Isaiah 10:31

Assyria has entered Aiath: Isaiah 10:29–32 describes the march of the Assyrian army in poetic language. The cities are listed in order from the north toward Jerusalem.

The army moves closer and closer to the city. When they reach Jerusalem, they are forced to stop and retreat.

God was with Jerusalem. Because of this, Assyria would not succeed. In time, Assyria itself would be destroyed.

This passage may refer to Sennacherib’s invasion in 701 BC (see Isaiah 36–37). However, it could also describe an earlier or later invasion.

God promised his people that he would be with them and had a plan for them.

Isaiah 9:8–10:4 shows that the Lord’s moral law is supreme. This means God’s standards of right and wrong stand above every nation and ruler. The next section explains what this truth means:

1. Assyria was only a tool in God’s hands. Because of this, Assyria was also responsible to God. Like every other nation, it would face judgment for its sin (Isaiah 10:5–19, 28–34).

2. Those among God’s people who trusted in him and obeyed his covenant would be rescued (Isaiah 10:20–27).

3. God would establish his kingdom on earth (Isaiah 11).

These prophecies occurred when Assyria rose to power. Syria and Israel formed an alliance against Judah (Isaiah 7:1–2; see 2 Kings 16:5). God used Assyria as a tool to punish Syria, Israel, and Judah (Isaiah 7–10).