Isaiah 17:1-3 - Exposition

THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS . The eye of the prophet travels northwards from Moab, and, passing over Ammon as an enemy of small account, rests once more upon Damascus, already threatened in Isaiah 7:1-9 , and probably already partially punished. Damascus is seen once more in alliance with Ephraim ( Isaiah 7:3 ), and the two are joined with a new power, Aroer ( Isaiah 7:2 ), which possesses several "cities." Woe is denounced on all the three powers: desolation on Damascus and Aroer; on Damascus and Ephraim, the complete loss of the last shadow of independence. The Assyrian inscriptions point out, as the probable date of the prophecy, the commencement of Sargun's reign—about B.C. 722 or 721.