Isaiah 17:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This same fate awaits those residing in Samaria; they will experience suffering akin to the wheat that falls before the reapers. Yet, like mere stalks or a few grains of olive oil concealed from the harvesters' eyes, only a few will remain—those obscured on the highest branches. These words are spoken by the Lord, the God of Israel. On that day, a person shall place their trust in their Creator, and their gaze will turn toward the Holy One of Israel; they will not rely on the works of their hands or on their own creations, but they shall trust in the Holy One. They will no longer look upon their trees or their idolatrous practices. The wise Apostle Paul, aware that the discipline bestowed upon those called to the truth is not in vain, reminds them in his letter, "For if you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" But he also quotes from sacred Scripture, saying, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves, He chastens" (Hebrews 12:5-6; cf. Proverbs 3:11-12). Since the Sustainer of all things is inherently good, His desire is for everyone's salvation and for them to come to the knowledge of the truth. Thus, He has frequently admonished the Israelites through His holy prophets, particularly those in Jerusalem who migrated to Samaria. Having abandoned the true God, they indulged in what pleased them and turned to the worship of demons and lifeless idols. Their ignorance was so profound that they wouldn’t even acknowledge their condition, and as a result, God has already brought punishment upon them. For those who do not benefit from His word often find themselves transformed by suffering, compelled toward what pleases God. As the blessed David states, "With a bridle and bits you will constrain those who will not come near you" (Psalm 31:9). Just as skilled horse trainers use bridles to guide unruly horses to a calm pace, the God of all creation often directs the disobedient through the necessary trials of labor and suffering towards the path of righteousness. After experiencing the hardships of war, the inhabitants of Samaria recognized Him who chastens and turned away from idol worship, fixing their eyes on the Holy One of Israel, seeking help solely from Him amidst the evils befalling them. For it is declared that they will not rely on the works of their hands nor upon their crafted idols; they will not look at their trees or their abominations. Previously, it was customary for them to ascend to the mountaintops, or worship under the oak and the fir tree, as noted in Hosea 4:13. But now, he asserts, they will refrain from such practices, having learned from experience that these pursuits are ultimately futile and the source of their suffering; it is for this reason they were lost and delivered into the hands of their enemies. Therefore, the wisest course of action is to take heed and strive earnestly to avoid incurring divine wrath, rather than waiting to experience calamities; it is better to fervently eliminate the causes of God’s displeasure, seeking reconciliation with Him and embracing that which is good while diligently practicing virtue.

We assert that after the fall of Damascus and the exile of the ten tribes to Assyria, the remnants of these Israelite tribes, responding to Hezekiah’s message, turned back to the worship of God and journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem, as recounted in the Chronicles (2 Chronicles 30). Thus, post-Damascus' destruction, humanity will return to their Maker—the one who created them—shifting their focus away from the idols fashioned in Bethel and Dan to their God, detesting the shrines and altars their hands crafted.

In that day, humankind will bow before their Creator, and their eyes will be fixed upon the Holy One of Israel. They will not kneel to the altars their hands have constructed nor gaze upon the sacred groves and shrines. During a time in which the people of Israel, previously referred to as ‘The Lord thy God hath called thee an olive tree of fruitfulness’ (Jeremiah 11:16), and noted in the Psalms, ‘Thy sons are like new growths of olive trees round about thy table’ (Psalms 127:4), were yearning for the Lord, they found their sustenance in the two, three, or even four olive trees that remained amid the absence of spiritual grace. As the fullness of the Gentiles is realized, they will not turn to idols made by human hands, but will seek their God, turning to the Holy One of Israel. They will scorn the altars, groves, and shrines, recognizing the truth in the scripture: ‘Every garden, which the Father in heaven does not plant, shall be uprooted’ (Matthew 15:13).