View Isaiah 17 in the note window.
Damascus, Samaria, Israel, and their cities, to be ruined by the
Assyrians, ver. 1 - 5.
A remnant shall consider and repent, ver. 6 - 8.
The rest plagued for their impiety, ver. 9 - 11.
The woe of Israel's enemies, ver. 12 - 14.
1: Damascus - Both of that city and kingdom. A heap - This was
fulfilled by Tiglath - pilneser, (2Ki 16:9), although afterwards
it was re - edified.
2: Aroer - Of that part of Syria, called Aroer, from a great
city of that name. These cities were possessed by the Reubenites
and Gadites, whom Tiglath - pilneser carried into captivity,(1Ch 5:26).
These he mentions here, as he doth Ephraim in the next verse, because
they were confederate with Syria against Judah. Afraid - Because
the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
3: The fortress - All their fortresses; the singular number being
put for the plural. Remnant - The remainders of Damascus and Syria
shall be an headless body, a people without a king. Of Israel - Syria
shall have as much glory as Israel; that is, neither of them shall
have any at all.
5: Gathereth - Taking care, as far as may be, that all may be
gathered in, and nothing left. So shall the whole body of the ten tribes
be carried away captive, some few gleanings only being left. Rephaim - A
very fruitful place near Jerusalem.
6: Yet - Some few Israelites were left after their captivity, who
joined themselves to Judah, and were carried captive to Babylon with
them, from whence also they returned with them.
7: A man - Those few men that are left. Look - They shall sincerely
respect, and trust, and worship God, and God only.
8: Not look - Not trust to them, or to worship offered to idols upon
them. The work - Their own inventions. Groves - Which were devised by
men, as fit places for the worship of their gods. Images - Worshipped
in their groves.
9: In - The day of Jacob's trouble, of which he spake ver.(4).
Uppermost branch - Which he that prunes the tree neglects, because he
esteems it useless and inconsiderable. Left - Which they (the
Canaanites) left or forsook because of (or for fear of)
the children of Israel. And this was a fit example, to awaken the
Israelites to a serious belief of this threatening, because God had
inflicted the same judgment upon the Canaanites, for the same sins of
which they were guilty.
10: Thou - O Israel. The rock - That God who was thy only sure
defence. Plants - Excellent flowers and fruit - trees. Strange - Fetched
from far countries, and therefore highly esteemed.
11: In the day - Thou shalt from day to day, beginning early in the
morning, use all diligence that what thou hast planted may thrive.
But - When this grievous calamity shall come, all your harvest shall be
but one heap.
12: Woe - This is a new prophecy, added for the comfort of God's
people. Many - Combined together against Judah. Seas - Who invade
my land and people with great force, as the sea does when it enters
into the land by a breach.
14: Behold - At even there is great terror among God's people, for
fear of their enemies; and before the morning comes, their enemies are
cut off.
