Isaiah 17:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 17:9-11

Here the prophet returns to foretel the woeful desolations that should be made in the land of Israel by the army of the Assyrians. 1. That the cities should be deserted. Even the strong cities, which should have protected the country, shall not be able to protect themselves: They shall be as a forsaken bough and an uppermost branch of an old tree, which has gone to decay, is forsaken of its leaves, and appears on the top of the tree, bare, and dry, and dead; so shall their strong cities look... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 17:9

In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch ,.... Meaning the strong cities of Ephraim or Jacob, the ten tribes, which should be forsaken of their inhabitants; having fled from before the enemy, or being slain or carried captive; like a bough of a tree, that is forsaken stripped of its leaves, and an uppermost branch of a tree that is dead and dry, and has nothing on it: which they left ; or "as they left", or "were left": because of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 17:9

As a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch "the Hivites and the Amorites" - והאמיר החרש hachoresh vehaamir . No one has ever yet been able to make any tolerable sense of these words. The translation of the Septuagint has happily preserved what seems to be the true reading of the text, as it stood in the copies of their time; though the words are now transposed, either in the text or in their Version; οἱ Αμαρῥαιοι και οἱ Ευαιοι , "the Amorites and the Hivites." It is remarkable... 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 17:6-11

National repentance may come too late to avert national ruin. The crisis of a nation's fate is brought on by slow degrees, and results from a multitude of acts, each one of which, when once done, is past recall. Up to a certain point there is a possibility of retrieval. "Tout peut se retablir," as a great monarch of our own time said. The modes of action that have brought the state into difficulties may be renounced, or even reversed; and recovery may set in as a natural consequence of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:9

In that day . While a remnant of the Israelites shall repent and turn to God, throwing in their lot with Judah, as it would seem the country generally shall feel the weight of God's chastening hand, on account of Israel's former sins and offences. As a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch ; rather, as the forsaken tract of woodland and mountain-crest (Kay). The reference is to the condition of the land when it passed out of the possession of the Canaanitish nations. It was then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 17:9-11

Forgetfulness of God and its consequences. I. GOD AS AN OBJECT OF THE SOUL 'S ATTENTION . He is the "God of men's salvation." His Name calls up all those ideas of power, of grace, of goodness, necessary to the Deliverer, the Savior. To acknowledge that such a Being exists is not enough; the eye of the spirit must be turned to him, its gaze fixed upon him, its ear bent towards the place of his holy oracle. Micah says in evil times, "I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 17:9

His strong cities - The cities of the united kingdoms of Damascus and Samaria.Be as a forsaken bough - There has been much difficulty in the interpretation of this passage. Lowth says, ‘No one has ever been able to make any tolerable sense of these words;’ and proposes himself the translation,In that day shall his strongly fenced cities becomeLike the desertion of the Hivites and the Amorites;Following in this the translation of the Septuagint, but doing violence to the Hebrew text. Rosenmuller... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 17:9

Isaiah 17:9. In that day The day of Jacob’s trouble, of which he spake, Isaiah 17:4; shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough The cities belonging to the ten tribes shall stand solitary and destitute of inhabitants, all the country about them being destroyed; and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel “The sense,” says Lowth, “is here imperfect: most expositors understand the words of the Assyrians, that they left some cities with a few inhabitants... 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

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