NOTE: The term Egypt has three geographical possibilities. There is lower Egypt (towards the Mediterranean) meaning the primary lands at the mouth of the Nile on the Mediterranean Sea and what we see as the Egypt of 2025. Then [2nd] there is upper Egypt which includes parts of the lands of Sudan and Ethiopia. And third, the combined territories of Lower Egypt, and upper Egypt which includes parts of Sudan and Ethiopia.

Confusing? Yes, BUT not unusual when one references, any place below the equator. The confusion comes from Africa being below the equator. Consider Egypt as flows the Nile River. It starts in the upper Ethiopian and flows north to lower Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. It flows from south to north.

V1 When a verse in scripture stars with WOE, pay attention. It is like a rider stopping a horse. It is expressing true consequences if one continues doing what ever the woe is addressing.

V2 The Bible mentions other groups or tribes as having large, tall, or giant people, but not in combination with also having smooth skin. Ethiopians with Ethiopia are the only ones that mention all three characteristics: tall, smooth skinned,… and divided by many rivers.

AHAMOMENT: MOST of the giants mentioned in the Bible include:

• Emim: A tall people who lived east of the Jordan River. Their name translates to “the dreaded ones” or “terrors“. They were a branch of the Rephaim and lived in the land later occupied by the Moabites. They were descended from Lot and his daughter.
  Zamzummim: Also called the Zuzim, who also lived east of the Jordan River. Deuteronomy 2:20 states that the land previously inhabited by giants called Rephaim is considered by the Ammonites to be the land of the Zamzummim. These giants were a people of great size, but God destroyed them before the Ammonites took their land. 
• PS: The Ammonites and the Amorites are two different people.
  Amorites: Described as being exceptionally tall. Their name means westerner [Syria]. A Westerner of the Middle East.  
  Rephaim: A group associated with the conquest of the promised land, with Goliath being a member of that Tribe; Rephaim.
  Anakim: Descendants of Nephilim who battled the Israelites in Canaan. Sometimes the term refers to the departed dead in the underworld (Sheol). 

V3-4: This verse is part of the overall prophecy in Isaiah 18. It deals with God’s plans for a nation beyond Egypt (likely Ethiopia) and the impending threat of an empire like Assyria. The words ALL nations, as we have discussed many times before, (all=KOLE in Hebrew) means that there are no exceptions. This means all/kole the people of the world; present, and future. God is looking at earth from His Throne which is above all things. God will differentiate in his judgement between the good and bad ACCORDINGLY… a global judgement.

V5: Symbolically Isaiah uses man’s judgement as a vineyard about to be harvested. It is part of the larger prophecy of Isaiah 18 addressing the powerful nation of Ethiopia (Kush) and the world’s armies. John Wesley: “Before they (Israel) receive/reach the end of their hopes.” When? When the bud or flower is turned into a grape, which gives hopes of good vintage. He – The Lord. The branches – Instead of gathering the grapes, shall cut down the tree, and throw it into the fire.

V6: The prophecy warns against Israelis trusting in worldly alliances instead of God. The Amplified Bible states it: “They (dead warriors) will be left together for the mountain birds of prey, And for the beasts of the earth; And the birds of prey will [spend the] summer feeding on them, And all the beasts of the earth will spend harvest time on them.”

V7: Here for a second time in Isaiah 18 we find this unnamed nation of tall and smooth skin people. They are described as people who were mean from the beginning. Plus, once again they are from a land that is divided by many rivers. Geographic research points to the land of Ethiopia.

At first glance one might wonder how the Bible in the Old Testament Middle East is connected to south-eastern Africa, Ethiopia. Chapter 18 in scripture call this chapter A Proclamation Against Ethiopia. In the Bible, “Ethiopia” (the Greek translation of the Hebrew “Cush”) primarily refers to a geographic region south of Egypt, encompassing parts of modern-day Sudan and parts of northern Ethiopia. Cush plays a major role in End Time scriptures. During this time in history, the Ethiopians were a powerful nation.

The Queen of Sheba during King Solomon’s time ruled over Ethiopia. In her time, it was much larger than it is today. It even reached across the Red Sea into a portion of south-western Saudi Arabia and Yemen. From a point of curiosity, the giants mentioned in scripture hail from nearby territories to the north. The Bible refers to Ethiopia and Egypt as nearly synonymous terms. There is a connection between Biblical Ethiopia and Judah when Ethiopia was hoping for a coalition against Assyria (NKJV-Jeremiah Study Bible).

Next article is Isaiah 19… The Burden Against Egypt. It is a powerful vision of End Time.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025

• Damascus: Chapter 17 begins by prophesying that Damascus will become a ruined and deserted city; a consequence of its past actions against God and Israel. This verse suggests our past sins matter, but Jesus steps in and says, He has paid for those sins if the one being judged is a believer.
• Israel (Ephraim): The prophecy extends to the cities of Israel, which will become deserted. This is leading to a significant decline in population and glory of Israel. Two times this did or will happen. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) has never been repopulated by Hebrews since the Assyrians dismantled it in 722 B.C. It will be the same in End Time per the number of Israelites still alive. Many will have been slaughtered.
• Idolatry and alliances: Isaiah connects this judgment to God’s appointed people of Israel’s and their abandonment of God and reliance on foreign alliances. Isaiah symbolized this by the planting of “pleasant plants” and “foreign seedlings,” which will ultimately yield. 

Isaiah does it once again. He uses lingo that is often symbolic of something or somewhere else. It makes a deep-dive-study to discover or unravel what a verse or passage is saying. Chapter 17 is one of them.

V1: Damascus will cease from being a city. This is quite a bold statement for a city that is possibly the longest occupied city of significance in history. It will be a ruinous heap. Historians and globalists would challenge this on what they see. Damascus has been around for a long time using archaeological evidence to prove it. This is End Time prophecy.

V2:[JS1]  “The cities of Aroer…”? There are three different BIBLE and historical locations identified as Aroer territories. One is near the Arnon River in modern-day Jordan, one in the territory of the Tribe of Gad, and one in Judah in the Negev desert [see map to the right]. The Negev or Naqab is a desert and semiarid region of southern Israel. Its main city is Be’er Sheva.  This is too far south to be the Aroer of Isaiah. This map is not southern Jordan. Thus, we are left with Aroer somewhat to the north where verse 3 is closer to Damascus.

The lands and cities of Aroer will be desolate.

AHAMOMENT: The Ammonites are descendants of Ben-ammi, who was the son of Lot (Abraham’s nephew) and Lot’s younger daughter (Genesis 19:38).

The Moabites are descended from Moab, the son of Lot and his oldest daughter (Genesis 19:37). 

 The Edomites are the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin and Isaac’s eldest son. In short, Edomites are blood relatives to the Israelites. Verse 1-5 tell why to NOT make a vow to God. Don’t say to God in a prayer … you do this for me; I will do such-n-such [Matthew 5:33-37]     

V3: Recall Ephriam’s name is often used as a synonym for the ten northern tribes of Israel. This is one of those times. God means the northern ten Tribes of Israel when he says “Ephriam.” Shortly after, Assyria fulfills this prophecy. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians turn on and destroy the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Northern Kingdom tribes are dispersed in multiple directions. Nineveh of Assyria then becomes the big dog on the block.

V4: “In that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.” Jacob/Israel will become a nobody. This is another near and distant prophecy. Once at this time and a second during the tribulation.

V5:  All-in-all, verses 1–5 prophecy of Israel to the north, through the soon-to-invade armies of the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib, will seek their complete destruction and dispersion. The Northern Kingdon never recovers and Israelis do not return to their homelands until end time.

V6: “Gleanings will be *left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten— two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the LORD God of Israel.” 
* In their former tribal territories in northern Israel. They become the Ten Lost Tribes.

V7: In verse 7 we find that phrase again, “In that Day” man will look for his maker.  Isaiah jumps ahead to THE future of End time. All of Israel will look to their left and to the right finding very few Hebrew neighbors. Israelites, meaning all 12 Tribes, including Jerusalem, look to God and Messiah Jesus. They will need his help, better said, his complete intervention. This could also include mankind. The Tribulation will be over and many will die in Armageddon.

V8 – 9: “In that Day” mankind will find that wealth or possessions are not a safety net. This firstly applies to the north ten Tribes. The world under antichrist will be self-destroying. Dr. Jeremiah: One of God’s purposes in judgment is to turn our focus away from the things we have trusted in instead of toward Him. Israel’s dependence on earthly allies in their near future did not help. End time dependence on others will totally fail. Instead, those Israel thinks will help will become invaders.

V10 – 12: From Verse 10 to the end of chapter 17, we find what Gods’ hand is going to do. What man may carefully plant will be of little value. The seed will flourish looking promising, but the crop will fail. V11 once again uses that phrase, IN THAT DAY.

V13 – 14: In the Jeremiah study Bible the footnote states: “God will blow away the foreign nations like the chaff separated from the grain. They will create a giant dust storm, and they will vanish in a day. (This is the ON THAT DAY) God will ultimately rescue His people and deal justly with all nations aligned against her.” These verses emphasize that the enemies’ “portion” and “lot” is their own ruin, a direct result of their oppressive actions against God’s people. God’s people in this verse can include any believer, but especially Israelis.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025

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 [JS1]https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2017%3A2&version=NASB

Isaiah 16, as explained by Halley’s Bible Handbook, describes a prophecy of judgment against Moab for its pride, which was a continuation of the message in chapter 15. It calls for Moab to send a flock lambs as a tribute to Jerusalem, symbolizing their need to submit to Judah and the ruler of Judah’s land. A flock of lambs is no great issue for Moabites. However, it also reveals that Moab’s arrogance led to the destruction of its prosperity and a devastating downfall. 

Moab’s desperate plea and punishment

• The chapter begins with a plea for Moab to send *a lamb as a tribute to the ruler of Judah, a gesture of seeking favor and protection.

*Probably a flock of lambs. Some translations read “lamb” while others use the plural form … “lambs.”

• Isaiah describes Moab as being like a “fluttering bird” pushed from the nest, showing their helplessness and confusion as they are fleeing an oppressor.
• Look at Deuteronomy 2:9. They were not to destroy Moab and take their land. King David, Israel’s greatest king, was one-quarter Moabite. His paternal grandmother Ruth was from Moab, and David entrusted his father and mother to the protection of the king of Moab when he was a fugitive from Saul (1Samual_22:3-4).

The Ultimate Destruction and judgement of Moab

• Despite their attempts to find refuge, the prophecy states that Moab’s gods were unable to help them.
• The judgment is described as a devastating downfall, with the destruction of their vineyards and a wailing cry throughout the land.
  • NOTE: There is no MOAB today. Moabites were not simply scattered but slaughtered. There is no promise from God that they will retrieve their lands as is promised to Israel.
• Isaiah emphasizes that Moab’s pride and arrogance are the cause of their judgment.
• Within three years, what is left of Moab’s glory and power would be destroyed, leaving only a small remnant of scattered survivors. 
• The land of Moab, specifically the area called Ar, had already been given by God to the descendants of Lot as their possession.

Lessons from the prophecy

• The danger of pride: The prophecy serves as a warning against excessive pride and arrogance, which can lead to self-destruction. This is still true today.
• The consequence of late repentance: Moab is condemned for waiting until it was too late to repent.
  • Sincere repentance is never “too late” if there is life, many Bible verses warn that those who delay repentance are likely to find it difficult to turn to God. It MUST be a real thing. It is not a nearby life vest one can grasp as their ship is obviously sinking.
• God’s mercy and justice: God’s actions toward Moab demonstrate his mercy and desire for righteousness, while also carrying out justice against those who oppose him.
• The importance of submission: The prophecy illustrates the importance of submitting to God’s authority and accepting the help that he offers, instead of relying on one’s own strength and pride.
• A message of hope: The prophecy offers a glimmer of hope for the future, suggesting that God’s kingdom will be established on mercy and that he will quickly bring righteousness. 

There is no Moab or Moabite today. Their kingdom is all part of Jordan. Yes, names have been changed over time. Moabite culture was centered on agriculture and animal husbandry in a fertile land, with a polytheistic religion that prominently featured the god Chumash. Again, sending a tribute was not an issue for Moab, but they refused. Their pride got in the way.

They had a language similar to Hebrew. This is a no-brainer since they are/were relatives of Israelis. Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was the ancestor of the Moabites through one of his two daughters. At the fleeing of the twelve Tribes of Israel from Egypt, Moabites were part of the Canaanites found in the Bible. Genesis19:36-37 (cntrl/click or tap) state that Lot’s eldest daughter bore a son naming him Moab.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025