The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 295

OHAPTER XVII. nsrng again from its ashes. Probably 11 destruction by Sargon is here intended Ven. 1-3.-THE BURDEN OF DilUSous. (' Records of the Past,' vol. ix. p. 6). The Aye of the prophet travels north wards Ver. 2.-The cities of Aroer are fol"l6ken. from Moab, and, pe.ssing over Ammon as an That the Aroer of this passage cannot 1.111 enomy of small e.ccount, rests once more upon either that on the Amon, or that facing Dame.sous, already threatened in eh. vii. 1 Rabbe.th-Ammon (Josh. xiii. 25), has long been perceived and recognized (see Mr. -9, and probably already partially punished. Grove's nrticlo on "Aroer" in the 'Diet. of Dumaacus is seen once more in alliance the Bible,' vol. i p. 115). Ii is evidently with Ephraim (ver. 3), and the two are 11 city of the snme nnme lying much fur. joined with a new power, Aroer (ver, 2), ther towards the north. And it is II city which possesses several "cities.'' Woe is of far greater importance, having "cities" donounoed on all the three powers : desola- dependent on it. Now, Sargon's llJUlals toll us of a "Gargar," a name well expressing 'lion on Damascus and Aroer; on Damascus the Hebrew '1J1'1JI, which wa. united in e. and Ephraim, the complete loss of the Inst league with Dame.sous, Samaria, Arpsd, and shado1v of independence. The Assyrian Simyra, in the second year of Sargon, and inscriptions point cut, as the probable date was the scene of a great battJe and a. great destruction. Sargon besieged it, took it, of the prophecy, the commencement of Sar- and reduced it to ashes (' Records of the gon's reign-about B.C. 722 or 721. Past,' l.s.c. ). There is every reason to recognize Ver. 1.-De.maaous is taken away from the "Aroel'" of this verse iu the "Gargar" being a oity, According to Vitringa., Da- of Snrgon's inscriptious. They ahall be for ma.sous bas been destroyed oftrner than any fiookB (oomp. eh. v. 17; vii. 25). It marked otbor town ; but it bas e. wonderful power of the very extreme of desolation, tha\ cattle UIAIAB, V  TBl!I BOO~ OF .THE; PROPHET ISAI.All, [oa, XVIL 1-1.,