The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

Loss of descendants was seen as a great shame and curse (cf. 47:9). It may even have been thought toaffect one’s afterlife.14:23 “I will sweep it with the broom of destruction” YHWH is depicted as a wife/child cleaning thehouse by sweeping (BDB 370, KB 367, Pilpel PERFECT). All the trash is removed. What a domestic,but powerful domestic metaphor (unique to Isaiah).14:24-27 Most English translations make a paragraph change here. But notice there is no “oracle”marker, which implies that 13:1-14:27 is one literary unit dealing with the destruction of Assyria. SeeContextual Insights, C.14:24 This verse asserts that God’s will will be accomplished. His word is sure (cf. 46:11; 55:8-9; Job23:13; Ps. 33:9; Acts 4:28).} “The LORD of hosts has sworn” By the power and authority of Himself, YHWH states His plansand purposes (cf. 14:24; 45:23; 62:8; Deut. 1:8,35; 2:14; 4:31; 6:10,18,23; Jer. 51:14; Amos 4:2; 8:7).14:25 “to break Assyria in My hand” This may refer to the plague which devastated 185,000 troops ofSennacherib in one night before the gates of Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s day (cf. II Kgs. 18:13-19:37, esp.19:35-37; II Chronicles 32).} “his yoke will be removed from them” This is a recurrent theme (cf. 9:4; 10:27). Yoke, like “staff”or “rod,” was a symbol of foreign oppression.14:26-27 This Assyrian king had a plan for world domination (v. 26), but YHWH had another plan (cf.8:10), a plan for world redemption (v. 27)! Assyria, Babylon and Persia are tools in YHWH’s plan andno one can withstand His hand (i.e., power).NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 14:28-3228In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came:29"Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you,Because the rod that struck you is broken;For from the serpent's root a viper will come out,And its fruit will be a flying serpent.30Those who are most helpless will eat,And the needy will lie down in security;I will destroy your root with famine,And it will kill off your survivors.31Wail, O gate; cry, O city;Melt away, O Philistia, all of you;For smoke comes from the north,And there is no straggler in his ranks.32How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?That the LORD has founded Zion,And the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it."169