Isaiah 10:7-12

Context

10:7 But he does not agree with this,

his mind does not reason this way,¹

for his goal is to destroy,

and to eliminate many nations.²

10:8 Indeed,³ he says:

“Are not my officials all kings?

10:9 Is not Calneh like Carchemish?

Hamath like Arpad?

Samaria like Damascus?⁴

10:10 I overpowered kingdoms ruled by idols,⁵

whose carved images were more impressive than Jerusalem’s⁶ or Samaria’s.

10:11 As I have done to Samaria and its idols,

so I will do to Jerusalem and its idols.”⁷

10:12 But when⁸ the sovereign master⁹ finishes judging¹⁰ Mount Zion and Jerusalem, then I¹¹ will punish the king of Assyria for what he has proudly planned and for the arrogant attitude he displays.¹²

[10:7] ¹tn Heb “but he, not so does he intend, and his heart, not so does it think.”

[10:7] ²tn Heb “for to destroy [is] in his heart, and to cut off nations, not a few.”

[10:8] ³tn Or “For” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV).

[10:9] ⁴sn Calneh … Carchemish … Hamath … Arpad … Samaria … Damascus. The city states listed here were conquered by the Assyrians between 740-717 b.c. The point of the rhetorical questions is that no one can stand before Assyria’s might. On the geographical, rather than chronological arrangement of the cities, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:264, n. 4.

[10:10] ⁵tn Heb “Just as my hand found the kingdoms of the idol[s].” The comparison is expanded in v. 11a (note “as”) and completed in v. 11b (note “so”).

[10:10] ⁶map For the location of Jerusalem see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[10:11] ⁷tn The statement is constructed as a rhetorical question in the Hebrew text: “Is it not [true that] just as I have done to Samaria and its idols, so I will do to Jerusalem and its idols?”

[10:12] ⁸tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[10:12] ⁹tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here and in vv. 16, 23, 24, 33 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

[10:12] ¹⁰tn Heb “his work on/against.” Cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV “on”; NIV “against.”

[10:12] ¹¹tn The Lord is speaking here, as in vv. 5-6a.

[10:12] ¹²tn Heb “I will visit [judgment] on the fruit of the greatness of the heart of the king of Assyria, and on the glory of the height of his eyes.” The proud Assyrian king is likened to a large, beautiful fruit tree.