ASSYRIA ATTACKS JUDAH THE ARROGANT ASSYRIA CONDEMNED This chapter includes two woes: The first woe is against the people’s leadership because of their evil. The second woe is against Assyria, because when God allowed it to attack Judah to chastise it, Assyria got arrogant and haughty toward God, and blasphemed Him; assuming that its own gods had overcome the God of Israel. Some believe that this chapter was written in the first years of the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, after the fall of Samaria in the hand of Sargon, king of Assyria (Is. 10: 11). 1. The first woe against the leaderships 1-4. 2. The second woe against Assyria 5-19. 3. The remnant that escaped from Israel 20-23. 4. O, My people do not be afraid 24-27. 5. The Assyrian attack on Judah 28-32. 6. Fall of Assyria 33-34. 1. THE FIRSTWOE AGAINST THE LEADERSHIPS Some believe that this woe, directed to the leaderships here, is a continuation to what came in the previous chapter concerning the arrogance of Israel, basing their assumption on the fact that it also ended by that same phrase: “For all His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (Is. 9: 12, 17, 21; 10: 4). These words are thus directed to the ten tribes (Israel). Yet, the rest of it is directed to Jerusalem the capital of Judah. Some scholars believe that these woes apply to the leaderships of the two kingdoms, as they are similar in evil. God exposes the unrighteous ‘decrees’ of these leaders, demonstrated in ‘prescribing misfortune’ (Is. 10: 1) and “robbing the needy of justice, and taking what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey.” (Is. 10: 2) And as said by Solomon: “Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the son. And Look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter... On the side of their oppressors there was power.” (Ecclesiastes 4: 1) And now, as Isaiah apprehends God’s justice, especially in His defense of the weak, he asks these leaders: “What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? In addition, where will you leave your glory? Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain.” (Is. 10: 3, 4) Punishment will surely come, especially for both the civil and religious leaderships; that are indisputable facts, as said before: “Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” (Is. 3: 11) They will find no help, as what helps us is our mercy and compassion toward others. Their glories will disappear, as they were concerned with the world and not with God. Some of them will fall prisoners, to bow down in humiliation among the captives, and some will be killed when Assyria attacks, to fall among the slain. The same way they trampled the rights of the weak, others will trample them upon. Despite all that, God still stretches his loving hand to save them from their evil: “For all His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (Is. 10: 4). 2. THE SECOND WOE AGAINST ASSYRIA The prophet previously talked about the military might of Assyria, and its conquests, even of God’s people. He confirmed as well that what happened to the people was allowed by God for the purpose of chastisement. However, Assyria got arrogant toward God, and assumed that it humiliated, and had the upper hand over the God of this people. That is why God comes to punish the proud and arrogant Assyria. The prophet Isaiah used to talk boldly and plainly, so while he calls Assyria: “The rod of God’s anger, and the staff in whose hand is His indignation,” (Is. 10: 5, we find him calling God’s people “ungodly nation,” and, “People of My wrath” (Is. 10: 6); on account of that this people have demonstrated the outer appearances of worship, when corruption has really got in their inner life. That led him to call the people by repulsive names, and to proclaim that God is going to deliver them to Assyria, “ to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” (Is. 10: 6) Whoever ridicules the holy life in the Lord, is delivering his life to corruption and waste, and will fall down, to be mocked and treaded down by the evil one, under his feet. Assyria did not realize that it is just an instrument for punishment (Is. 10: 7); but arrogantly said: “Are not my princes altogether kings?” (Is. 10: 8) namely, that the rulers set by the king of Assyria, under his leadership are all of them kings; which makes him ‘the king of kings!’ He also said: “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?” (Is. 10: 9) Scholars believe that the speaker here is Sennacherib the Assyrian king, boasting his conquests. Added to those of Sargon, who preceded him, are considered by him as conquests of Assyria as a whole, revealing that resisting the Assyrian might is of no avail. He might have meant by Calno that mentioned beside Hamath and Gath in Amos 6: 2; considered to be modern Kullanhu, about six miles distant from Arpad, near Aleppo. It was conquered and annexed to Assyria by Tiglath-pileser in 738 B.C. Some scholars emend the Hebrew to kullana or in Arabic ‘Kollona,’ ‘all of them1.’ Carchemish: The Assyrian form of the name is Kargamis or Gargamis. The eastern capital of the Hittites, west of the river Euphrates, and north of its connection with Sagor. Its location is wonderfully commercial, very prosperous; from which Assur-Naser-Baal (885-860 B.C.) has confiscated a huge tax, then was taken over by Sargon II of Assyria in c. 717 B.C. By its fall, the Hittites Empire came to an end. The Romans called it Carcisium, where Jerablus (Hierapolis or Mabog) is now located. Arpad: A city dependent on Damascus in Aram, 13 miles north to Hamath (now Hamah on the Orontes), where Tal Arpad is now located. It was taken over several times by the Assyrians in the ninth century B.C.; who were very proud of their conquest. Finally, Tiglath-pileser III subjugated it in 740 B.C., after a siege of two years. It is now the ruin Tell Erfad. Thus, the greatest cities of the Hittites and the Syrians, have failed to stand before the might of Assyria! Will the cities of Judah and Israel manage to do just that? Assyria assumed that it conquered the gods and idols, the protectors of these nations; and expected to do the same to the God of Judah and Israel (Is. 10: 10, 11), assuming that He is of the same caliber. God allowed the king of Assyria to do that, to punish him later for his arrogance: “It shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, ‘I will punish the fruit of the 1 The New Unger's Bible Dictionary, originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.’ For he says, ‘By the strength of my hand, I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, and have robbed their treasuries; so I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people; and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; and there was no one who moved his wing, nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” (Is. 10: 13, 14) The King of Assyria thought that by his own abilities and wisdom he made great things, he destroyed kings and nations, killed and became wealthy, when he invaded nations, to him it was as a helpless nest of a bird. He robbed the eggs therein and no one could stand before his face or utter a word. The king of Assyria did not apprehend that he is just an ax or a saw, used by God for punishment. The instrument got arrogant toward its user; So God is going to chastise him: a. “Will send leanness among his fat ones,” namely his mighty worriers (Is. 10: 16). b. “And under his glory (namely his army), He will kindle a burning fire” (Is. 10: 16) to turn it into ashes. “The light of Israel will be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame. It will burn and devour (the enemy).” (Is. 10: 17) In other words, God, the light of believers, and the mystery of sanctity of their life, will be a burning fire and a flame to consume the evil adversaries c. He will abolishes his army, to leave only a few numbers, so that a child can write down their names (Is. 10: 19). As far as their strength is concerned, they will lose their physical and psychological energy, and “will be as when a sick man wastes away.” (Is. 10: 18) 3. THE REMNANTS THAT ESCAPED OF ISRAEL Prophets have often talked of the “remnant” that would be saved; meaning by that the few who stay honest to God, amid the collapse of the religious leaderships, the corruption of judges, of rulers, and also of the people. This remnant that will keep itself from the corruption and defilement of the congregation will be spared the bitter affliction during “the hour of trial.” (Revelation 3: 10) That remnant that will be saved from the oppression of Assyria, will not just rejoice for its return to Jerusalem, but for what is far greater; it will rejoice for its encounter with the mighty God of Israel (Is. 10: 21). The apostle Paul quoted the words of Isaiah 10: 22, 23, saying, “Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: ‘though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.” (Romans 9: 27, 28) These words of Isaiah (10: 22, 23 LXX) carried a prophecy about the captives, who were great in number, far exceeding the few who were spared falling into captivity. God allowed that chastisement for the sake of righteousness. The apostle applied this prophecy in a wider sense, on the messianic era, when a great number of Jews got captivated through denial, rejecting belief in the Messiah. Few are those who are saved, through receiving the saving Messiah. God allowed that for the sake of righteousness, to open the door before the Gentiles2. St. John Chrysostom comments saying, [He means that He does not care 2 .205 ، ا رجع للمؤلف: رسالة بولس الرسول إلى أهل رومیة، 1985 about quantity (great number), nor about race (the Jews); but He saves whom are worthy of salvation. He mentions “as the sand of the sea” to remind them of the old covenant (Genesis 22: 17; 23: 12), of which they made themselves unworthy. Why do you complain then, if that covenant fails to be realized for all? All prophets have revealed that not everyone will be saved. Then the apostle also reveals the way of salvation. “For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth” (Romans 9: 28). This (work) is the faith that carries salvation in few words: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10: 9) Therefore, you see that the Lord is “making a short work on earth.” That “short work” does not carry only salvation, but righteousness as well]3. He says also: [So that you do not think that God only cares for great number, he says, “For though your people, O, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them will return.” 4] St. Augustine says, [This is the remnant of that nation, that believes in Christ5.] 4. MY PEOPLE, DO NOT BE AFRAID! Some scholars believe that the prophecy here refers to the following: When Hezekiah son of Ahaz and his successor refused to pay the tax; the Assyrian Sennacherib attacked Judah with a strong army and put Jerusalem under siege. He was about to take the city, but God’s will was to save it. The enemy was utterly destroyed and Sennacherib escaped to be killed by his children (2 Chronicles 32). The prophecy here, demonstrates an important issue: that God is working all the time. God keeps instructing His people not to fear; He is the Father committed for our life, salvation, growth, and peace. He works in all generations, with an exalted arm for the salvation of His believers. If the exodus of the children of Israel has been a supreme act that revealed God does care for those believe in Him. Here, in the time of Hezekiah, He repeats their exodus or salvation, on a mightier level, amid bitterness felt by all. God asks His people not to fear Assyria, for it will be destroyed, “The Lord of hosts will stir up a scourge for him” (Is. 10: 26) “sent an angel who cut down every man of valor... in his camp.” (2 Chronicles 32: 21) As He previously destroyed Oreb the prince of Median (Judges 7: 25; Psalms 83: 11), and as He did with Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, by the rod of Moses (Is. 10: 26); So He will destroy Assyria, “It shall come to pass in that day, that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil (the sacred anointment given to king David and to his children after him) “ (Is. 10: 27) The second issue is that the anointed, namely the mighty Messiah, will grant comfort and peace on all earth, through His blessed reign. This is the main line in the whole book, and in the Holy Scripture with both its Old and New Testaments. 5. THE ASSYRIAN INVASION OF JUDAH Before the talk of the fall of Assyria, the prophet talked about the Assyrian invasion of Judah, to demonstrate its great military might, and its swift advance toward Jerusalem the capital, together with the weakness of Judah’s resistance, if not 3 In Rom. Hom. 17. 4 In 2 Cor,2. 5 City of God 18:33. its absence altogether; and how Judah was terrified (Is. 10: 28 - 32). The prophet presented a poetic narration to reveal the affliction of the cities of Judah; then to tell how Sennacherib stopped at Nob (a city for priests north of Jerusalem), probably to give his army some rest before attacking Jerusalem. Sennacherib stood there to “shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.” (Is. 10: 32) He stood there as a mighty tree; and did not know that the Lord allowed to hew him down, to humble him, and to cut away his haughty branches. By this prophecy, God does not mean Sennacherib alone, but every evil action to oppress the Church of God, or any of His children. 6. THE FALL OF ASSYRIA God proclaims the complete devastation of Assyria; “He cut down the thickets of the forest with iron” to bring his haughtiness down to the dust (Is. 10: 33, 34). That is the fruit of arrogance and pride!
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