Isaiah 17

1 This is the burden [message from God, prophecy] against Damascus: “Behold [look, see], Damascus [the capital city of Syria] is no longer a city [a place of human habitation]; it has become a heap [pile of rubble] of ruins [a state of decay, devastation]. word study 2 The cities [towns, settlements] of Aroer [a place of ruins] are forsaken [abandoned, left to decay]; they will be left [given over, entrusted] to the flocks [herds, groups of animals], which will lie down [rest, stretch out] with no one [nothing, none] to fear [make them afraid, terrorize them]. word study 3 The fortress [strong tower, fortified city] will disappear from Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son and the tribe that descended from him], and the sovereignty [kingdom, dominion] from Damascus [the capital city of Syria, an important trading center]. The remnant [what is left after a disaster or judgment] of Aram [also known as Syria, and its people, the Arameans] will be like the splendor [glory, great honor] of the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, also referring to his 12 sons],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things]. word study 4 “In that day [when God’s judgment comes, at that future time] the splendor [glory, great honor] of Jacob [Israel, the chosen people] will fade [become thin, languish], and the fat [richness, abundance] of his body [flesh, physical form] will waste away [become lean, starve], word study 5 as the reaper [harvestman, gatherer] gathers the standing grain [mature crops, growth] and harvests [reaps, cuts down] the ears [Shibboleth, flowing stream or grain] with his arm [strength, force], as one gleans [picks up, gathers] heads of grain [Shibboleth, ear of grain] in the Valley [lowland area] of Rephaim [Rapha, a group of giants]. word study 6 Yet gleanings [like a few leftover grapes, a small remaining harvest] will remain, like an olive tree [shaken violently, beaten] that has been beaten— two or three berries [small fruits, olives] atop the tree, four or five on its fruitful [productive, bearing much] branches,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] of Israel. word study 7 In that day [the time of divine reckoning] men will look [gaze intently, turn their eyes] to their Maker [Creator, the One who forms and shapes] and turn their eyes [have respect, focus their attention] to the Holy [set apart, sacred] One of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 8 They will not look [nor gaze intently] to the altars [places of sacrifice, the work of their hands] they have fashioned [made or constructed] with their hands or to the Asherahs [idolatrous poles, goddess worship] and incense altars [sun-images, pillars of worship] they have made [created or formed] with their fingers [by their own strength]. word study 9 In that day [a time of reckoning, a future era] their strong [secure, fortified] cities [towns, settlements] will be like [resembling, comparable to] forsaken [abandoned, deserted] thickets [woods, forests] and summits [mountain tops, heights], abandoned [left, relinquished] to the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] and to utter [complete, total] desolation [a state of devastation, wasteland]. word study 10 For you have forgotten [mislayed, been oblivious to] the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of your salvation [deliverance, rescue] and failed to remember [recall, mark] the Rock [a fortified place, stronghold] of your refuge [security, protection]. Therefore, though you cultivate [plant, establish] delightful [pleasant, enjoyable] plots and set out cuttings [small branches, twigs] from exotic [foreign, strange] vines— word study 11 though on the day [of opportunity, a 24-hour period] you plant [or sow, cultivate] you make them grow [to flourish, increase], and on that morning [the break of day, a new beginning] you help your seed [offspring, descendants] sprout [to bloom, flourish]— yet the harvest [the time of reaping, the crop itself] will vanish [flee away, disappear] on the day [a time of sickness] of disease [sickness, weakness] and incurable [desperate, hopeless] pain [suffering, grief]. word study 12 Alas [Woe, a cry of sorrow], the tumult [uproar, chaotic noise] of many [numerous, a large multitude] peoples [nations, communities]; they rage [roar, make a loud noise] like the roaring [crashing, tumultuous] seas [large bodies of water] and clamoring [rushing, turbulent] nations [countries, peoples]; they rumble [resound, make a loud sound] like the crashing [rushing, overflowing] of mighty [powerful, strong] waters [rivers, oceans]. word study 13 The nations [like a mighty, raging sea] rage like the rush [crashing, overflowing] of many waters. He [God, the Almighty] rebukes them, and they flee [run away quickly, escape] far away, driven before the wind [a gentle breeze, a powerful gale] like chaff [the loose, worthless outer covering of grain] on the hills [mountains, lofty heights], like tumbleweeds [dry, rolling weeds] before a gale [a strong, violent wind, a whirlwind]. word study 14 In the [late] evening [at eventide, sunset], there is sudden [great] terror [fear, dread, destruction]! Before [prior to, at] morning [the break of day, dawn], they are [completely, utterly] no more [nothing, gone, not existing]! This is the [allotted, inherited] portion [share, inheritance] of those who [violently, forcefully] loot [plunder, spoil, despoil] us and the [assigned, destined] lot [fate, fortune] of those who [rob, ravage, plunder] plunder us. word study