The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
The Syrians before - the Syrians on the Northeast. Though now allies of Ephraim, after Rezin's death they shall join the Assyrians against Ephraim. "Together," in Isaiah 9:11, refers to this. Conquering nations often enlist in their armies the subject races (Isaiah 22:6: cf. 2 Kings 16:9; Jeremiah 35:11) (Aben-Ezra and Gensenius). Horsley, less probably, takes "Syrians before" as the Syrians to the East; i:e., not Rezin's subjects, but the Assyrians: "Aram" being the common name of Syrians and Assyrians. And the Philistines - of Palestine.
Behind - from the West: in marking the points of the compass Orientalists face the East, which is before them: the West is behind. The right hand is the South; the left, the North.
And they shall devour Israel with open mouth - as a ravenous beast (Isaiah 1:20; Jeremiah 10:25; Jeremiah 30:16; Numbers 14:9).
For all this his anger is not turned away ... - the burden of each strophe.