Introduction
THE FIFTH WOE.
The poem or prophecy here introduced closes the series of woes which began with chapter 28, each woe forming a text for discourse respectively, concerning the destruction of Samaria, (chap. 28,) the impiety and folly of Judah, (chap. xxix,) the danger of its league with Egypt, (chaps. 30, 31,) and the present one, against the Assyrian power and the enemies of God’s people generally, chap. 33. This last was written continuously with the preceding, and probably about the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, at the time when danger to Jerusalem seemed greatest; that is, when (2 Kings, chap. 19) Sennacherib would make no terms. He had devastated the land generally, and now threatened Jerusalem if unconditional surrender were not made at once. It is interesting to observe that in each of these woes the element of promise to Judah gains. This is due to the gradual reforms under Hezekiah, despite of some mistakes he made, as well as of the almost desperate odds he had to contend with in the early part of his reign.
Woe to thee The spoiler, whose turn to be himself spoiled is just at hand. Little does the Assyrian king think this. Little hope is now left to the people of Jerusalem, except earnest, importunate prayer, to which, in the words (or the like) of the prophet, they resort.
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