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Isaiah 13 – 23 Nation Oracles
Introduction
ThescopeofIsaiah’spropheciesexpandsbetweenchapters13–23toincludeGod’ssovereignruleoveralltheearth.WehavealreadylookedatBabyloninchapters13–14standingattheheadofthelistoforaclesagainstthenations.ThispresentsectionwillnowcoveroraclesagainstothernationsandwillproclaimGod’sultimateandinevitablejudgmentagainsttheentireworld.
Inpreviouschapters,theLordbroughtalawsuitagainstHispeoplebecauseoftheircontinualandpervasivesin.TheywouldexperienceHisjudgmentforsuchrebellion.Yet,therewouldbearemnantoffaiththatHewouldprotectandpreserve.
InthepreviouschapterIsaiahbegantoprophesyaboutthecomingMessiah—howthisKingwouldhavethegovernmentonHisshouldersandhowHewouldexerciseGod’sjusticeandrighteousness.InthesecurrentchaptersweseethattheextentoftheMessiah’srulewillbeoverallthenations,notsimplyoverIsrael.
(Seepreviousnotesforchapter13and14fortheprophecyagainstBabylonandherKing.Thissetwillpickitupattheendofchapter14withtheoracleagainstAssyria.)
I. (14:24‐32)OracleagainstAssyria
A. Reader’sNote
Whatfollowsisacursory(andincomplete)outlineofAssyrianhistory,withparticularattentiontotheAssyriankings.Itishardtofindthisinformationinoneplace,andsincetheAssyrianEmpireisthehistoricalbackdroptothebookofIsaiah,Ihaveplacedthisinformationhere.Itwouldbeverydifficulttokeepthisinformationatyourfingertipsinthefrontofyourmind,soIgatheredithereforyourreference.
B. Isaiah’sHistoricalContext
1. RememberthatwhenIsaiahprophesiedthereigningpowerintheAncientNearEastwastheAssyrianEmpire.
2. However,Babylonisplacedattheheadofthesenationoraclesinchapter13.
a) PlacingBabylonattheheadhighlightsitseschatologicalsignificanceastheheadquartersofSatan’srebelliouskingdom.
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b) FromIsaiah’shistoricalvantagepoint,placingBabylonattheheadofthenationsalsohighlightsthesignificanceofthecomingBabylonianCaptivityaftertheAssyrianEmpireFalls.
c) ButatthetimeIsaiahprophesied,Babylonwasnotaworldpower.
C. EarlyHistoryofAssyria
1. Assyriaexistedasanationfromthelate25thcenturyBCtoitsconquestaround605BC.
2. Territory
a) ItsterritorywascenteredintheregionoftheUpperTigrisRiver(modern‐dayIraq).
b) Attheheightofitsstrength(700‐627BC),AssyriastretchedfromtheheadofthePersianGulfacrosstheFertileCrescentintomodern‐dayTurkey,whomodern‐dayIsrael,andthendowntheNileintoEgypt.
c) It’sancientcapitalwasthecityofAssur,thoughlaterthecapitalwasmovedtothecityofNineveh.
3. EarlyHistory(seefootnotebelowfromWikipedia)1
1 “AssyriaevolvedoriginallyasaminorAkkadiankingdom.Fromthelate24thCenturyBC
Assyriankingswouldcertainlyhavebeenregionalleadersonly,andsubjecttoSargonofAkkadwhounitedalltheAkkadianspeakingpeoplesofMesopotamiaundertheAkkadianEmpirewhichlastedfrom2334BCto2154BC.AfterthefalloftheAkkadianEmpirecirca2154BC,andthesucceedingSumerian3rdDynastyofUr,Mesopotamiaeventuallycoalescedintojusttwoseparatenations;Assyriainthenorth,andsomecenturyandahalflater,Babyloniainthesouth.
IntheOldAssyrianperiodoftheEarlyBronzeAge,AssyriahadbeenakingdomofnorthernMesopotamia(modern‐daynorthernIraq),initiallycompetingwiththeirfellowSumero‐AkkadianstatesinsouthernMesopotamiafordominanceoftheregion,andalsowiththeHattiansandHurrianstothenorthinAsiaMinor,theGutianstotheeastintheZagrosMountainsandtheEblaitesandlaterAmoritesinTheLevanttothewest.Duringthe20thcenturyBC,itestablishedcoloniesinAsiaMinor,andunderkingIlushuma,itasserteditselfoversouthernMesopotamia.Fromthelate19thcenturyBCAssyriacameintoconflictwiththenewlycreatedstateofBabyloniawhicheventuallyeclipsedtheolderSumero‐Akkadianstatesinthesouth.AssyriaexperiencedfluctuatingfortunesintheMiddleAssyrianperiod.
AssyriahadaperiodofempireunderShamshi‐AdadIandIshme‐Daganinthe19thand18thcenturiesBC.FollowingthisitfounditselfundershortperiodsofBabylonianandMitanni‐Hurriandominationinthe18thand15thcenturiesBCrespectively,andanotherperiodofgreatpowerandempirefrom1365BCto1076BC,thatincludedthereignsofgreatkingssuchasAshur‐uballitI,Arik‐den‐ili,Tukulti‐NinurtaIandTiglath‐PileserI.
BeginningwiththecampaignsofAdad‐nirariIIfrom911BC,itagainbecameagreatpoweroverthenext3centuries,overthrowingtheTwenty‐fifthdynastyofEgyptandconqueringEgypt,Babylonia,Elam,Urartu/Armenia,Media,Persia,Mannea,Gutium,Phoenicia/Canaan,Aramea(Syria),Arabia,Israel,Judah,Edom,Moab,Samarra,Cilicia,Cyprus,Chaldea,Nabatea,Commagene,DilmunandtheHurrians,SutuandNeo‐Hittites,drivingtheEthiopiansandNubiansfromEgypt,defeatingtheCimmeriansandScythiansandexactingtributefromPhrygia,MaganandPuntamongothers.Afteritsfall,(between612BCand605BC),AssyriaremainedaprovinceandGeo‐politicalentityundertheBabylonian,Median,
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D. HistoryofNeo‐AssyriainBibletimes
1. Thisperiodbeganin911BCwiththeascensionofKingAdad‐nirariII,whoconsolidatedthekingdomandbeganitsexpansion.
2. SuccessionofNeo‐AssyriankingsthroughShalmaneserV(726‐723BC).(n.b.ManyofthesefactsweregleaneddirectlyfromWikipedia,buteditedbyme.)
a) Adad‐nirariII(911–982BC)
(1) HeconsolidatedtheEmpire.
(2) Hemarksthebeginningoftheneo‐AssyrianEmpire.
b) Tukulti‐NinurtaII(891‐884BC)
(1) HecontinuestoconsolidatetheEmpire.
(2) HeexpandsintotheZagrosMountains,dominatingthePersiansandMedes.
c) AshurnasirpalII(883–859BC)
(1) HehadareputationasacruelkingwhoturnedAssyriaintoavastfightingmachine.
(2) HeadvancestheEmpirethroughAram,Canaan,andAsiaMinortotheMediterranean.
(3) Heexactstributefromthevassalpeoples.
(4) HemovedhiscapitaltothecityofKalhu(Calah/Nimrud)
d) ShalmaneserIII(858–823BC)2
Achaemenid,Seleucid,Parthian,RomanandSassanidempiresuntiltheArabIslamicinvasionandconquestofMesopotamiainthemid‐7thcenturyAD,whenitwasfinallydissolved.”
2Naʼaman,Nadav."TheconstructionoftheAssyrianempire:ahistoricalstudyoftheinscriptionsofShalmaneserIII,859‐824BC,relatingtohiscampaignstothewest."BulletinOfTheAmericanSchoolsOfOrientalResearchno.327(August1,2002):96‐99.
“The reign of Shalmaneser III was the most remarkable period of Assyrian military advance to the west in the preimperial period. During his 35-year reign Shalmaneser (858–824 B.C.E.) conducted 21 campaigns against the lands west of the Euphrates. He established the Assyrian border on the Euphrates and in the course of his campaigns conquered vast territories up to the kingdom of Israel in the southwest and the kingdom of Tabal in the Anatolian plateau west of the Taurus mountainous range. He carried an enormous amount of booty and tributes to Assyria and imposed an annual tribute on the subjugated rulers. The pattern he established of holding sway over the Syro- Palestinian and southeastern Anatolian vassals by means of periodic campaigns was adopted—though with many ups and downs—by his successors for almost a century. Signi˜cant change took place only in the time of Tiglathpileser III (745–727), the founder of the Assyrian empire,
who annexed many west Euphrates kingdoms and extended the Assyrian territory over most of the Syro- Palestinian areas.”
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(1) HewasthefirstAssyriankingtocomeincontactwithIsrael,fightingagainstKingAhab,andexactingtributefromKingJehu.
(2) HereducedBabyloniatovassalage.
(3) HedefeatedAramea,Israel,Urartu,Phoenicia,theneoHittitestatesandtheArabs.
(4) HefoughttheBattleofQarqaragainstanallianceof12nations(includingEgyptandIsrael).
(5) HeconsolidatedAssyriancontrolovertheregionsconqueredbyhispredecessors.
(6) HeengagedinmanybuildingprojectsandhisroyalinscriptionsaremoredetailedthananyotherAssyrianking.
(7) Bytheendofhis27yearreignAssyriawasmasterofMesopotamia,TheLevant,westernIran,Israel,JordanandmuchofAsiaMinor.
e) Shamshi‐AdadV(822‐811BC)
(1) Empirewasexperiencingcivilwar—mostofhisattentionwasspentwiththeBabylonianconflict.
(2) HewontheCivilWarin820BCandfurthersolidifiedtheEmpire’sholdoverBabyloniaintheSouth.
f) Adad‐nirariIII(810‐782BC)[AshurnasirpalI?]
(1) TheEmpirewasruledonbehalfofthisboy‐Kingbyhisinfamousmother,Semiramisuntil806BC.
(2) HeinvadedtheLevantandsubjugatedtheArameans,Phoenicians,Philistines,Israelites,neoHittites,MoabitesandEdomites.HealsoenteredDamascusandforcedtributeuponitsArameankingBen‐HadadIII.
g) ShalmaneserIV(782‐773BC)
(1) Heprovedtobeanineffectualruler.
(2) Powerseemstohavebeenconcentratedinthehandsofhisgeneral,Shamshi‐ilu.
h) Ashur‐danIII(772‐754BC)—wasanotherineffectualruler
i) Ashur‐nirariV(754‐745BC)
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(1) Hetoowasanineffectualruler.
(2) HewasdeposedbyTiglath‐PileserIIIin745BC.
j) Tiglath‐PileserIII(745‐727BC)
(1) Alsoknownas“Pul”(2Kings15:19;1Chr.5:26)
(2) HegreatlyexpandedtheEmpireandrestoredAssyriatoagreatpower.
(3) HewasalsodeclaredkinginBabylon,greatlyexpandingthedirectcontroloftheNeo‐AssyrianEmpire.
(4) Significantly,heintroducedeasternAramaicastheLinguaFrancaofAssyriaanditsvastempire—AramaicwouldbecomethelanguageoftheJewsafteritsreturnfromtheBabylonianCaptivity.
(5) HebegantodestroythenortherncapitalofIsrael,Samaria,whichisrecordedintheBabylonianChronicle.
k) ShalmaneserV(726‐722BC)
(1) Hehadashortreign.
(2) ButhewasabletokeepEgyptfromgaininggroundintheLevant.
(3) HebesiegedSamaria,Israel’snortherncapital,butdiedbeforeitsconquest.
l) SargonII(722‐705BC)
(1) HemaintainedandstrengthenedtheEmpire.
(2) HedefeatedSamaria,Israel’snortherncapital.
(3) HetookcaptivethenortherntribesofIsraelin722BC.
m) Sennacherib(705‐681BC)
(1) HeputdownaBabylonianrebellionandinstalledhissonAshur‐nadin‐shumiasking.
(2) HelaidsiegetoJudah,conqueringmanyofitscities,includingLachishin701BC.
(3) HewasunabletodefeatHezekiahinJerusalem,whomheclaimedhehadhelduplikea“birdinacage.”TheLordkilled185,000AssyriansinonenightmandatingSennacherib’sreturntoAssyria(2Kings19:32‐37).
(4) Hewaslatermurderedbyhisownsons.
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n) Esarhaddon(680‐669BC)
(1) HerebuiltBabylon.
(2) HedefeatedtheEgyptiansandextendedhisempireintoNubia.
(3) HeexpandedtheEmpireandbroughtameasureofpeace.
o) Ashurbanipal(669‐627BC)
(1) HecrushedarebellionledbyhisbrotherShamash‐shum‐ukin,theAssyriankingofBabylon.
(2) HekepttheEmpiretogetherwithafirmhand.
(3) Hebuiltmanytemples,palaces,andlibraries.
(4) HekeptboththePersiansandtheMedesinvassalstate.
(5) Thenowvastempirewouldbecomedifficulttoadministrate.
p) Assur‐etil‐ilani(627‐607B.C.)–UnderhisreigntheAssyrianEmpirefelltotheBabylonians.
E. OracleagainstAssyria(14:24‐32)
1. (24‐27)TheLordpromisestobreaktheAssyrianinthelandofIsrael.
a) TheyokeofcaptivitywilldepartfromIsrael—eventually.
b) KeepinmindthatitisthenortherntribesthatwilldirectlyfeeltheyokeofAssyriancaptivity,buteventhesoutherntribeofJudahwillfeeltheAssyrianoppressionasitismadetopayheavytribute.
c) Thispromisethen,isthatGodwilldeliverhispeoplefromcaptivity.
(1) Thereisbothashort‐termandalong‐termfulfillmenttosuchapromise,butinverydifferentways.
(a) Theshort‐termwillbetheremovalofAssyria,butthereisbadnewstofollow.TheBabylonianswillthentaketheJewscaptive.
(b) Thetruefulfillmentofthispromisewillnotcomeuntiltheendtimes.
(c) This“badnews”isdeliveredinthenextversusbyaddressingthePhilistines.It’saveryartfulwayofdeliveringbadnewstotheJewsaswell.
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(2) (26‐27)Andinasimilarway,Assyriathenbecomesthestand‐infortheworldwideoppressionofGod’speople.
2. (28‐31)So,PhilistiashouldnotrejoiceinthedestructionofAssyriabecauseworseisyettocome.
a) “Philistia”isthelandofthePhilistineslocatedwithinIsraelandconcentratedinfivecities:Gath,Gaza,Ashkelon,Ekron,andAshdod.AtthetimeofIsaiah,PhilistiacoveredtheentirecoastalareauppastJoppa(modernTelAviv),andwasruledbytheAssyriansaftertheyputdownPhilistinerebellions.
b) Therearevaryingviewsonthispassage,particularlyastotheidentityof“therodthatstruckyou”inverse29.
(1) PreviouscontextseemstoindicatethattherodwasAssyria,whichinfacthadcapturedallofPhilistiaandgoverneditwithastronghand.
(2) OtherssuchasMotyer(pp139‐141),seethereferenceasreferringtothehouseofDavidinJudah.KingDavidwouldhavebeentherodthatstruckthem,andKingAhaz(inhisdeath)wouldhavebeentherodwhowasbroken.3
(a) Insuchaview,PhilistiacouldrejoicebutonlyforatimeastheLordwouldonedayrulefromZion.
(b) However,Philistia’sdestructionwouldcomefromthenorth.Judahwouldcomefromtheeasttothewest.
(3) IbelieveitisbesttoseethereferencetoAssyria,whichattackedfromthenorth.The“brokenrod”couldbethedeathofAssyrianKingTiglath‐pileserIII,whodiedin727.4
c) (29)IfthemainreferenceintheseversesistoAssyriaandnotthehouseofDavid,thenthe“serpentsroot”willbringforthan“adder”ismostlikelyareferencetothecomingBabylonianoppressionaftertheAssyriandomination.Inotherwordsthereisnoendinsight.OneempirewillfollowanotherandthePhilistineswillbeunderfootofboth.
3J.A.Motyer,Isaiah:AnIntroductionandCommentary,TyndaleOldTestamentCommentaries,
vol.20(Nottingham,England;DownersGrove,Ill.:Inter‐VarsityPress;IVPAcademic,2009),139‐41.
4JohnOswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,TheNewInternationalCommentaryontheOldTestament(GrandRapids,Mich.:Eerdmans,1986),331.
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3. (32)ThehopeforthePhilistines,(whomightbeastand‐infortheentireworld),willbefoundintheLordofIsraelwhoestablisheshisthroneonMountZion.
4. Summarizing
a) ThegoodnewsisthattheAssyrianswillbedefeated.
b) Thebadnews,deliveredtothePhilistinesasapossiblestand‐inforallthenationsoftheworld,isthattheBabyloniansarecoming.
c) ThegoodnewsisthattherewillbedeliveranceforGod’speopleinMountZion.TheimmediatereferenceisobviouslytotheremnantofJews.ButinChrist,allbelieverswillonedayfindrefugeintheLord.
II. (Chapters15–16)OracleagainstMoab
A. Moabites
1. MoabislocatedeastofJudahontheothersideoftheDeadSea,stretchingsouthoftheterritoryofReubenandnorthoftheEdomites.
2. TheMoabites(alongwiththeAmmonites)aredescendantsfromLotandhisdaughters(Genesis19:30‐38).
a) TheMoabites(Balak)participatedinthehiringofBalaamtotrytocurseIsraelasshecameoutofEgypt(Genesis22‐24)
B. Moab’spridepreventshersalvation
1. (15:1‐4)ThedevastationofMoab(probablycausedbytheAssyrians—thoughperhapsfuture)isextensive.
a) (vs.2)Itcausesthepeopletobecome“religious”andgototheirtemple,yeteveryheadisbald—defeatedandshamed.
b) (vs.3)Thepeoplewearsackclothandareinutterdespair.Everyonewailsandmeltsintears.
2. (15:5‐9)TheLordcriesoverthehurtingpeople
a) (vs.5)TheLord’sheartcriesforMoab.
(1) Herfugitivesflee.
(2) Theygoweeping.
(3) Theyraiseacryofdestruction.
b) (vs.6‐7)Thelandislaidwasteandwhatislefttheycarryaway.
c) (vs.8‐9)Moabwailsintotaldestruction.
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3. (16:1‐4)Judah/IsraelistobearefugetoMoab
a) (vs.1)MoabreachesouttotherulerofZion
b) (vs.2‐3)Thecomeforrefuge.
c) (vs.4)JudahistoletMoabbeprotectedasrefugees.
4. (16:5)ThisrefugecomesthroughtheDavidicruler—ultimatelythroughJesus,theMessiah.
a) Hebringsprotectioninhistent.
b) Heexercisesjusticeandrighteousness.
5. (16:6‐11)Butincredibly,Moab’spridewillnotallowhertocometothethroneofDavid.Theyrejectthehelpinghandtotheirowndestruction.
a) (vs.6)Moab’spridewillnotallowhertocome.
b) (vs.7‐8)ThereforeMoabwillwailinherdestruction.
c) (vs.9‐11)TheLordweepsoverMoabstuckinherpridefulsin.
6. (16:12‐13)Moabwillnotprevailwhenhecomestohistemple.
7. (16:14)InthreeyearsMoabwillbedecimated.
a) Itisdifficulttodatethisreference.
b) ButthebiggerpointisthatthehistoricalreferencespointforwardtofuturedisasteraswellbecauseMoabistooproudtocometotheKingofJudah.
III. (Chapter17)OracleagainstDamascus(Syria)/Ephraim(Israel)
A. Historicalcontextandthepointofthissection
“Whydoes Isaiah concealedEphraimbehind an apparent address toDamascus, thecapitalcityofthekingdomofAram?Thisispreciselythepoint:thepeopleoftheLordliveouttheirhistorieswithinworldhistory…Theyarenotimmunefromthedemands,pressures,questions and temptations of life in this world. In Isaiah’s time, they too were a smallkingdomamongthekingdomsandthereforefacedthesameproblem:whereissecuritytobefound?Ephraim’sanswer,whenupagainsttheAssyrianthreat,wastoturntoAram…tosinkitsnationalidentityinthatofitsmoreforcefulanderstwhileenemy,comingtogetherinanAram‐Ephraimdefensivealliance.Ephraim’shardexperiencetaughtthattoidentifywiththeworldforsalvationwastobecaughtupintheworld’sdestruction.
WemustnotbeunrealisticaboutEphraim’sproblem.Thinkofanysmallstateinourown time threatened with absorption into a superpower! Collective security must haveseemedanobvious,evenwisewayforward.Buttheycouldadopteditonlyattheexpenseofforgetting their savingGod, their strongRock (17:10). In the schemeof these oracles, theLordhasaffirmed(14:1‐2)thathesovereignlygovernsworldhistorytomakeandkeephispeoplesecure;heneverrevokeshispromises(14:32);andthewayofsalvationforGentiles
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istosubmittoZionanditsking(16:4‐5;cf.Ps.2:10‐12).ButEphraimisherefoundseekingsecurityinDamascus,notintheLord,failingtotrusthispromisesandreversinghisintendedproceduresbyfindingsalvationinaGentilepowerinsteadofopeningthewayofsalvationtotheGentiles.”5
1. RemembertheimmediatehistoricalcontextofIsaiah’sprophecieswastheEphraim‐AramallianceleadingtotheSyro‐EphraimiteWar(745BC).
2. Thenortherntribes,inanattempttodefendthemselvesagainsttheAssyrianEmpire,werewillingtoformanalliancewithGentileAramevenattheexpenseofalienatingfellowJewsinJudah.
3. TheychosewhatseemedwiseaccordingtoworldlypoliticsratherthantrustingintheLordfortheirnationaldefense.
B. DestructionofDamascus(Syria/Aram)
1. (vs.1‐2)Damascuswillbedestroyed(bytheAssyrians)
2. (vs.3)DamascusandEphraimalikewillbedestroyed.Theiralliancewillcometonothing.
3. (vs.4‐6)Ephraim(Israel)willbebroughtlow(bytheAssyrians)
4. (vs.7‐11)InthatdayIsraelwilllooktoherMaker,theLord,whomshehasforgotten.Shewillfacedestruction.
5. (vs.12‐14)ThoughthenationsroaragainstIsrael,theLordwillcausethemtofleeasHedefendsHispeople.
a) Itispossiblethattheseparticularverseslookforwardtotheyet‐futurebattlesofArmageddonandtheSecondComingoftheLord.
b) SeealsoZechariah14
IV. (Chapter18)OracleagainstCush(Ethiopia/Egypt)
A. HistoricalContext
1. EthiopianPiankhifoundedthe25thDynastyofEgypt.
2. Thereferenceinthispassageto“Cush”istheareaoftheupperNile,whichistodaythelandofEthiopia.
5Motyer,Isaiah:AnIntroductionandCommentary,148.
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a) SotheOracleagainstCushisinessenceanOracleagainstEgyptinher25thDynasty.
b) The“landofwhirringwings”maybeanonomatopoeicreferencetotheflyinginsectsofthearea,orperhapsitisareferencetothesailsoftheEthiopianshipsthatbuzzupanddowntheNileRiver.6
3. “Cush”couldalsobeareferencetothe“endsoftheearth.”
a) ThepassagedoesseemconnectedtothewarningthathavebeengiveninChapter17:12ff.againstIsraelrelyingonanalliancewithAram.
b) Bothwarningsbeginwith“oy,”(),whichvisuallycapturestheattentionofthereaderandperhapsservestolinkthesetwopassagestogether.
c) Ifthatisthecase,thenthisoraclestandsasawarningtoIsraelnottotrustinanyglobalpower.
“Cush ishistoricallythelandalongtheNilesouthofthe4thcataract. It is included inwhat is today Ethiopia. As such, itwasusedasametaphorfortheendsoftheearth.Thisseemstobethepurposeofitsusagehere.Ifonewishestoconveyamessagetoallthe earth, then one should callmessengers from the ends of theearth.”7
4. (vs.3)Despitethedifficultyinidentifyingthepeopleofthelasttwoverses,versethreeclearlyreferstothepeopleoftheworld.
“As has beenmentioned, this firstmakes it plain that theultimate addressees of Isaiah’s message are not merely a royalcourtsomewhere.It isthewholehumanfamilywhichiscalledtowitnesstheevidenceofGod’slordship.Whenthesignalsaregiven,then theworldmustbeprepared toperceive theevidencewhichGodgrantsus thathe is indeedatwork.Toooftenwedonotseehishandintheeventsbecausewearenotexpectingtoseeit.Buthavingbeenalerted,weareabletoperceivethroughfaiththehandwhichmovestheuniverseandthehumanheart.“8
6Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,359‐60.
7Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,360.
8Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,361.
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5. (vs.4‐6)God’sdecisivejudgmentagainsttheworld
a) ThepointoftheseversesisthatGodwillnotsitidlyby,butwillactdecisivelyinjudgmentagainstthepeoplesoftheworld.
b) “Butlikethequietheatwhichbuildsuntilitisalmostunbearablebymid‐afternoon,orthecurtainsofmistwhichdriftofthevalleysfromthecoast,Godmakeshispresenceknownandfelt.”9
6. (vs.7)NationsduringtheMillennialKingdomwillbringtributetotheLordinJerusalem—EgyptandAssyriainparticular(Is.11:16;19:23).
V. (Chapters19–20)OracleagainstEgypt(andfutureblessingsforEgypt,Assyria,andIsrael)
A. MainPoint
1. ThemainpointisthatIsraelshouldnotrelyonEgyptoranyearthlypowerforherprotection.
a) JudahcontinuallyflirtedwithanEgyptianallianceinthefaceofAssyrianthreat.
b) EgyptwouldbejudgedbytheLord,wouldbeatcivilwar,hergodswouldbedefeated,andshewouldultimatelywindupinapartialalliancewithJudahanyway.
c) Therefore,whatadvantagewoulditbeforJudahtolooktoEgyptforprotectionfromherAssyrianenemies?
2. EgyptisnoprotectionfromAssyriabecauseshetoowillbejudgedbytheLord.
3. TheLordwillalsodefendEgyptfromheroppressors(Assyria?).
4. Andultimately,swornenemies—Egypt,Assyria,andIsrael—willallonedayworshiptheLordinJerusalem.
5. Therefore,thepointisthatIsraelshouldworshiptheLordaloneandnottrustinworldlynationsforhersecurity.
“Chapters19–20giveusGod’swordagainstEgypt.Asisevidentfromchs.30and31,theleadersofJudahattemptedtorelymoreandmoreuponEgyptastheeighthcenturydrewtowardacloseandasAssyria’sthreatloomedlargerandlarger.Isaiah’swordwasthesame
9Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,362.
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asithadbeenconcerningAssyriaearlier:whateverwetrustinplaceofGodwilleventuallyturnonusanddestroyus.WhytrustEgypt,heasks,whenEgypthasnothingtoofferyouthatyoudonotalreadyhave(ch.19)?WhytrustEgyptwhenrecenthistoryshowsshewillbetrayyou(ch.20)?WhynottrusttheGodwhoholdsEgyptinthepalmofhishandintoEgyptmustonedayturn?”10
B. (19:1‐15)TheLordgoestowaragainstEgyptanditsidols/gods.
“IsitnotpossiblethattheauthorislayingtheblamefortheinternecinestruggleatthefootofEgypt’slushpolytheism?Itisbecauseshehasnoonegod,likeYahweh,touniteherandbecausehergodsarebasicallyineffectualandmustscrabbleforpower,theprophetseemstobesaying,thatEgyptisdoomedtodisintegrationandforeigndomination.WhyshouldJudahbeattractedtothat?”11
1. (vs.1‐4)EgyptanditsdemonswillfeartheLordatHiscoming
a) (vs.1)TheLordgoestowar,writingonaswiftcloud,againstEgyptandheridols.
(1) HereGod’ssovereigntyovernatureandallothergodsisondisplay.
(2) ThephraseisalsousedforBaal,theCanaanitestorm‐god.
(3) SeealsoExodus12:12wereGoddoesbattleagainstthegodsofEgypt.
b) (vs.2)Egyptexperiencescivilwar.
“ThroughoutherhistoryEgyptwasespeciallypronetothiskindofdissolution.AfterthesixstrongdynastiesoftheOldKingdom(3000–2200B.C.),therecameatwo‐hundred‐yearperiodwheneachofthe42nomes(city‐states)becameacountryuntoitselfandgeneralchaosreigned.ThentheTwelfthDynastyunitedthelandforabouttwohundredyears(1990–1785B.C.),butagainchaostookoverfortwocenturies.Soitwentagainandagain.”12
10Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,366.
11Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,367.
12Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,367‐68.
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c) (vs.3)GodwillconfoundthewisdomofEgyptanditsdemonicroots.
d) (vs.4)TheEgyptianswillbegivenovertoaforeignking(Assyriaperhaps,ormaybejustinthesenseofageneraloverlord).
2. (vs.5‐10)TheNilewillbefouledandallwhoworkwillbegrieved.
3. (vs.11‐15)TheLordwillconfuseandconfoundEgypt’sleadersandsorcerers.
“TheprincesofZoanreferstotheofficialsinTanis,whichwasthechiefcityofnorthernEgyptfromtheMiddleBronzeAgeonward.ItwassituatedontheeastsideoftheDeltaregionandwouldbethefirstlargeEgyptiancityencounteredbyaSemitetravelingtowardtheNileValley.Atseveralpointswhenthenationandbrokeninto,TanishadbecomethecapitalcityofLowerEgypt.Thusonewouldexpectherofficialstobepossessedofunusualperspectiveandawareness.Infact,saysIsaiah,theyarecompletelyfoolish.Thesesupposedlyinsightfulpeoplearegivingferalcounselwhichwouldnotbecomeananimal(1:2,3).”13
C. (vs.16‐25)“Inthatday”
1. (vs.16‐17)TheEgyptianswilltremblewithfearbecausethelandofJudahwillbecomeaterrortothem.
2. (vs.18)FivecitiesinEgyptwillbecomealliestoJudah
3. (vs.19‐22)TherewillbeanaltartotheLord.
a) TheLordwilldefendEgyptfromheroppressorsthroughasavioranddefender.
b) TheLordwillmakeHimselfknowntoEgyptiansandtheywillworshipHim.
c) TheLordwillstrikeandhealthem.
4. (vs.23)TherewillbeahighwaybetweenEgyptandAssyria
a) BothEgyptiansandSyrianswillworshiptheLord
b) Israelwillalsobeblessed.
13Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,371.
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5. (19:24‐25)FutureblessingsforIsrael
a) BlessingsforEgypt“mypeople”
b) BlessingsforAssyria,“theworkofmyhands”
c) BlessingsforIsrael,“myinheritance”
D. (20:1‐6)DramatizedconquestofEgyptandEthiopia
1. Context
a) AssyrianscapturethePhilistinecityofAshdodin711BC
b) “TheAssyriandefeatofthiscitywasrelevantto"EgyptandCush"(Isa.20:3)becauseAshdodhadreliedonpromisesofEgyptiansupportagainstAssyrianattack,butEgyptreneged.HowthencanEgypt‐‐nomatchforAssyria‐‐betrusted(cf.30:1‐5;31:1‐3)?(ThisAshdodcampaignof712/711BCisdocumentedintheAssyrianAnnalsofSargonIIfromKhorsabad.TheAnnalsconfirmthatSargonIIsentamilitarycommandertocaptureAshdodwhileheremainedinhiscapitalcity.ExcavationsatAshdodhaveuncoveredfragmentsofaninscribedpillarofSargonII,anditisaduplicateofavictorypillarfoundatKhorsabad.Inaddition,remainsofskeletonsof3,000personshavebeenfoundthatprobablydiedinSargon'sconquestofthecity.)”14
2. ThePhilistinesareusedasanobjectlessontowarnJudahabouttrustinginAssyria.
a) ThePhilistineshadtrustedtheEgyptiansasalliesagainstAssyria,buttheAssyrianscapturedthePhilistinesonthecoastanyway.
b) Sotherefore,JudahshouldbewarnednottorelyonEgypteither.
c) “Cush”isEthiopia.
14ESVStudyBibleentryforIsaiah20:1
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VI. (Chapter21)OraclesagainstBabylon,EdomandArabia
A. (vs.1‐10)Difficultyofpassage15
1. Thefouroraclesinchapters21–22areobscure,buttheprobablebackgroundisJudah’sflirtingwithBabylonianalliancewhileAssyriaremainedathreat.
2. BabylonitselfwasunderAssyria’sthumbinthelate8thcenturyB.C.
a) Priorto710B.C.AssyrianKingSargonhadgivenastingingdefeattotheBabylonianruler,Merodach‐baladan.
b) Yet,BabylonremainedathorntoAssyrianatthisperiod.LaterBabylonwouldconquerAssyria,butnotyet.
3. Verse9seemstoindicatethecontextisBabylon,butgiventhepropheticnatureofthepassage,Isaiahispossiblyreferringaswelltotheyetfuture(fromthevantagepointofIsaiah’s710BC)fallofBabylontoCyrusin539BC.
4. ThepointthenistowarnJudahnottorelyonthepowerofBabyloninherdefenseagainstAssyriabecauseBabylonitselfwouldonedayfalltoCyrus.
B. (vs.1‐10)OracleagainstBabylon
1. JudahiswarnednottotrustinBabylonorearthlypowersforherprotection
2. (vs.1)SouthernMesopotamiawasknownasthe“sealand”inancienttimes.
a) SothisreferencecouldbetoBabylon,whichwasinthesouthernmostterritoryoftheAssyrianEmpireattheheadofthePersianGulfbetweentheTigrisandEuphratesRivers.
b) ReferringtoBabylonthenasadesertthenwouldbeanironicstatementintendedtomockacountrythatcannothelpothers.16
3. (vs.2)Elam(moderndaysouthernIran)andMediaareBabylon’senemies,whicharenowcommandedtogoattackher.ThePersiansandMedesdestroyedBabylonin539BCunderCyrus.
15Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,387‐89.
16Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,391.
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a) RememberthatIsaiahispredictingtheseeventsfromthevantagepointof710BC.Babylonisnotaworldempireatthatpoint.
b) HereGodisshowingHiscompletesovereigntyoverhistoryandthenations.BabylonwouldbenohelptoJudahbecausesheherselfwouldonedaybedestroyedbytheMedesandPersians.
4. (vs.2b)GodwillstopallthegroaningcausedbytheBabylonians.
a) WhenBabylonbecameaworldpowershecausedgreatgroaningsamongthenationsshecaptured.Herdefeatandthatofherkinghavealreadybeencoveredinchapter14.
b) So,thereisanhistoricalelementhere,thoughitcomesinadifficultcontext.
(1) Fromthevantagepointof710BC,IsaiahispredictingthattheyetfutureBabylonwouldherselfbedefeatedandthegroaningsshehascausedwillcease.
(2) ButwemightalsolookattheeschatologicalBabylon—theonereferredtoinRevelation17—18.ThisistheBabylonthathasledtheentireworldastrayandintoidolatry.ThisevenyetfutureBabylonwillbejudgedanddestroyedjustpriortotheSecondComingofChrist.
(3) Soineffect,IsaiahcanpossiblybetalkingabouttheultimatecessationofgroaningsthatBabylon,asSatan’sheadquartershascausedallthenationsoftheworld.
(4) Ifthisinterpretationiscorrect,theninBabylon(historically)onefindstheheadquartersofSatan’skingdomandtheembodimentoftherebellionagainstGodbothinheavenandonearth.ThedefeatofBabylonwouldultimatelybenotjustanearthlyevent,butwouldbeacosmiconeaswell.
5. (vs.3‐4)ItisthevoiceofIsaiahtheprophetspeakinginverses3‐4.HeisreactingwithdeepemotionstothejudgmentofBabylonabouttocome.
a) Ibelievethedepthoftheprophet’sdespaircannotcomesimplyfromthedefeatoftheBabylonianEmpirein539BCatthehandsofCyrus.Thereistoomuchemotionhereforthat.
b) ItmakesmoresensethattheprophetisrespondingtothecomingcosmicjudgmentofSatanandallthenationsoftheworldthathehasledastray.ThisisnotapointIcanpushorprove,butthesearehighlyemotionallychargedversesthatjustmakemuchmoresenseifIsaiahislookingforwardtotheSecondComingofChrist.
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6. (vs.5)TheprophecylooksforwardmostlikelytotheactualfallofBabylonin539BCasdescribedinDaniel5.
ESVDaniel5:1KingBelshazzarmadeagreatfeastforathousandofhislordsanddrankwineinfrontofthethousand.
2Belshazzar,whenhetastedthewine,commandedthatthevesselsofgoldandofsilverthatNebuchadnezzarhisfatherhadtakenoutofthetempleinJerusalembebrought,thatthekingandhislords,hiswives,andhisconcubinesmightdrinkfromthem.
3Thentheybroughtinthegoldenvesselsthathadbeentakenoutofthetemple,thehouseofGodinJerusalem,andthekingandhislords,hiswives,andhisconcubinesdrankfromthem.
4Theydrankwineandpraisedthegodsofgoldandsilver,bronze,iron,wood,andstone.
5Immediatelythefingersofahumanhandappearedandwroteontheplasterofthewalloftheking'spalace,oppositethelampstand.Andthekingsawthehandasitwrote.
7. (vs.6‐9)ThefocusshiftsfromBabylontoJudah
a) TheLordcommandsIsaiahtosetawatchmanforthecomingfallofBabylon.
b) (vs.9)ThisverseseemstometobetheclearestindicationthatmuchmoreisreferencedinthispropheticburdenthanacessationtothehistoricalBabylonianEmpire.JohnpicksthesameimageupintheRevelation14and18.
8Anotherangel,asecond,followed,saying,"Fallen,fallenisBabylonthegreat,shewhomadeallnationsdrinkthewineofthepassionofhersexualimmorality."(Rev14:8ESV)
2Andhecalledoutwithamightyvoice,"Fallen,fallenisBabylonthegreat!Shehasbecomeadwellingplacefordemons,ahauntforeveryuncleanspirit,ahauntforeveryuncleanbird,ahauntforeveryuncleananddetestablebeast.
3Forallnationshavedrunkthewineofthepassionofhersexualimmorality,andthekingsoftheearthhavecommittedimmoralitywithher,andthemerchantsoftheearthhavegrownrichfromthepowerofherluxuriousliving."(Rev18:2‐3ESV)
8. (vs.10)ThisversecaneitherbeencouragementorwarningtoJudah.Perhapsitisboth.
a) TothosewhowillbecaptivebyBabyloninthe6thcenturyBC,itisawordofencouragementthatBabylonwillfall.
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b) Tothoseinthe8thcenturyBC(Isaiah’stime),itisawordofwarningnottotrustinanempirethatitselfwillfail.
c) Tothosetoday,itisbothencouragementthatSatan’skingdomwillnotstand,butitisalsoawordofwarningforGod’speopletocomeoutofher.
C. (vs.11‐12)OracleagainstEdom(Dumah)
1. DumahreferstotheoasisinnorthernArabia,standing“attheintersectionoftheeast‐westtraderoutebetweenthePersianGulfandPetraandtheincenserouterunningnorthwardfromtheRedSeatoPalmyra.”17
2. DumahisinmodernSaudiArabia.
3. ThepointisthatifDumahistakenbyanenemy,thetraderoutewouldbecutoff.18
4. Thoughdifficulttointerpret,itmaybethatwhatthisprophecyindicatesisthatEdomwilllooktoJudah—toIsaiahasGod’sprophet—toknowtheirfate—Isthenightoveryetforthem?
5. “Thisisthesamenotesoundedagainandagaininthesecondhalfofthebook:Israel’sGodissuperiortoallothersbecause,beingsolecreatoroftheworld,healonecanexplainhispurposesforthefuture(41:21‐29;42:5‐9;44:6‐8;etc.).”19
6. ThecalltoEdomisto“Return,come.”Thatis,repent.Again,thereareechoesintheRevelation:“TheSpiritandtheBridesay,‘Come.’Andlettheonewhohearssay,‘Come.’Andlettheonewhoisthirstycome;lettheonewhodesirestakethewateroflifewithoutprice.”(Rev22:17ESV)
D. (vs.13‐17)OracleagainstArabia
1. TheseareArabianalliesofBabylon.
17Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,398.
18Ibid.
19Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,399.
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a) Temais200milessoutheastofDumah.ItbecamethecapitalofBabylonianKingNabonidusduringhisself‐imposedexilefromBabylonin552BC.
b) Dedanisprobablymodernal_Ula,90milessoutheastofDumah.
c) Bothareintheregionof“Kedar,”andalllocatedinmodernSaudiArabia.
2. TheAssyriansattackedArabiafromthenorthanddisplacedpeople(Tiglath‐pileserIII,738;SargonII,715(possibly710also);Sennacherib,703,689.)20
3. (vs.17)ThemostimportantpointisthatitistheGodofIsraelwhohasspoken.Israel’sGodistheonetrueGodwhoisincontrolofalltheearth’sevents.
E. Therefore,Israelshouldnottrustinothernationsforherprotection.
1. Babylonwillherselfbedefeated.
2. TheLordofIsraelcontrolsandknowsall.
3. Babylon’sallieswillallbedefeated.
4. SotheonlyoneJudahshouldtrustasherdefenseagainstAssyria(backtothe8thcenturysettingofIsaiah)istheLord.
VII. (Chapter22)WarningofdestructionofJerusalem
A. (22:1‐14)WarningofcomingdestructionofJerusalem
1. Settingthepassageinitshistoricalcontextisabitdifficult.
a) Manycommentatorsplaceitaround701BCwhenSennacheribthreatenedHezekiahwhowasholedupinJerusalem.21
b) However,HezekiahdidtrustinGod,andtheBibledoesnotindicateasiegeactuallytookplacearoundthecityofJerusalem.
“Thereferencetoflightandcaptivityinvv.2band3actuallyfitsthetimesofJehoiachin(2K.24:10‐17)orZedekiah(2K.25:4‐7)betterthantheydoHezekiah’s.Finally,Eliakim,notShebna,was
20Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,402.
21Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,407‐8.
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stewardin701(2K.18:37).ThusitmaybethattheeventreferredtohadoccurredduringSargon’sattackonAshdodin711.Onbalance,thislatterpositionseemsmorelikely.TheAssyrianarmytookAzekah,whichcertainlymusthavelookedominoustotheJudeans,butthenleft.Whatacauseforrejoicingandrevelry:‘Isaiahwaswrong.Babylonwasright.WeneednotfearAssyria.’Isaiahrespondsthatthatkindofblindnesswillleadtoadestructionwhichwouldbemorecompletethananythingtheycouldimagine(andasitwouldturnout,atthehandsoftheveryBabylontowhichtheywerethentemptedtoturnforhelpagainstAssyria,shouldshereturn).”22
2. (vs.1‐4)Inotherwords,IsaiahischargingthatthepeopleofJerusalemwereignoringthepresentrealitiesoftheAssyrianthreat.
a) TheLordhadslain185,000Assyrians,whichcausedSennacheribtoreturnhomewithoutcapturingJerusalem(2Kings19).ThecitizensofJerusalemwouldhavecelebrated.WhattheycouldnotseewastheimminentcomingoftheBabylonians.
b) TheprophetJeremiahinthenextcenturywouldhaveasimilardifficultyconvincingtheleadershipofJerusalemoftheseverityoftheBabylonianthreat.Thepeoplewerecompletelyhardenedintheirrebellion.
c) Ultimately,whatIsaiahisdoingishe’sgivingapropheticutterancereferringtoJerusalem’scompletedestructionin586BCundertheBabylonianNebuchadnezzar,buthesetsthatutterancewithinhisownhistoricalcontextofanunspecifiedeventin711BC(duringthetimeoftheAssyrians—perhapsSargon’sdefeatofAshdod).
3. (vs.5‐8a)Jerusalemlieshelplessbeforeattackingenemies,whichisnocauseforrejoicing.Jerusalemwouldbeeminentlydestroyedandthecelebrationswouldbecometerror.
4. (vs.8b‐14)IsaiahmovesnowtowardindictmentagainstJerusalem.
a) Withthesettingprobably701BCwhenAssyrianSennacheribthreatenedHezekiahinJerusalem,theKingandcitymakespreparationtoprotectthewatersupply.Hezekiahhasatunnelbuiltsothatwatercontinuestoflowtothecitywithouthavingtoleavethecitygates.
22Ibid.
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b) HezekiahdugatunnelundertheoldcityofJerusalemthatconnectedthespringofGihonintheKidronValleytothePoolofSiloam.
c) Thecitythenbeginstodemolishcertainbuildingsinordertoenforceandrepairtheexistingwalls.
d) (vs.11)Yet,theydidnotlooktotheMaker.JudahwascontentandlookingtoherowndefenseratherthantrustingintheLord.Aseventsultimatelyunfolded,however,HezekiahwouldtrusttheLordforthecity’sprotection.
e) (vs.12‐14)ThislackoffaithinthefaceofasovereignGodwassinthatwouldnotbeatoned.“Letuseatanddrink,fortomorrowwedie”displaysacompletelackoffaithintheLord’sdeliverance.Whatislackingisachangeofheart,notmoreeffortfordefense.
B. (22:15‐25)Shebnathestewardisfoundincompetentandservesasanillustrationthatportraystheentirecity.
1. (vs.15‐19)StewardShebnaisfoundtobeincompetentandself‐serving
“…[T]hissegmentservestoparticularizethestatementsmadeconcerningthenationinvv.1‐14.Justasthenationhadblindeditselfinthefaceofdeath,choosingrevelryinsteadofrepentance,sothisindividualJudean,ahigh‐officeholder,hasbetrayedhisofficebyattemptingtomemorializehimselfinaloftytomb.Whenheshouldbeactingintheinterestsofhispeople,formulatingfar‐seeingpolicieswhichwilltakeallthefactors,includingGod’sword,intoaccount,heisinsteadlookingonlytotheimmediatefutureandonlyasitbearsonhim.Asaresult,saysIsaiahwithbitingwords,Godwilltossthemasidelikeafilthyragandgivehisofficetoanother,whowilltrulyactasafathertothepeople,whowillbetrustworthyanddependable.Buteventhatmanwillnotbeabletosavethenationsingle‐handedly;ultimatelytheaccumulatedweightwillpullhimdowninkeepingwithv.14.Thesinofthenation,itsblindness,issuchthatonesidedmanwillbeanadequateturnitfromitsblunderingpath.”23
2. (vs.20‐25)EliakimwillbegiventhethroneofDavid
a) EliakimisShebna’ssuccessor—probablyfinanceministerorgovernorunderKingHezekiah.
b) NoticeEliakimiscalled“myservant,”whichwasatitlegiventoIsaiah(20:3),toIsrael(40—55;65—66),andtotheSufferingServant.
23Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,416.
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c) Eliakimwillbeasafathertothepeopleasagovernmentofficialshould.
d) (vs.25)However,eventhatwillnotbeenough.Judahwillbecutoff.
VIII. (Chapter23)OracleagainstTyre
A. Endofthenationoracles—TyreandBabylonaseschatologicalandcosmicbookends
1. ThenationoraclesbeganwithBabylon,thegreatcityintheeast.TheynowendwithTyre,thegreatcityinthewest.
2. TyreisaPhoeniciancity;andthePhoenicianswereknownasseafarerswhocolonizedmuchoftheMediterraneanbasin.
a) Theybecame“thepreeminentseafarers”and“fabulouslywealthy.”
b) “Babylon’sgreatestlayinherglory,thelistofherachievementsandaccomplishments,orsophisticationandculture.Tyredidnothaveallofthat,butshedidhaveherwealthandhervastmaritimecontacts.Sobetweenthetwoofthem,BabylonandTyresummedupfromeasttowestallthattheworldofthatday—andthis—thoughtwassignificant.
3. Tyreisbeingusedherinabroader,representativeway.
a) ThatisacriticalobservationespeciallyifBabylonandTyrehaveovertonesofthecosmicbattlesbetweenthearmiesofheavenandSatan’shost.
b) ComparebothIsaiah14(KingofBabylon)andEzekiel28(KingofTyre)
4. John’sRevelationusesthelanguagehereappliedtoTyretodescribeBabylonasthegreatworld‐city.
“Justasitwasdifficulttopindowntheprecisehistoricaleventstowhichch.13mayhavebeenreferring,soalsoitiswiththischapter.SomuchsimilararethetwochaptersthatthebookofRevelationusesthelanguagehereappliedtoTyretodescribethegreatworld‐cityBabylon(Rev.18:11–24).AllthesefactorsleadtotheconclusionthatTyrehere,likeBabylonatthebeginning,isusedinarepresentativeway.”24
24Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,427.
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5. Therefore,TyreandBabylonfunctionisgreateschatologicalandcosmologicalbookendsinthenationoracles.Onemustnotmissthecosmicovertones.
B. (23:1‐18)OverthrowandrestorationofTyre
1. (vs.1‐14)OverthrowofTyre
a) (vs.1)“Kittim”isCyprusandthecityofKition(“ThisreferenceisalmostcertainlytotheMyceneanpopulationofatleastthenortheasternportionsoftheMediterraneanSea.”)25
b) (vs.4)Thereferencetothe“sea”inthisverseisto“Yam,”theCanaanitegodofthesea.Assuch,itstrengthensthecontentionthatthisprophecyisnotsimplytalkingaboutthedestructionofanearthlycity,butitincorporatesthedemonicbattlesinthecosmos.(c.f.Deuteronomy32:8)
c) TheimportantpointisthattheLordofIsraelistheSovereignGodwhoiscontrollingalloftheseevents,notjustoverthenationsoftheearth,butintheheavenliesaswell.Therefore,JudahshouldtrustonlyinHim.ThishasbeenIsaiah’sconsistenttheme.
2. (vs.15‐18)RestorationofTyre
a) Tyrewillbeforgottenfor70years
b) Thoughshewillcontinuetoprostituteherselfamongthenations,theLordwillcaptureherwealthforthebenefitofHisownpeople.
C. So,JudahshouldtrustinnooneexcepttheLord.
“Ifthegloryofthenations(chs.13and14)isnothing;iftheschemingofthenations(chs.14‐18)isnothing;ifthewisdomofthenations(chs.19‐20)isnothing;ifthevisionofthenation(chs.21,22)isnothing;ifthewealthofthenations(ch.23)isnothing,thenthequestionis:whytrustthenations?Theanswerisclear:Thereisnoreasontodoso.”
25Oswalt,TheBookofIsaiah.Chapters1‐39,429.