ISAIAH
CHAPTER 10
Destruction of Assyria is a type of destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming—Few people shall be left after the Lord comes again—Remnant of Jacob shall return in that day—Compare 2 Nephi 20.
[The first portion of this chapter prophesies of the coming destruction of Assyria, and the last part compares this destruction to what will happen to the wicked in the last days.]
1 aWOE [ The word woe means intense sorrow and suffering.—Old Testament Study Guide ] unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! [ Repremand against the wicked leaders for creating a society with unrighteous and unjust laws that oppressed the poor, the needy, the widows, and the fatherless.]
3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, [ Because of unrighteousiness the Lord will no longer be their protector, and without the Lord's help they will suffer greatly. ] and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. [ This is the fifth of five times (Isa 5:25; 9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4) that Isaiah uses this phrase: "but his hand is stretched out still."]
5 ¶ O Assyrian, [ Those who are members of the military superpower to the northeast. The Assyrian's are a tool of judgment in the Lord’s hands. ] the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
6 I will send him [ Assyria ] against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. [ Assyria, however, failed to recognize God’s hand in their rise to power but rather boasted in their own strength— Terry Ball and Nathan Winn, Making Sense of Isaiah, Deseret Bookshelf]
8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? [ The leaders in the Assyrian armies commanded more men than the kings of the small city-states they conquered.]
9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? [ Assyria’s conquests are listed north to south, ending at the border of Judah. Carchemish (falls 717 BC) is on a bend of the Euphrates. 350 miles north of Jerusalem; Calneh/Calno (falls 738 BC) is about 50 miles southwest of Carchemish; Arpad (falls 740 BC) is just south of Calneh/Calno; Hamath (falls 738 BC and again on 720 BC) is on the Orontes River and about 100 miles south of Arpad and 100 miles north of Damascus; Damascus is the capital of Syria and is 100 miles northeast of Israel; Samaria (falls ca. 722 BC) is the capital of Israel and is just to the north of Judah. 
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10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, [ The King of Assyria boasts of his conquests against those cities that had idol gods who were supposed to protect them. Yet they did nothing to stop his powerful armies. ] and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, So do to Jerusalem and her idols? [ The suggestion is that the same armies of the king that have overtaken the other idol Gods so the same will happen to the God of the Jews - he will over through the power of their God as well, and over take Jerusalem. ]
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. [ His pride. Isaiah prophesied that after the Assyrians had fulfilled the Lord’s purposes in punishing the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Lord would destroy the Assyrians also because of their pride and wickedness. This destruction is symbolic of the destruction the proud and wicked will experience at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. —(OTSG)]
13 For he saith, [ The King of Assyria, is conceited and prideful. As a result he is caught in the trap that often befalls men in power. They become estranged from their maker, they fail to give God credit, and they arrogantly conclude that it is by their power that they have found success. ] By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
14 And my hand hath found as a nest [ Israel's riches (Isa. 10:13)] the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. [ The fact that Israel was not able to move her wings or to make a peep signifies that she, like a little chick, was helpless before Assyria’s ravenous armies. —Parry, Donald W., Understanding Isaiah, Deseret Book Company, (Also see 3 Ne. 10:4–6; D&C 10:65; 29:1–2).] [ Note: Isaiah next uses some very fascinating imagery in describing the absurdity of the king of Assyria’s taking credit to himself for his “amazing” accomplishments. There is an important message in this for all of us who might at times take or accept credit for accomplishments in the work of the Lord. ]
15 Shall the axe [ king of Assyria] boast itself against him [ the Lord - God ] that heweth [ chops ] therewith? [ Or shall the ax brag that it is doing all the work by itself?] or shall the saw magnify itself against [ German Bible: defy him] him that shaketh it? [ The one using it. ] as if the rod [ wooden club - or the wooden shaft of the ax ] should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. [ as if the ax shaft should suddenly turn to the man who is swinging it and say, “Let go of me. I can do it myself!”), or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were not made of wood, but something else. In otherwords: In their conceit and pride, the Assyrians had fallen into a trap that has snared humankind in every age and estranged them from their Maker. They failed to see the influence of God in their lives. They did not seek the will of the Lord and thus could not comprehend it. They did not understand their role in God’s eternal plans and thus arrogantly concluded that everything they accomplished was done by their own power and genius. ]
16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of Hosts [ What exactly does “host” mean? The phrase “Lord of Hosts” is the same as the “Lord of Sabaoth.” “The Lord of Sabaoth was a title of Jehovah; the hosts were the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17:45), but also included the angelic armies of heaven” (Bible Dictionary, “Sabaoth,” ] , send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. [ A condemning warning to Assyria, that due to their pride they wiull ultimately be decimated. ]
17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: [ These names for the God of Israel are appropriate in this context because it is Jehovah’s light and glory that consumed ancient Assyria and will consume the wicked at his coming.—Parry, Donald W., Understanding Isaiah, Deseret Book Company. ] and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. [ The prophecy of destruction upon Assyria, given in verse 17, above, happened suddenly. 185,000 Assyrians died of devastating sickness in one night as they prepared to attack Jerusalem; see 2 Kings 19:35–37. The prophecy is continued with additional repetition in verses 18 and 19.—Ridges, David J.. The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 1 (The Gospel Studies Series) (p. 286). Cedar Fort, Inc. ]
19 And the rest of the trees of his forest [ The forests of Lebanon are used by Isaiah as a type for the proud and haughty, as described by Ezekiel: “Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs” (Ezekiel 31:3) ] shall be few, that a child may write them. [ So few Assyrians will remain that even a small child with limited counting ability will be able to number or count them. ]
20 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, [ A promise that a righteous remnant of Israel will survive the onslaught of Assyria. ] unto the mighty God.
22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, [ Implys that they will fulfill the covenant given to Abraham of righteous posterity, as they do so they will go to work converting the nations to peace and to the worship of the true God. ] yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a
consumption, even determined, [ could have been
translated from the Hebrew "shall
make a full end, as ordained." At end of the world…the glory of the Savior will consume the wicked at the Second Coming; see Doctrine & Covenants 5:19; 2 Nephi 12:10. ] in
the midst of all the land.
24 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: [ The Assyrian is the name that Isaiah gave to the Anti-Christ. Those who stay committed to the Lord need not fear the Assyrians or any other oppressors, ancient or modern. ] he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. [ The plea is for the Israelites to rely upon the Lord. While they may have trials and tribulations, these will be short-lived and the promised blessings of Israel will be restored.—Nyman, Monte S., Great are the Words of Isaiah, Cedar Fort, Inc.. ]
26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb [ The Rock of Oreb, Judges 7:23–25, is where Gideon and his 300 miraculously defeated the overwhelming armies of the Midianites; His power came upon the Red Sea to drown the Egyptian armies…God will stop Assyria like he did the Egyptians when they pursued the Children of Israel.—Ridges, David J., The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 1 ] : and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. [ Yes, there will be times of trial, but the righteous will endure and be preserved. Though in the last days the Saints of Zion will suffer persecution, the Lord’s compensatory blessings are found in Zion, wherein we learn of and receive the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To dwell in Zion is to enjoy a pure life. To be pure is to “stay upon the Lord in truth.”—Christensen, Reg. Unlocking Isaiah, Covenant Communications Inc. ]
27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. [ This may refer to the Messiah (Hebrew “anointed one”), who was anointed with olive oil and the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38). In addition, 10:26–27 contains symbols that represent Jesus the Messiah, including rock, rod, and the removal of the yoke and burden (Matt. 11:28–29).—Parry, Donald W., Understanding Isaiah Deseret Book Company]
28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages: [ The Assyrian invasion forces continue to move forward with their destruction toward Jerusalem. Isaiah suggests that the Assyrian armies will gobble up city after city and will come right up to the gates of Jerusalem, and then will be stopped in their tracks by the Lord. What remains of their army will then go home. Isaiah speaks of the future as if it has already happened. He is a master at building dramatic tension. ]
29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; [ Due to the way that the Assyrians conduct war, in that they are extremely brutal; including the use of torture with their captives all are afraid of them as they march forth with seemingly little opposition. ] Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. [ In verses 28–32, Isaiah described as if standing on the wall of Jerusalem, the progress of the Assyrian army toward Jerusalem, featuring in Hebrew a superb example of alliteration. …This idealized sequential conquest narrative apparently symbolizes also the future siege called Armageddon (see Isaiah 40:1–2; 51:19–20; Ezekiel 38–39).—Ogden, D. Kelly. Verse by Verse, Old Testament: Volume Two, Deseret Book Company. ]
31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. [ Another Assyrian unit apparently marched against Jerusalem via the province of Samaria, conquering a series of towns as it passed through the district of Benjamin —Aharoni, Land of the Bible, p 339]
32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day [ With a map, (see above], it teaches a powerful lesson. The armies reach all the way to Nob, and “shake their hands” at those on the hill of Jerusalem.] : he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough [ Those who refuse the beckoning hand of the Lord and who persist in their lustful greed will be pruned away ] with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. [ Historically this was fulfilled as leaders of Assyria were lopped off and hewn down, but the figure is also future (see Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 11). The Lord of hosts will do the cutting down in both eras.—Ogden, D. Kelly. Verse by Verse, Old Testament: Volume Two]