Isaiah 17:10

Observe here, (1.) The sin that had provoked God to bring so great a destruction upon that pleasant land. It was for the iniquity of those that dwelt therein.

In the midst of judgment mercy is remembered to Israel, and a gracious promise made that a remnant should be preserved from the calamities and should get good by them,

Strange slips “Shoots from a foreign soil” - The pleasant plants, and shoots from a foreign soil, are allegorical expressions for strange and idolatrous worship; vicious and abominable practices connected with it; reliance on human aid, and on alliances entered into with the neighboring nations, especially Egypt; to all which the Israelites were greatly addicted, and in their expectations from which they should be grievously disappointed.

God of . . . salvation . . . rock-- (De 32:15, 18). plants--rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [MAURER]. set in--rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds. strange slips--cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable.

Because thou ... - Because the kingdom of Israel or Samaria had done it. The God of thy salvation - The God in whom alone was salvation; or who alone could protect thee (compare Mic 7:7; Hos 2:15). The rock of thy strength - God. A rock of strength is a strongly fortified place; or a rock which an enemy could not successfully assail. High rocks were selected as a place of refuge from an invading foe (see the notes at Isa 1:10, Isa 1:21). In allusion to this, God is often called “a Rock,” and a strong tower Deu 32:4, Deu 32:15, Deu 32:18, Deu 32:30-31, Deu 32:37; 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 22:2-3, 2Sa 22:32; Psa 18:31, Psa 18:46; Psa 19:14; Psa 28:1; Psa 30:1-2. Shalt thou plant pleasant plants - Plants that are suited to produce pleasure or delight; that is, you shall cultivate your fields, and set them out with choice vines and plants in hope of a future harvest, but you shall be disappointed. And shall set it with strange slips - The word ‘slips’ means the “cuttings” of the vine that are set in the ground to grow; or the shoot or sucker that is taken off and “set out,” or put in the earth to take root and grow, as is often done by farmers and gardeners. The word ‘strange’ here means “foreign,” those which are procured from a distance, and which are, therefore, esteemed valuable; plants selected with care. This does not mean, as Lowth supposes, strange and idolatrous worship, and the vicious practices connected with it; but it means that, though they should be at great pains and expense in cultivating their land, yet the enemy would come in and make it desolate.