Isaiahchapter 17

14 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 246 cross-references outward and receives 153 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Damascus is taken away from being a city and becomes a ruinous heap — but this burden binds Syria and northern Israel together: the fortress ceases from Ephraim as the kingdom ceases from Damascus, and the glory of Jacob is made thin. Harvest images carry the judgment: a reaper in the valley of Rephaim, an olive tree shaken until only two or three berries remain in the top boughs. In that day men look to their Maker, the Holy One of Israel, and away from altars, Asherim, and sun-images their own fingers made — for Israel has forgotten the God of its salvation and planted pleasant plants whose harvest flees in the day of grief. The chapter closes with roaring nations rushing like mighty waters, rebuked and chased like chaff: terror at eventide, gone before morning.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

3 And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith Jehovah of hosts.

4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing grain, and his arm reapeth the ears; yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

6 Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as the shaking of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost branches of a fruitful tree, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.

7 In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

8 And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.

9 In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.