Isaiah 17:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Historically, Damascus had consistently lent support to the ten tribes against Judah, as seen in the accounts within the books of Kings and Chronicles, warning that the citizens of Damascus faced imminent ruin from the Assyrians. The king of Assyria proclaimed, "I have conquered Arabia, and Damascus, and Samaria; for as I have subdued them and all the kingdoms, so I shall also possess you." Furthermore, in the account of Kings, it is noted, "And the king of Assyria ascended to Damascus and captured it," and he carried its inhabitants to Cyrene (4 Kings 16:9), slaying Rezin, the king of Damascus, who had suffered greatly during Hezekiah’s reign in Jerusalem. Indeed, it is asserted that Damascus will no longer exist as a city; the time of captivity approaches, with the Assyrian king having already mobilized his forces. It will lie in ruin, where only remnants of its former grandeur will remain as scattered stones. The cities of Aroer will be deserted, designated for livestock, with Aroer symbolizing desolation, derived from the tamarisk tree that thrives in arid environments. The flocks shall find rest there, free from fear. Such desolation will prevail that even hidden dangers will be of no concern. No more support will remain for Ephraim: the ten tribes will lack assistance against Judah. The kingdom derived from Damascus is destined to cease. This cessation signifies not an everlasting desolation, but rather a divine withdrawal of power from Damascus, which once held dominion over all Syria. The remnant of Syria shall reflect the honor of the children of Israel, says the Lord of Hosts. Just as the ten tribes were devastated by the Assyrian invasion, resulting in their glory being taken into exile, so shall the few who remain in Damascus experience a similar fate, potentially gaining recognition as part of an allied nation. This glory is understood ironically, representing a shift from former dignity as it will indeed come to pass, for the Lord has declared it, and His words remain unfaltering. Some interpret this prophecy as parallels to the account in Jeremiah: where it is recorded that Damascus fell into disarray, fleeing, and was engulfed by grief and distress like a fountain; also, "I will ignite a fire on the walls of Damascus and consume the fortifications of Ben-hadad" (Jeremiah 49:24-27). It should be noted that Jeremiah speaks of the Babylonian captivity of Damascus, referring to those few survivors left behind by the Assyrian king; Isaiah, however, foretells of an impending captivity by the Assyrians. Others suggest that this indicates a foretelling of the Roman captivity, during which the Judeans were also taken captive, leading Damascus, under the rule of Aretas, to suffer a similar fate; thus, references to Damascus may pertain to the time of Christ and the mysteries of the apostles.

The Burden of Damascus. Simmachus and Theodotion refer to Damascus; the LXX presents it as a word concerning Damascus, adding their interpretation, as they did at the outset of the vision for Moab. The first mention of Damascus appears in Genesis, where before Isaac, it was held by Abraham's servant and considered an heir should no son be born to Sarah through divine promise (Gen. 15). The name suggests meanings associated with blood, reflecting notions of pagan practices that preceded the faith of Christ, which were often characterized by violence and cruelty, eliciting mourning. The records in 2 Chronicles reveal that at the year’s end, the Syrian army confronted Joash, king of Judah, storming Jerusalem and annihilating the leaders of the people, sending all spoils to the king of Damascus, who advanced with a small force; God allowed them victory due to their abandonment of the Lord, their forefathers’ God. This narrative is to be seen in a profound context, serving as an archetype for events yet to unfold, tying it to the coming of the Lord. At the conclusion of that blessed summer when the Savior preached the Gospel, an army emerged from Damascus, consisting of few who opposed Judah and Jerusalem, which had turned away from God. They ravaged the treasures of the law and the prophets, sending men to the king of Damascus, representative of the few believers within the church of Gospel doctrine, tasked with engaging the largely unbelieving world, including the scattered Jews; yet, the Lord relinquished Jerusalem into their hands, as the Jews had forsaken the Son of God, who had been previously foretold by the prophets. It stands to reason that Saul, later known as Paul, originally zealous for the law, journeyed to Damascus seeking to combat the Gentile believers but became defeated there and ultimately followed those residing in Damascus, intending to return to Jerusalem to strive against the Jews. It is vital to recognize that statements of joy regarding Damascus in the Chronicles do not contradict the forewarnings within Isaiah; both favorable and unfavorable conditions are prophesied regarding Israel, God’s chosen. Concerning Israel in the flesh and the Gentiles, it is said that the Gentiles are termed according to what is physical, referred to as the circumcision of the flesh; conversely, there exists also Israel in the spirit and spiritual Gentiles, and within this diverse witness is Damascus regarded in the spirit, steering us away from mere Jewish fables.