe,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-14

Syria and Israel condemned (17:1-14)This message belongs to the time of Ahaz, when Israel and Syria joined forces to attack Judah. The two attackers will themselves be destroyed (17:1-3). Israel in particular will suffer, because the nation has turned away from God. Throughout the nation, however, the scattered few remain faithful to God and these will be spared. They are likened to the odd pieces of fruit that remain on the trees after the harvest has been gathered (4-6).The judgments will be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 17:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:4-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 17:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 17:3-6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:1-14

Group of Brands