17 – Overthrow of Damascus & Samaria

In the last chapter Isaiah had warned Ahaz the king of Judah that Syria (Hebrew Aram) and Samaria would be laid waste by the Assyrians. He included the warning to Ahaz that the Assyrians were not his friends or allies as he desired. They would attack Judah and bring them to the brink of destruction sparing only Jerusalem as God would not allow that to happen. Knowing that this message would not be hearkened to by the population God is now giving additional instructions on a new method of broadcasting the message to the larger population.

God gives Isaiah an explicit instruction regarding the manner, material and message he is to communicate to the people. He was instructed to write upon a large tablet with an engraving instrument. Those tablets were made of wood, metal, or stone, for the purpose of writing upon; (Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk.2:2). On these tablets, or smooth plates, writing was accomplished by cutting the letters with an iron stylus, or small chisel (Hebrew cheret). Although Isaiah got this message in a prophetic vision the instruction was to use common physical means to relate it to the people.