THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
In conclusion, the Prophet addresses Nineveh as if it had been scorched and felt the impact of divine anger, laying waste to its surroundings. He articulates the rationale behind his words, stating that from within you will arise a malevolent thought against the Lord, a conspiracy of rebellion. He asserts that you shall be consigned to ruin, like barren land, and subjected to fire, for you have harbored thoughts that are arrogant, fearful, and opposed to God. In punishing the wayward nation of Israel, the Almighty rendered them vulnerable and brought them low before your might. Nonetheless, you did not perceive it this way; instead, you believed that you had taken possession of Judah against His will.
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The arrogance of Rapsacus shines through, as he slanders God’s glory by addressing those on the city walls, warning them not to let Hezekiah deceive them into thinking that he could provide salvation and assuring them that God would not rescue Jerusalem from his grasp (Isaiah 36:18, cf. 4 Kings 18:32). To these outrageous and truly wicked words, God responded through Isaiah, asking, "How shall the axe be glorified without the one who wields it? Or shall the saw be exalted without the one who moves it?" (Isaiah 10:15). For just as an axe, however finely crafted, accomplishes nothing in felling trees unless guided by an individual’s strength, and as a saw remains ineffective without someone to operate it, so too would Nineveh's power—its armies—have never conquered Samaria had it not been for the divine wrath that targeted those cities and communities, serving as a tool directed by another's hand. Thus, Nineveh is punished for its malevolent thoughts against God, which contradict the true nature of reality; for while the Almighty delivered idol-worshiping Israel into your hands, you would not have overcome them had God chosen to protect and save His Son.