1. Divine judgments on the nations chs. 13-23

The recurrence of the Hebrew word massa', translated "oracle"or "burden,"prescribes the boundaries of this section of text.¹⁴⁰These chapters present the nations over which Immanuel is ruler, and they expand the idea of God's hatred of Assyria's pride (10:5-34; cf. 2:6-22; 13:11, 19; 14:11; 16:6; 17:7-11; 23:9). They are announcements of doom on these nations, but they are also announcements of salvation for Israel if she would trust in Yahweh. Isaiah delivered them to Israel rather than to the nations mentioned. Thus they assured the Israelites of Yahweh's sovereignty over the nations with a view to encouraging God's people to trust in the Lord (cf. Jer. 46-51; Ezek. 25-32; Amos 1-2). It would be foolish to trust in nations whom God has doomed. The unifying theme is the pride of these nations. Exalting self and failing to acknowledge God results in destruction.

". . . He [God] will hold every nation accountable for its actions."¹⁴¹

It is helpful to notice the structure of this section and the one that follows it.¹⁴²

Babylon

(13:1-14:27)

Political overthrow

The desert by the sea (Babylon)(21:1-10)

Religious overthrow

The city of emptiness(24:1-20)

Broken laws and gates

Philistia

(14:28-32)

A Davidic king will yet reign in Zion

Silence (Edom)

(21:11-12)

Indefinite continuance of things as they are

Zion's king

(24:21-23)

"After many days"

Moab

(chs. 15-16)

Moab in need, but through pride suffers destruction in spite of shelter in Zion

Evening (Arabia)

(21:13-17)

Desert tribes in need: no ultimate refuge in mutual security

The great banquet

(ch. 25)

All nations feasted in Zion save Moab, excluded by pride

Damascus/Ephraim

(chs. 17-18)

Strong cities forsaken; the forgotten rock

The Valley of Vision (Jerusalem)

(ch. 22)

The city torn down

The city of God

(ch. 26)

The strong city; the everlasting rock

Egypt

(chs. 19-20)

Co-equal membership: Egypt, Assyria and Israel

Tyre

(ch. 23)

Holiness to the Lord

The final gathering

(ch. 27)

The harvest from Egypt and Assyria

Note that each of the first two columns of oracles (chs. 13-23) begins with Babylon, and the third deals with Israel, which the peoples of the world surround. In the first list Babylon is to Israel's north, Philistia to the west, Moab to the east, and Egypt to the south. In the second list Babylon is to the north, Edom to the south, Arabia to the east, and Tyre to the west. Thus the selection of these nations suggests that Israel occupies the central place in God's plans, and the surrounding nations are vulnerable.¹⁴³

 The first series of five oracles chs. 13-20

The first series shows that God has placed Israel at the center of His dealings with the Gentile nations. The second series projects the principles revealed in the first series into the future moving from concrete historical names to more enigmatic allusions. The third series points far ahead into the eschatological future but shows that the same principles will apply then. God's dealings with the nations in Isaiah's day was a sign of His similar dealings with them in the future.

 The second series of five oracles chs. 21-23

Compared to the first series of oracles against the Gentile nations, this second series is more negative. Also the nations and cities against which they were sent are not as clearly defined suggesting that they apply more broadly to all the nations, not just the historical ones addressed.