Oracles Against Nations and the Apocalypse of Isaiah
Chapter 15
1This is the burden against Moab:
Chapter 16
13This is the message that the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab. 14And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people. And those who are left will be few and feeble.”
Chapter 17
1This is the burden against Damascus: 3declares the LORD of Hosts. 6declares the LORD, the God of Israel.
Chapter 18
4For this is what the LORD has told me: 7At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of Hosts— to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD of Hosts.
Chapter 19
1This is the burden against Egypt: 4declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. 16In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble with fear beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts, when He brandishes it against them. 17The land of Judah will bring terror to Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble over what the LORD of Hosts has planned against it. 18In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun. 19In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border. 20It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them. 21The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and on that day Egypt will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them. 22And the LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them but heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and He will hear their prayers and heal them. 23In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24In that day Israel will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing upon the earth. 25The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”
Chapter 20
1Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, 2the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. 3Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, 4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. 5Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
Chapter 21
1This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: 11This is the burden against Dumah: 13This is the burden against Arabia: 16For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. 17The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Chapter 22
1This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: 8On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest. 9You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the City of David. You collected water from the lower pool. 10You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall. 11You built a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider Him who planned it long ago. 14The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: says the Lord GOD of Hosts. 15This is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: “Go, say to Shebna, the steward in charge of the palace: 16What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? 17Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you, 18roll you into a ball, and sling you into a wide land. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will remain—a disgrace to the house of your master. 19I will remove you from office, and you will be ousted from your position. 20On that day I will summon My servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 23I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father. 24So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house: the descendants and the offshoots—all the lesser vessels, from bowls to every kind of jar. 25In that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, the peg driven into a firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and fall, and the load upon it will be cut down.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
Chapter 23
1This is the burden against Tyre: 15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: 17And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.
Chapter 24
3For the LORD has spoken this word.
Chapter 25
8For the LORD has spoken.
Chapter 26
1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
Chapter 27
1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent —Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea. 2In that day: 12In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one. 13And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
Historical Context
The chapters in Isaiah 15–27 are a compilation of prophecies, commonly referred to as 'burdens,' against various nations: Moab, Damascus, Egypt, Tyre, and others. These messages were delivered during Isaiah's prophetic ministry (roughly late 8th century BC) and were intended to proclaim judgment on nations surrounding Israel and Judah due to their defiance against God and their reliance on human power. The historical backdrop includes Assyria's expansion as a dominant empire, threatening smaller nations and creating widespread political turmoil. For example, the prophecy regarding Moab’s downfall aligns with its vulnerable position during Assyrian aggression, while Egypt’s alliance-seeking behavior highlights its desperation due to regional instability. Isaiah’s warning to these nations stresses divine judgment while simultaneously calling them to acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
Theological Insight
These chapters emphasize God’s authority over all nations, not just Israel and Judah. The recurring declaration 'declares the LORD of Hosts' underscores His control over history and geopolitical dynamics. It reveals God as both a righteous judge and a savior, capable of bringing both judgment and redemption. For example, Egypt’s eventual turning to God (Isaiah 19:21–25) demonstrates His universal plan of salvation—nations judged for their rebellion are invited to repent and worship. Another theological theme is the inevitability of divine purpose; key phrases like 'in that day' point to God’s timing for fulfillment of His plans. These visions prefigure the ultimate redemption narrative, where all nations will worship God, as seen in Isaiah 25:8, which foreshadows eternal victory and restoration through Christ.
Practical Application
A central lesson from these chapters is the futility of placing trust in human strength, alliances, or systems rather than relying on God. Personal reliance on wealth, power, or influence can lead to the same eventual downfall expressed in these burdens. Instead, individuals are called to live in humility, surrendering control to God and acknowledging His sovereignty in every situation. This means trusting God’s plans when life feels uncertain, knowing He acts with both judgment and restoration in mind. The message about Egypt turning to God (Isaiah 19) shows us the transformative power of repentance; even the most unlikely individuals or circumstances can be redeemed when surrender to God occurs. Practically, this entails embracing prayer, worship, and reliance on God during moments of challenge, while reflecting His grace to those around us daily.
None are required — answer what speaks to you.
What is the significance of the repeated phrase 'in that day' throughout Isaiah 15–27, and how does this connect to the broader themes of judgment and restoration in the book of Isaiah?
How are the roles of different nations (e.g., Moab, Egypt, Assyria, and Tyre) portrayed in Isaiah's prophecies, and what do these portrayals reveal about God's sovereignty over history and nations?
How does the promised hope of restoration and worship in Isaiah 19:23–25 challenge you to view God's plan for redemption as inclusive and global rather than limited to a specific group?
Isaiah 22:11 highlights a failure to trust God for provision and protection, despite human efforts to fortify the city. What areas of your life reveal a similar tendency to rely on your own strength instead of seeking the Creator's wisdom?
Lord of Hosts, You are sovereign over nations and time itself. As You humble the proud and mend the brokenhearted, may we turn our eyes to You in trust and repentance. Gather us close, one by one, to worship You in truth and humility, for You are our hope and deliverer. Teach our hearts to rely on Your justice and rejoice in Your mercy, both now and forever. Amen.
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