To help grasp the last few verses in chapter 10, we must reiterate verse 24. It begins with the word “therefore.” Whenever therefore is found in scripture, one must seek to understand what therefore is therefore. In this case it is encapsulating the previous verses in chapter 10 which began in verse 1 with “WOE”. God, through Isaiah, tells his people of Zion, a mountain within Jerusalem, to not fear the Assyrians. Then proceeds to tell them that the Assyrian king will “lift up his staff against them”. This reads as a strange reassurance; “Don’t be afraid but someone will soon attack you”. Worse yet, it will be like their 400 years under Egyptian rule as slaves. HUH? Then we go into verse 25. Not real encouragement if it were for you or me. 

Verse 25 mentions, and one should ask, what is “A very LITTLE WHILE?” The following verses explain this seemingly odd confidence builder. God basically says it is yet to come but soon after God will cease his anger against His chosen People. Verse 26 explains what is in store for those who attack His people.

Verse 26: Isaiah tells its residence that it will be but for a little while. Isaiah compares it to the slaughter by the Tribe of Ephraim at the Rock of Oreb. (This is a biblical event in which the Israelites, led by Gideon, defeated the invading Midianite army. The Midianite prince, General Oreb, was captured and killed at a rock formation that was subsequently named the Rock of Oreb, an event frequently cited as a sign of God’s power against oppressors of Israelis. This was a battle between the invading Midianites and the Tribe of Ephraim found in Judges 7:25 (click to read this passage).

His “rod upon the sea” refers to the rod of Moses opening the Red Sea during Israelites escape from Egypt. There is more to this statement than meets the eye. It could read… as the Red Sea was divided against itself, so will the army of the Midianites. The Midianites slaughtered each other. One side against the other, as was the Red Sea and the drowning of the pursuing Egyptians. It was divided then conquered.

Verse 27: “… of the anointing.” This refers to God’s eternal anointing of His chosen people through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, “in that day” can easily fit end time. Israel will no longer carry the burden of its forefathers. They will live in a God-given peace on earth in their God-promised land. What a day that will be when our Savior we shall see.

Verse 28: Aiath… Migron… Michmash… Geba: (NOTE: Geba was a Levitical City, a sanctuary city to protect the yet to be tried individual) Oddly as it may be missed at first reading, this is a flow of cities north to the south in Judah. Assyria is to the north. However, the Assyrian forces of 185,000 men were stopped at the outskirts of Jerusalem. The Assyrians had been successful up to the outskirts of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35-37, 37:36). The name Oreb (a raven) and his brother’s name Zeeb (a wolf) evoke the predatory and scavenging nature of the Midianite army that had been ravaging the land of Israel.

Verse 29-32: These 4 verse are one statement separated by commas. Together they are a prophetic description of the arrival of the Assyrian Army. Shortly after King Sennacherib returns home, better said “flees” to his throne in Assyria, he then finds death at the hands of his own sons.

Out of nowhere we read of Madmenah. Madmenah is NOT a person, but a place of residence. Verse 31 does not mean Madmenah fled, but the occupants of it did for fear of the Assyrians. Most of these verses reference a time between 705 B.C. and 701 B. C.

Verse 10:33 Scripture uses the identity Lord two times in this verse. However the Hebrew also uses two different names for LORD/LORD. Lord/aw-done‘ and LORD/yeh-ho-vaw’. Lord/aw-done’ means “ Lord, master, owner.” LORD/yeh-ho-vaw’ means self-Existent or eternal; Jehovah, the Jewish national name of God. The LORD will cut down the proud and those Jewish leaders of high stature in Judah. All that will be left in a once-mighty forest of Israelites will be stumps.

Verse 10:34 “The forest of Lebanon”  is known for their large, mighty cedar trees. God will judge the proud among Judah leaving a once mighty forest of those Judeans of high stature as if they were just stumps.

Historical Notes:

• Invasion of Judah: In his fourteenth year, Sennacherib launched a campaign and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. 
• Siege of Jerusalem: He then sent his forces to lay siege to Jerusalem, issuing a taunting message to King Hezekiah to question his reliance on Egypt and God. 
• Divine intervention: The biblical account states that God sent an angel who killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight, causing Sennacherib to retreat in shame. 
• Sennacherib’s defeat: The biblical narrative in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37 concludes with Sennacherib returning to Nineveh, where he was eventually assassinated by two of his sons. 

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025

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