Isa 17.1-14 is a prophecy about the destruction of Syria and Israel (ten tribes) who were allies against Judah, and the ruin of the Assyrian army who will come against Judah. The destruction of Damascus and other cities are prophesied also. Eschatologically (remember we need to understand these verses on several levels) this takes place in the second year of the birth-pains and the Assyrians are seen as Gog and Magog/Russia. Syria will not be listed as allies with Gog and Magog/Russia in Psa 83.1-8 as part of the war in the third year of the birth-pains.
v 1…The oracle (prophecy, word) concerning Damascus (Syria or Aram is against Judah; they were the prevailing power in their alliance with Israel/Ephraim), “Behold, Damascus (the city) is about to be removed from being a city (by the Assyrian Tiglat-pilaser-2 Kings 16.9), and it will become a fallen ruin.
v 2…The cities of Aroer (“ruin”) are forsaken (a Hebrew word play); they will be for flocks to lie down in (the cities are gone and there are just fields), and there will be no one to frighten them (to frighten the flocks and sheep).
v 3…The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim (also allied with Syria), and sovereignty from Damascus (where the king had his throne) and the remnant of Syria (won’t be a kingdom either); they will be like the glory of the sons of Israel (share the same fate),” declares the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Tzavaot).
v 4…Now it will come about in that day (day of the Lord; when the Messiah comes, a double reference prophecy about not only the destruction of Damascus, but other nations) that the glory of Jacob will fade (Israel/Ephraim will be thinned out), and the fatness of his flesh will become lean (Israel/Ephraim “wasted away” gradually to skin and bones caused by the carrying away of the people into exile).
v 5…It will be like the reaper (Assyria) gathering the standing grain, as his arm harvests ears, or it will be like one gleaning ears of grain in the valley of Rephaim (“faded or healed ones”).
v 6…Yet gleanings will be left in it (a remnant in Ephraim) like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives on the topmost bough, four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree. In harvesting olives, the tree is shaken or hit with sticks and those that were beyond reach will remain, only a few, poor inhabitants will remain in Israel), declares Yehovah, the God of Israel.
v 7…In that day (the day of the Lord, when Messiah comes, a double reference prophecy) man will have regard for his maker, and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel (a small remnant will trust in Yehovah and not in military might and repent-Psa 25.15).
v 8…And he will not have regard for the altars (will forsake idolatry), the work of his hands, nor will he look to that which his fingers have made (idols), even the Asherim (Deut 4.19; Job 31.26) and incense stands.
v 9…In that day (day of the Lord, when Messiah comes, double reference prophecy; more desolation is foretold; the land will “vomit them out”-Lev 18.28) their strong cities will be like forsaken places in the forest (ruins), or like branches which they have abandoned because of the sons of Israel (dead, dry, no life); and the land will be a desolation.
v 10…For you (Israel) have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the rock of your refuge (who protected them). Therefore you plant delightful plants and a shoot of foreignness (false doctrines, idols and superstition).
v 11…In that day (the day of the Lord, when Messiah comes) that you plant it you carefully fence it in (make it grow), and in the morning you bring your seed to blossom (took care of it); but the harvest will be a heap in the day of sickliness and incurable pain (when Assyria comes, but terms for the birth-pains).
v 12…Alas, the uproar of many peoples (the people was seen as the sea of unconverted humanity and the abode of Ha Satan and Leviathan-Isa 57.20; Rev 13.1; Rev 17.15; Isa 60.5; Jer 12.5; Rev 12.15-16; Isa 8.6-8; Dan 7.2; Ezek 31.4; Psa 98.8) who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rumbling of nations who rush on like the rumbling of many waters!
v 13…The nations (Assyria and the other nations with them) rumble on like the rumbling of many waters (like a river overflowing its banks-Isa 8.7-8), but he (Yehovah) will rebuke them and they will flee far away (the Assyrians will go back to Ninevah and Assyria) and be chased (dispersed) like chaff in the mountains before the wind, like a whirling dust before a gale.
v 14…At evening time, behold, there is terror (as they were besieged by the Assyrians)! Before morning they are no more (gone suddenly by the hand of Yehovah when he killed 185,000 Assyrians-2 Kings 19.35). Such will be the portion of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who pillage us (true of not only the Assyrians, but this will also happen again with Gog and Magog/Russia-Ezek 38.21-23 and 39.1-6).
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