[:en]AN ORACLE AGAINST DAMASCUS
Damascus is the capital of Syria. The northern kingdom of Israel had allied with Syria and their battle fell into the hands of the Assyrians. They trusted a country that do not trust in the Lord, so they also got their judgment.
The entire chapter pictured God’s judgment on Israel. It was like a heavy person losing wieght (v.4) as well as a field without any fruit for harvest. (vs. 5-6). They trusted their own idols instead of the true God (vs. 7-8). As a result, all their efforts to plant vines were useless (vs. 10-11). Judgment came and they were carried off by the roar of surging waters (vs. 12a-13), like a chaff and tumble weeds before the wind (v. 13b). Israel had decayed beyond hope because they did not look to their maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One.[:]