The Overthrow of Assyria. A brief independent prophecy or oracle not connected with Isaiah 17:1-11, and probably not with Isaiah 18. Some assign it to the post-exilic period on account of the reference to the many nations, i.e. the hostile world gathering against Judah and dispersed by the intervention of God. It is also not impossible that so fine and vigorous a piece of Hebrew should be composed in the post-exilic period. But while this may be freely admitted, it amounts to nothing more than this, that if the passage stood quite alone it would not be unnatural to place it in the post-exilic period. There is, however, no reason for denying it to Isaiah, since the many nations may be adequately explained in the usual way, as the many nations subject to Assyria which had to send contingents to fight in her armies. The date is uncertain; it is most probably about 701.
The nations rush in their onset with an uproar like the roaring ocean, but Yahweh will rebuke them and drive them like dust before the storm. The host that in the evening is so terrible will be no more before morning. Such is the lot of those who spoil God's people.
Isaiah 17:13. chaff of the mountains: corn was preferably threshed on high ground, so that the wind might carry the chaff away.