isaiah 13 23 nation oracles - charlotte awakecharlotteawake.com/talkingnotes/isaiah/chapter... ·...

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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.