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Commentary on Isaiah 17 verses 12–14
These verses read the doom of those that spoil and rob the people of God. If the Assyrians and Israelites invade and plunder Judah, if the Assyrian army take God's people captive and lay their country waste, let them know that ruin will be their lot and portion. They are here brought in, 1. Triumphing over the people of God. They relied upon their numbers. The Assyrian army was made up out of divers nations: it was the multitude of many people (Isa 17:12), by which weight they hoped to carry the cause. They were very noisy, like the roaring of the seas; they talked big, hectored, and threatened, to frighten God's people from resisting them, and all their allies from sending in to their aid. Sennacherib and Rabshakeh, in their speeches and letters, made a mighty noise to strike a terror upon Hezekiah and his people; the nations that followed them made a rushing like the rushing of many waters, and those mighty ones, that threaten to bear down all before them and carry away every thing that stands in their way. The floods have lifted up their voice, have lifted up their waves; such is the tumult of the people, and the heathen, when they rage, Psa 2:1; Psa 93:3. 2. Triumphed over by the judgments of God. They thought to carry their point by dint of noise; but woe to them (Isa 17:12), for he shall rebuke them, that is, God shall, one whom they little think of, have no regard to, stand in no awe of; he shall give them a check with an invisible hand, and then they shall flee afar off. Sennacherib, and Rabshakeh, and the remains of their forces, shall run away in a fright, and shall be chased by their own terrors, as the chaff of the mountains which stand bleak before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind, like thistle-down (so the margin); they make themselves as chaff before the wind (Psa 35:5) and then the angel of the Lord (as it follows there), the same angel that slew many of them, shall chase the rest. God will make them like a wheel, or rolling thing, and then persecute them with his tempest and make them afraid with his storm, Psa 83:13, Psa 83:15. Note, God can dispirit the enemies of his church when they are most courageous and confident, and dissipate them when they seem most closely consolidated. This shall be done suddenly (Isa 17:14): At evening-tide they are very troublesome, and threaten trouble to the people of God; but before the morning they are not. At sleeping time they are cast into a deep sleep, Psa 26:5, Psa 26:6. It was in the night that the angel routed the Assyrian army. God can in a moment break the power of his church's enemies, even when it appears most formidable; and this is written for the encouragement of the people of God in all ages, when they find themselves an unequal match for their enemies; for this is the portion of those that spoil us, they shall themselves be spoiled. God will plead his church's cause, and those that meddle do it to their own hurt.
Those who believe that the captivity of Damascus discussed above was inflicted by the Romans also refer what is written here to the time of Christ and the apostles: “People will bow to their Creator, and their eyes will look to the holy one of Israel.” They further think that what follows, namely, “You will plant faithful plants, and you will sow strange seeds; in the day of your planting, the wild grape” applies to the infidelity of the Jews. And this little passage that we just set forth they interpret as concerning the peoples who persecute the church. The next line, “he will rebuke him, and he will flee far away,” they receive as concerning the devil, demonstrating the destruction of persecutors and demons through a tropological interpretation. We, however, follow the original order and complete the historical foundation with a historical culmination. Woe, it says, to all the nations who wage war against my people, whose attack was strong enough to be compared to the waves of the sea. But when raging warriors come and inundate my land, then their prince Sennacherib will flee from them, rebuked, and they will be scattered like dust in a plundering storm. As the top of a whirl-wind revolves, so will he be struck by an angel when he approaches Jerusalem to besiege her. He will come in the morning and witness his powerful army destroyed. And “this is the portion of those who despoil us.” This prophet speaks either in the person of the people or as though uniting himself to his nation.
(Verse 12 and following) Woe to the multitude of many peoples, like the roaring of the sea, and the tumult of the nations, they shall make a sound like the noise of many waters. The peoples shall sound like the noise of abundant waters: and he shall rebuke him, and he shall flee far off: and he shall be carried away as dust of the mountains before the wind, and as a whirlwind before a tempest. In the evening, and behold trouble: in the morning, and he shall not be. This is the portion of them that have wasted us, and the lot of them that spoiled us. Above, we read about the calling of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, and also about the election of a few Jews among the Apostles. And since in comparison to the whole world and all the nations, only a small part of the people believed in Christ, as it was said above: 'And the remnant of Syria shall be as the glory of the children of Israel' (for 'many are called, but few are chosen' - Matthew 22:14) and 'not all have faith' (2 Thessalonians 3:2), now it follows that there is not mourning, but woe to those nations who refused to believe and persecuted the Christian people. And they are compared to the mass of waves and the roaring sea, and as much as is within them, they desire to overwhelm and occupy everything. For the people will sound forth in the spectacles of theatrical luxury, and in the cruelty of the amphitheater, and in the madness of the circus, just as the sound of overflowing waters, when with a united voice of impiety they blaspheme, and they say to the Christians, 'Throw them to the lions and beasts,' and other things of this kind. But to them, like raging seas, the Lord will rebuke the instigator of their sedition, and He will drive him away from His people. And as dust moved on the mountains, the higher it is, the stronger it is carried away; and as a whirlwind, which rises from the earth, is carried away into the sky by a sudden storm: so also he, being carried away, will be separated from the people of God and will flee, lest he be relegated to the abyss. And when the day of consummation comes, which is interpreted as evening, then there will be turmoil, acknowledging his sins. And in the morning, on the day of resurrection, it will not continue, as the LXX translated, it will not be. But if it will not be, what will those who give penance to the devil respond, and they promise as much as they can, an archangelic rank? This is the role of those who have devastated us, and the fate of those who will plunder us. This is either the speech of the Christian people or the prophet speaking from the perspective of the believing people, that the persecutors will have eternal destruction, who have oppressed the holy ones of God with exile, imprisonment, and the seizure of goods, and will possess eternal punishments.
(Verses 12-14.) Woe to the multitude of many peoples, as the sound of the roaring sea: and the tumult of nations, like the sound of many waters. The peoples will make noise, like the sound of overflowing waters: and they will rebuke him, and he will flee far away: and he will be carried away like the dust of mountains before the wind, and like a whirlwind before a storm. At evening time: and behold, there will be trouble in the morning, and it will not continue. This is their portion, who have plundered us, and their lot, who have taken us away. Those who consider the captivity of Damascus inflicted by the Romans, and this which is written: Man shall bow down to his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel, refer to the times of Christ and the Apostles. They also understand the following: You will plant a faithful plantation, and you will sow a foreign branch: on the day of your plantation the wild vine, etc., they perceive the unfaithfulness of the Jews. And this chapter that we have now presented is interpreted by the Gentiles who persecute the Church. Moreover, what follows is understood to be about the devil, with a tropological interpretation illustrating the devastation caused by persecutors and demons. But we follow the sequential order and protect the historical foundations with historical insight. Woe, he says, to all the nations that have fought against my people, whose force was so great that it could be compared to the waves of the sea. But when they come raging and flood my land, then their leader Sennacherib will flee, reproached by him, and be scattered like dust carried by the wind, and whirled up into the sky like a storm. Indeed, he will approach Jerusalem, besieging it, but he will be struck down by an angel; he will come in the morning, and he will see his army destroyed, the power of his might gone. And this will be the portion of those who devastated us. The Prophet speaks either on behalf of the people or joins himself to his own nation (IV Kings XIX, 35, 36). Afterwards we read: The Angel of the Lord went out and struck down in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and they arose early in the morning, and behold, all the dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of the Assyrians departed and returned and lived in Nineveh.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 17:14 serves as a powerful prophetic climax, declaring God's swift and absolute judgment against the oppressors of His people. It paints a vivid picture of a dramatic reversal: formidable enemies who bring terror in the evening vanish completely by morning, underscoring the instantaneous and comprehensive nature of divine intervention. The verse concludes by asserting that this sudden destruction is the divinely appointed "portion" and "lot" for those who plunder and rob, thereby affirming the certainty of God's unyielding justice.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 17:14 masterfully employs several literary devices to amplify its profound message of divine judgment. The most striking is Juxtaposition, specifically the stark temporal contrast between "eveningtide trouble" and the enemy's complete disappearance "before the morning." This dramatic opposition highlights the instantaneous and overwhelming nature of God's intervention, emphasizing the brevity of the oppressors' reign. Hyperbole is also powerfully evident in the absolute declaration "he is not," which underscores the utter annihilation or disappearance of the threatening force, suggesting a level of destruction that goes beyond mere defeat to complete non-existence. The terms "portion" and "lot" function as potent Metaphors for destiny or a divinely appointed outcome, drawing on the ancient cultural practice of casting lots to determine shares. They symbolize the inescapable justice that awaits the oppressors, a fate decreed by God. Furthermore, the parallelism between "them that spoil us" and "them that rob us" is a classic example of Synonymous Parallelism, reinforcing the identity and predatory actions of the condemned, thereby adding significant rhetorical force and solemnity to the pronouncement of their inevitable doom.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 17:14 powerfully articulates the theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His unwavering commitment to justice. It demonstrates that no earthly power, however formidable or terrifying, can ultimately withstand the divine will or escape divine accountability. God's intervention is portrayed as swift, decisive, and complete, ensuring that those who oppress His covenant people will face inevitable and total destruction. This serves as both a profound reassurance to the beleaguered faithful, reminding them of God's active protection, and a solemn warning to those who would engage in injustice and exploitation. The verse affirms that there is a divine accounting for all actions, and the "portion" of the wicked is not lasting prosperity but ultimate ruin, while God's people can trust in His ultimate vindication and deliverance.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 17:14 offers profound spiritual nourishment for believers facing various forms of oppression, injustice, or seemingly insurmountable challenges. It calls us to cultivate radical trust in God's sovereign power and His perfect timing, even when circumstances seem dire. When we feel overwhelmed by "trouble" that looms large in our "eveningtide," this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is capable of bringing about complete reversal and deliverance "before the morning." It encourages patience and perseverance, knowing that the "portion" of those who cause harm is ultimately destruction, while God's justice will prevail. For those who might be tempted to exploit or oppress others, it serves as a stark and sobering warning: all actions have divine consequences, and God will hold the wicked accountable. This truth should motivate us to live righteously, to champion justice for the vulnerable, and to extend compassion, confident that the Lord sees and acts on behalf of the oppressed, bringing about His perfect will in His perfect time.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are "them that spoil us, and them that rob us" in this context?
Answer: In the immediate historical context of Isaiah 17, "them that spoil us, and them that rob us" primarily refers to the formidable Assyrian Empire and its allies, who were a dominant and oppressive force threatening Judah and the surrounding nations. Damascus (Syria) and Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel), against whom this prophecy is also directed, had also been adversaries to Judah. More broadly, and for all time, the terms represent any nation, power, or individual that unjustly plunders, exploits, or oppresses God's people, whether physically, economically, or spiritually. The verse provides a universal principle of divine justice against all forms of unrighteous aggression, affirming that God will hold such perpetrators accountable.
What does "before the morning he is not" signify about God's judgment?
Answer: The phrase "before the morning he is not" powerfully signifies the absolute, instantaneous, and complete nature of God's judgment. It implies a total and utter disappearance or annihilation of the threatening force within the incredibly short span of a single night. This is not a gradual decline or a prolonged battle, but a sudden, decisive act of divine power that leaves no trace of the enemy's former might or presence. It underscores God's omnipotence and His ability to bring about radical reversals of fortune with breathtaking speed, often in ways that defy human expectation or military strategy. This rapid judgment serves to magnify God's glory and to demonstrate the futility of resisting His sovereign will, ensuring that His people are delivered.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 17:14, with its dramatic portrayal of swift divine judgment against oppressors, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the immediate context speaks to the destruction of earthly adversaries, the New Testament reveals that humanity's greatest oppressors are sin, death, and the spiritual forces of evil. Jesus, through His sacrificial crucifixion and glorious resurrection, decisively conquered these ultimate enemies. The "trouble" of humanity's sin and separation from God was met with Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, and "before the morning" of His resurrection, the power of death and the grave was rendered "not." Just as the formidable enemies of Israel vanished, so too did the power of sin and death vanish for all who are united with Christ (Romans 6:9-10). The "portion" and "lot" of those who spoil and rob humanity of its spiritual inheritance—Satan and his demonic forces—is ultimate and eternal judgment, a fate sealed by Christ's victory on the cross and to be fully realized at His glorious return (Revelation 20:10). Conversely, for those who trust in Him, the "portion" is not destruction but eternal life and an imperishable inheritance, secured by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and who promises to return to judge the living and the dead.