Note: The tribe of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph in Egypt, was the largest and most influential tribe in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Often the LORD/Bible refers to the Kingdom of Israel by the name Ephraim. This helps the reader distinguish between Israel as a twelve tribe nation and Israel as a 10 tribe northern kingdom and the kingdom of Judah [Benjamin]. This time in Israel and Judean history a Bible student and historian should know there has been a constant jealousy for power between the Israeli tribe of Ephraim and the Tribe of Judah. Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph in Egypt.

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Assyria is to be judged according to Isaiah beginning at verse 5. The context of the passage began in 7:1 through 10:4. Assyria, like Babylon’s defeat of Judah, are used as God’s instruments of punishment for the Tribes of Israel North and South. The Jeremiah Study Bible using the New King James Version says about verse 5 in Isaiah chapter 10: ”Assyria was like a rod in God’s hand (Jeremiah 51:20) – He controlled its action without its acknowledgement.”  We read this in verse 5. It is in the first sentence. “Woe to Assyria…”. Verse 6 states I will send him (Assyria) against an ungodly nation (Israel). About 100 years later, Babylon will be a rod in God’s hand over Judah. Other idol worshiping nations have been used by God to do the same thing in their past.

“The cities mentioned in verses 9 and 10 came under Assyrian control between 740 and 721 B.C., and none of the gods of these areas had provided the slightest help.” (Wolf)

In a little over 100 years, a Mede and Babylonian invasion of Assyria will utterly destroy them. Read previous publications about who were the Medes. Note that Assyrians dispersed the northern 10 Tribes of Israel; many of them to sparsely populated lands like that the Medes.

We are venturing into, as stated in a previous Isaiah article, Isaiah bounces between then Bible times of plunder and wars, End Time prophecy and End Time. Starting in this chapter, some statements include issues of then and coming End Time. Dual applications. This means a single prophecy that has two different times of revelation.

It is sickening to know that the wealthy Jews (Israelites) would take from their own poor what little the poor had. This brings on God’s wrath. This is found in 10:2. “To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.”

Verse 3: Just like End Times when all nations align against Jerusalem, there will be no one to help Israel defend itself. When these chosen People of God realize their total demise Christ will descend from Heaven to earth to set up his kingdom for eternity. It is reality. Christ will come in the clouds of the east like the hero comes into play at the last moment. HOWEVER, this is not any movie or story made for entertainment. It is actuality.

Verse 4:  God points out through Isaiah that “Without me” they are doomed. This verse also points out that “His hand is stretched out still”. This means it isn’t quite over yet. God’s anger against His chosen is still not settled.

Verse 5 & 6: “Woe to Assyria”. This is odd since God has allowed them to tread on his chosen people Israel, yet they will be judged for doing just that. How is this possible? Let’s not forget the free will of man. We do have free will. God simply gives/gave them an open hand.

Verse 7: God through Isaiah explains that He is not forcing them to destroy the northern 10 Tribes but that since the Assyrians “but it is in their heart to do so.” God simply removed His protecting hand. Satan wants all of God’s chosen to be destroyed to join him in Hell.

Verse 8 – 11: In these verses God through Isaiah points out that He has done this before. Isaiah writes, “are not my princes” (of Israel) Iike other kings? God has judged them through the ages and will continue doing so.

Verse 12: Now we shift to global affairs after dealing with Assyria… Do not think that the USA will somehow escape all of this. Just look at it today in its present state of dishevel.

Verse 13 – 15 Isaiah uses comparable situations to clarify God’s actions. He doesn’t try to justify them but explains God’s actions by comparisons. He is sovereign. Hasn’t He done this before. No one will stop Him from doing the same thing in the future or OUR time.

Verse 14: The Assyrians were in for a rude wake-up call!

“The cities mentioned in verses 9 and 10 came under Assyrian control between 740 and 721 B.C., and none of the gods of these areas had provided the slightest help.” (Wolf)

Verse 15-19: Isaiah uses tools to explain God letting non-Jewish Nations to be his tools to discipline His chosen Peoples of Israel. The ax, the saw, a man’s staff are examples in and of themselves are useless. A person must willingly take them in hand to use them. To quote the Jeremiah Study Bible…”Later in time, Assyria is compared to a forest burned so completely that a child could scribble the number of trees” left in their lands.

Verse 20: Their will be a remnant of Israelites after all this tribulation. This verse is what the entire Bible has planned for the descendants of Jacob. This is so relevant read the following.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.” [NKJV]

Verse 21: This verse reinforces verse 20. The remnantof Israel will finally return and accept the Mighty God of Israel.

Verse 22: By the end of earth’s time, Israelites would have been numbered as the sand of the sea [not the beach but the SEA], a remnant will return to their native lands as gifted by God to Abraham. This is one of those current and End Time passages. A remnant will return… But we know that none of the 10 northern tribes ever returned to their land. We also know that few of Jacob’s descendants have returned to God.

Chapters 11 and 12 go deeper into End Time Tribulation.

Verse 24 – 27: This can be summed up by a short section found in verse 25. “…the indignation of the world and God’s judgment will cease.” This is obviously not so if we look at the United Nations that all but united. This means this passage is yet to come.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025