Warning to the Philistines
This prophecy is assigned, in the title prefixed to it, to the year that king Ahaz died (728 b.c.). The Philistines are represented as exulting over the death of their oppressor, but are warned that their joy is premature, for worse times are in store for them. The oppressor of Philistia referred to may be (1) Ahaz, whose death may have formed the occasion of the utterance, or, more probably, (2) Tiglathpileser, whose ally Ahaz had been; in that case Sargon and Sennacherib are indicated by the cockatrice and fiery serpent (Isaiah 14:29), each one proving more terrible and formidable to the nations of Western Asia than his predecessor.
The joy of Philistia is premature, for, though apparently broken, the Assyrian power will recover and become more formidable than before (Isaiah 14:29). While Judah escapes, Philistia will suffer from famine and sword (30), and the smoke on the horizon already marks the invader's approach (31). Philistine ambassadors arrived in Judah to arrange a defensive alliance; the prophet's answer is an expression of confidence in Jehovah, who has promised safety to Zion (32).