< 2 Nephi 20 >
Assyria used then judged
Isaiah 10 teaches that:
Verses 1–4 – Condemnation of Unjust Leaders
“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees…”
Main Idea:
Isaiah opens by condemning the corruption and oppression among Judah’s rulers and judges. They pass unfair laws, exploit widows and orphans, and pervert justice.
Meaning
Even before God judges foreign nations, He first judges His own covenant peoplefor moral failure.
Verses 5–11 – Assyria as God’s Rod
“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger…”
Main Idea:
God uses Assyria as the instrument of His judgment to punish Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and later to threaten Judah.
Meaning:
Verses 12–19 – Assyria’s Arrogance and Judgment
“Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?”
Main Idea:
After God uses Assyria to carry out His purposes, He will punish Assyria for its arrogance and cruelty.
Meaning:
God allows evil temporarily for His purposes but will ultimately judge those who act with pride or cruelty.
Verses 20–23 – The Remnant Shall Return
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel… shall stay upon the Lord.”
Main Idea:
Even though destruction comes, a faithful remnant will survive — and they’ll truly rely on God.
Meaning:
God’s judgment isn’t purely punitive; it’s refining, meant to bring His people back to reliance and purity.
Verses 24–34 – Encouragement to Zion / Fall of Assyria
“Be not afraid of the Assyrian… for yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease.”
Main Idea:
God comforts His people: though Assyria attacks, it will not prevail forever. God will destroy the oppressor.
Meaning:
Isaiah 10 teaches that:
- God is just — He won’t ignore oppression or pride.
- Even powerful nations are under His control.
- He uses both blessings and trials to purify His people.
- A faithful remnant will always remain.
- The proud will fall, and out of judgment will spring new hope(leading into Isaiah 11’s prophecy of the Messiah).
Verses 1–4 – Condemnation of Unjust Leaders
“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees…”
Main Idea:
Isaiah opens by condemning the corruption and oppression among Judah’s rulers and judges. They pass unfair laws, exploit widows and orphans, and pervert justice.
Meaning
- God holds leaders accountable for social injustice.
- “Unrighteous decrees” = abuse of power; leaders who legislate for personal or political gain.
- Judgment is coming — they’ll have no one to turn to when God’s wrath comes.
Even before God judges foreign nations, He first judges His own covenant peoplefor moral failure.
Verses 5–11 – Assyria as God’s Rod
“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger…”
Main Idea:
God uses Assyria as the instrument of His judgment to punish Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and later to threaten Judah.
Meaning:
- Assyria thinks it’s conquering for its own glory — but Isaiah reveals it’s actually being used by God.
- God is sovereign even over nations that don’t acknowledge Him.
- “I will send him against a hypocritical nation” (v. 6) = God’s people who have turned from Him.
- “Rod” = instrument of punishment.
- Assyria = powerful empire, but only a tool in God’s hand.
Verses 12–19 – Assyria’s Arrogance and Judgment
“Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?”
Main Idea:
After God uses Assyria to carry out His purposes, He will punish Assyria for its arrogance and cruelty.
Meaning:
- Assyria boasted of its power, not realizing it was merely an instrument.
- God will humble Assyria — its forests (symbol of armies and leaders) will be cut down and burned.
- “The light of Israel shall be for a fire” (v. 17) = God’s holiness will consume the proud.
God allows evil temporarily for His purposes but will ultimately judge those who act with pride or cruelty.
Verses 20–23 – The Remnant Shall Return
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel… shall stay upon the Lord.”
Main Idea:
Even though destruction comes, a faithful remnant will survive — and they’ll truly rely on God.
Meaning:
- “Remnant” = the humble, repentant few who remain faithful.
- “The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness” — even judgment has a righteous purpose.
God’s judgment isn’t purely punitive; it’s refining, meant to bring His people back to reliance and purity.
Verses 24–34 – Encouragement to Zion / Fall of Assyria
“Be not afraid of the Assyrian… for yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease.”
Main Idea:
God comforts His people: though Assyria attacks, it will not prevail forever. God will destroy the oppressor.
Meaning:
- Assyria’s invasion is described poetically — towns listed from Aiath to Nob trace their march toward Jerusalem.
- The climax: God “shall lop the bough with terror” (v. 33) — cutting down Assyria like a mighty forest.
- Trees = nations, leaders, armies.
- God fells the proud “cedars of Lebanon” (Assyria’s might).
- This sets the stage for Isaiah 11, where out of the stump comes a “Branch” — the Messiah.
v. 26 And the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and his rod was upon the sea so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
Gideon and Midian
Biblical Background – Judges 7:19–25
During the period of the Judges, Israel was repeatedly attacked and oppressed by the Midianites, a nomadic people from the desert regions east of the Jordan. They would invade the land at harvest time, destroying crops and stealing livestock — leaving Israel impoverished (Judges 6:1–6).
God raised up Gideon as a deliverer, who led a small force of 300 men against the vast Midianite army.
The Battle and the Slaughter
In Judges 7, Gideon and his 300 men attacked by night using torches and trumpets, creating confusion and panic in the Midianite camp.
The Midianites, thinking they were surrounded by a massive army, fled in terror and even turned their swords against each other.
“And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.”(Judges 7:22)
As the Midianites fled, Gideon summoned reinforcements from the tribes of Ephraim, Naphtali, and others to cut off their retreat across the Jordan.
The Rock of Oreb and the Princes of Midian
Among those captured were two Midianite princes (or generals):
“And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb…”
— Judges 7:25
This “rock of Oreb” became a landmark — named after the event. It symbolizes God’s decisive victory using humble means (Gideon’s small band) over a mighty oppressor.
Symbolism and Later References
Isaiah refers to this event several times, most notably in Isaiah 10:26:
“And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb.”
Meaning in Isaiah’s context:
Gideon and Midian
Biblical Background – Judges 7:19–25
During the period of the Judges, Israel was repeatedly attacked and oppressed by the Midianites, a nomadic people from the desert regions east of the Jordan. They would invade the land at harvest time, destroying crops and stealing livestock — leaving Israel impoverished (Judges 6:1–6).
God raised up Gideon as a deliverer, who led a small force of 300 men against the vast Midianite army.
The Battle and the Slaughter
In Judges 7, Gideon and his 300 men attacked by night using torches and trumpets, creating confusion and panic in the Midianite camp.
The Midianites, thinking they were surrounded by a massive army, fled in terror and even turned their swords against each other.
“And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.”(Judges 7:22)
As the Midianites fled, Gideon summoned reinforcements from the tribes of Ephraim, Naphtali, and others to cut off their retreat across the Jordan.
The Rock of Oreb and the Princes of Midian
Among those captured were two Midianite princes (or generals):
- Oreb (meaning “raven”)
- Zeeb (meaning “wolf”)
“And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb…”
— Judges 7:25
This “rock of Oreb” became a landmark — named after the event. It symbolizes God’s decisive victory using humble means (Gideon’s small band) over a mighty oppressor.
Symbolism and Later References
Isaiah refers to this event several times, most notably in Isaiah 10:26:
“And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb.”
Meaning in Isaiah’s context:
- Isaiah uses it as a historical analogy:Just as God miraculously defeated the Midianites through Gideon’s tiny force, He will again deliver Israel from Assyria — not by human might, but by divine power.
- “Rock of Oreb” stands as a symbol of deliverance through faith — God using the weak to confound the strong.
v. 32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is protected
Historical and Geographic Context
Isaiah 10:28–32 traces the march of the Assyrian army southward toward Jerusalem.
It’s written almost like a military reporter describing the invading force moving town by town:
He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages…
(Isaiah 10:28–29)
Each place mentioned was a small town or village north of Jerusalem in the ancient tribal lands of Benjamin.
If you follow them on a map, they form a descending line straight toward the capital.
“He shall remain at Nob that day,”
the Assyrian army is within sight of Jerusalem, able to look down from a ridge and “shake his hand” (a gesture of scorn or threat) at the city below.
Meaning in Historical Context
Meaning: before Assyria can strike, God intervenes and destroys them — exactly what happens later in Isaiah 37, when the angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight.
Jerusalem is protected
Historical and Geographic Context
Isaiah 10:28–32 traces the march of the Assyrian army southward toward Jerusalem.
It’s written almost like a military reporter describing the invading force moving town by town:
He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages…
(Isaiah 10:28–29)
Each place mentioned was a small town or village north of Jerusalem in the ancient tribal lands of Benjamin.
If you follow them on a map, they form a descending line straight toward the capital.
- Aiath / Ai → about 10 miles north of Jerusalem
- Michmash → 7 miles
- Geba / Gibeah → 5 miles
- Nob → just 1–2 miles northeast of Jerusalem
“He shall remain at Nob that day,”
the Assyrian army is within sight of Jerusalem, able to look down from a ridge and “shake his hand” (a gesture of scorn or threat) at the city below.
Meaning in Historical Context
- The phrase describes the last stage of the Assyrian invasion under King Sennacherib (around 701 BC).
- Nob likely refers to the hill east or northeast of Jerusalem, possibly near Mount Scopus today — the last staging point before the city itself.
- “He shall shake his hand” = a gesture of arrogance — as if to say, “I’ll destroy you next!”
Meaning: before Assyria can strike, God intervenes and destroys them — exactly what happens later in Isaiah 37, when the angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight.