Isaiah 17:12 - Exposition

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 consecutive clauses.