16– The King of Assyria Will Come

Throughout the history of Israel, they were situated between the Egyptians of the Nile and the Assyrians of the Mesopotamian valleys. Each of those nation wanted to conquer Israel at one time or another for their own aggressive purposes. But now the prophet sees these great political and military advances not as the work of their individually minded efforts, but as events which occur at the command of the Lord who uses them for the work He wants to do correcting Israel as they turn from Him. In 735 B.C. Egypt was not much of a threat to Judah and would not be for many years to come. The timing of this prophecy is not apparent and the prophecied invasion is most likely occurring as separate and not an allied effort.

The Lord is definitely sending Egypt and Assyria at different times to war with Israel and Judah. He also makes it quite clear the because they are sinful He will judge them for their sinfulness against His chosen people. This is a difficult prospect for us to easily assimilate. The Lord is making it quite clear that the events He is prophesying have never been experienced since the civil war in 931 B.C. which, separated the north represented as Ephraim from Judah in the south.