Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
Isaiah 28:1-29; Isaiah 29:1-24; Isaiah 30:1-33; Isaiah 31:1-9; Isaiah 32:1-20; Isaiah 33:1-24 form almost one continuous prophecy concerning the destruction of Ephraim, the impiety and folly of Judah, the danger of their league with Egypt, the straits they would be reduced to by Assyria, from which Yahweh would deliver them on their turning to Him: Isaiah 28:1-29 refers to the time just before the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign, the rest not very long before his fourteenth year.
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim - a Hebraism for woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim (Horsley). Samaria, the capital of Ephraim, or Israel, is regarded here as the crown or garland on the nation's head, it being customary for drinkers of wine at feasts to wear such crowns round the brows. Samaria's position on the brow of a hill renders the image the more appropriate. The people were generally "drunkards" in the literal sense (Isaiah 28:7-8; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22; Amos 4:1; Amos 6:1-6); and metaphorically, like drunkards, they were rushing on their own destruction.
Whose glorious beauty (adornment) (is) a fading flower - carrying on the image of "drunkards," whose usage it was at feasts to wreath the brew with flowers.
Which (are) on the head of the fat valleys - rather, 'which is at the head of the fertile valley;' i:e., which Samaria is situated on a hill surrounded with the rich valleys as a garland (1 Kings 16:24); but the garland is "fading," as garlands often do, because Ephraim is now close to ruin (cf. Isaiah 16:8): fulfilled 721 BC (2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 17:24).