THE DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS

This post is another interruption in our study of the names of God.  I am currently updating my journal on the book of Isaiah and found myself in chapter 17 today.  In light of current events, I thought I would share the first part of that chapter.

Is. 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Damascus is the capital of Syria.  It is known as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.  The Bible first mentions it in Genesis 14:15 in reference to Abraham’s rescue of Lot. 

Isaiah is prophesying that Damascus will one day no longer be a city; it will become like a pile of garbage.  This prophecy is yet to happen. 

History tells us that Damascus was captured by Assyria, to which most commentators seem to reference this passage, but Assyria only captured it and took the people as prisoners; they didn’t destroy it. 

2Kings 16:9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

Their policy was to repopulate their prisoners elsewhere in the empire and bring new inhabitants into conquered territory.

Is. 17:2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Aroer must have been one of the major cities of Syria, and the “cities” around it sort of like the suburbs, smaller towns.  This verse seems to indicate that these cities will become a place where only flocks and herds of animals will find rest without fear as a result of the destruction of Damascus.

Is. 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

When I looked up Ephraim, it was defined as including Samaria and most of what is today’s West Bank.  We learned in chapter 7 that Ephraim was in league with Syria.  Thus, those dependent on an alliance with Syria would also suffer the repercussions of the fall of Damascus, the seat of government for Syria.  Isn’t it interesting to note that the PLO is in direct alliance with Syria and Hizbollah today?  To be “as the glory of the children of Israel” was not a good thing since Israel at the time of this prophecy was in a position of rebellion against God and not in a position of blessing (which is again their position today).  Isaiah emphasizes that the coming destruction is to come about as purposed by the “Lord of hosts.”

This event is also described in Jeremiah 49:23-27 and Zechariah 9:1-7.  When I read through these sections, there seemed to be a connection with the destruction of Damascus to Tyre and Zidon.  These cities were located in what is today known as Lebanon.  This event will bring sorrow to Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron (an area that includes the Gaza strip, the land occupied by the Palestinians today, and the area just north of the strip on the coast); these were all Philistine cities of Old Testament times.  Zechariah 9:5 seems to indicate that this will destroy all hope for a Palestinian state.

Zechariah 9:5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

“ashamed” = disappointed, wither away

From that point on there will be no recognized “king” of Gaza.  Ashkelon, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean just north of the Gaza strip, will not be inhabited after this. 

Zechariah also seems to indicate that the Palestinians/Syrians who survive this war will eventually turn to God in faith and repentance.

Zechariah 9:7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

All of this adds to the prophecy given by Isaiah in this chapter.

Is. 17:4 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

Is. 17:5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

Is. 17:6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

“In that day” = the day when Damascus is no longer a city and becomes a ruinous heap

I hadn’t considered this before, but it seems that the destruction of Damascus will also impact today’s Ephraim, which includes the “Palestinians” and the West Bank as well as northern Israel.  Again there is a ray of hope in the message—there will be a remnant left.  I wonder if this remnant is a reference to the Jewish settlers in that area. 

Maybe it includes them, but Isaiah will tell us in chapter 19 about a time when Egypt, Israel and Assyria are all at peace with one another and in a relationship of blessing before God; that will be in the time when Jesus is on the throne in Jerusalem.  Assyria would include Syria, but also much more.

Isaiah 19:23-25 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.  In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Note:  As I am doing this update, world attention is directed toward the rebellion in Syria attempting to overthrow the government of Bashar Assad.  Egypt has just experienced the second overthrow of its government in as many years.  These rebellions were ignited by one man’s self-immolation in Tunisia in December 2010 in response to government tyranny.  That act fueled a great uprising among the desperately oppressed people and ignited similar responses in neighboring nations.  I believe that the radical Muslim groups that envision the rebirth of an Islamic Caliphate have taken advantage of events and are working to continue the overthrow of leaders that do not share their vision.  Wikipedia reveals the stated goal of the Muslim Brotherhood as follows:  “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.”

Is. 17:7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

Evidently, this destruction will cause the people of this area to acknowledge God, their Creator, with respect for Him as the God of Israel.

Is. 17:8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

After this destruction men will not be looking to their false gods or idolsl of their own making for deliverance.  It will be obvious that they cannot defeat the God of Israel.

Is. 17:9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

As I continued to meditate on this verse, I came to the conclusion that the strong (fortified for defense) cities of Syria/Ephraim will be devastated/laid to waste due to action on the part of Israel.  In other words, Israel would be the means through which this prophecy is fulfilled.

If this understanding is correct, then it would seem that something occurs that causes Israel to strike back decisively destroying Damascus in the process.  I have a great interest in the study of prophecy and believe this destruction will precede the attack of the forces of Gog identified in Ezekiel 38.  It is the only explanation that makes sense to me in light of the fact that many of the nations surrounding Israel are not included as part of Gog’s coalition.  There is another coalition in scripture, however, identified in Psalm 83 that seems to provide an answer to this puzzle.  The people groups listed there directly correspond to many of the very nations most directly impacted by the current Islamic uprising.  Only the future will reveal how this eventually plays out.