Season 6, Podcast 70, Isaiah 17:1-14, “Scattering of Israel.” Artwork

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Season 6, Podcast 70, Isaiah 17:1-14, “Scattering of Israel.”

June 11, 2025 • Ronald • Season 6 • Episode 70

Season 6, Podcast 70, Isaiah 17:1-14, “Scattering of Israel.”

We have learned thus far that the central theme of Isaiah is Christ. Another dominate theme is the history of the Lord’s covenant people. At the time of Isaiah, the twelve tribes have split. The northern tribes, which consist of what is soon to be called The Ten Lost Tribes, is led by Ephraim. Their capital is Samaria. The southern tribes, which consists of Judah and Benjamin are led by Judah. Their capital is Jerusalem. They all suffer the same fate. Another dominant theme is to show how God works among men. It could boil down to a singular theme: Those who keep the commandments of God prosper. Those who do not keep the commandments of God are led into captivity. Regardless of what religion one espouses, God is God of the whole earth. Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. The message of Isaiah is that ultimately everything depends upon Christ. Therefore, we can look at the story of the House of Israel as a type and shadow of things to come for the whole world.

So far we have dealt with Israel, Judah, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, and Moab. All of them suffer devastating defeat because they did not worship the true God. Their downfall could have been avoided. The Lord favors the righteous. The covenant people of the Lord ultimately will only be the righteous. Isaiah is pivotal because he is the prophet, whether they accept it or not, of all the nations listed above and indeed to all the world. His mission was to warn anyone who would listen to a prophet’s voice. In other words, regardless of who believe his words or who does not believe his words, he is still a true prophet speaking for the Lord. Every nation of the earth from the beginning of time till the end of time could benefit by listening to a true prophet’s voice. The Holy Scriptures are a voice of warning to all the world.

This is a pivotal time because the entire history of the world is about to change. Remember Babylon had Daniel. Though he was of the tribe of Judah, there was no greater prophet than Daniel.

Isaiah 17 addresses the issue of the fall of Israel which fall was unnecessary.

Isaiah 17:1

The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Damascus is the capital of Syria, which is in alliance with Israel against Judah. It will soon become a ‘ruinous heap.’ Isaiah’s poetic imagery is extraordinarily concrete. He forces you to imagine the entire destruction of Syria. Remember Syria so intimidated Ahaz, king of Judah, that he ran to Assyria for help. As a result, not only did Assyria devastate Syria, but they also later on devastated Judah though they did not conquer them. It took the power of the Babylonians for that.

Isaiah 17:2

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

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The cities of Aroer are associated with Moab whose destruction was described in Isaiah 15 & 16. What was once inhabited by people, is now fit only for flocks. The same fate happens to Ephraim.

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Isaiah 17:3-4

The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

Ephraim is left defenseless. The same thing happens to Syria. Damascus is the capital of Syria. The Assyrians destroy both Ephraim and Syria. The glory of Jacob was the twelve tribes of Israel led by his twelve sons.