Isaiah 28:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.

NIV: See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

NASB: Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent; As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, Like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He has thrown it down to the earth with His hand.

CSB: Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one — like a devastating hail storm, like a storm with strong flooding water. He will bring it across the land with his hand.

NLT: For the Lord will send a mighty army against it. Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain, they will burst upon it like a surging flood and smash it to the ground.

KJV: Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

NKJV: Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.

Isaiah is prophesying about the Lord's judgment to come on Israel, also called Ephraim. It is the nation of the northern ten tribes of Israel (1 Kings 12:16–20). He has pictured the capital of Israel, Samaria, as the crown or wreath on the head of a beautiful valley. The leaders, though, are in a drunken stupor, and the flower is fading quickly.

Now Isaiah declares that the Lord has someone ready to deliver His judgment. This one is mighty and strong, like a hailstorm, a tempest that brings great flooding. Isaiah is describing the conquering nation of Assyria who will defeat and exile the Israelites in 722 BC.

The Assyrians would not likely have agreed, but Isaiah is clear: God is the one sending this defeat and exile upon His people in Israel. The Lord will use Assyria to judge His people for their faithlessness to Him. This is not because Assyria knows God or is faithful to Him in any way. In fact, the Assyrians did great evil in the world and the Lord will one day bring judgment and destruction on them as well (Isaiah 10:12). For now, though, Assyria is the Lord's mighty one who will rain down destruction on Israel.

Isaiah 28:1–13 poetically describes Israel's capital Samaria as a crown or wreath on the head of a beautiful valley. Its leaders, though, are drunkards, and the wilted wreath will be trampled by the hailstorm of the Lord's judgment. This comes in the form of Assyrian invaders. Then God will be the glorious crown of Israel once more. Israel's prophets and priests live in a drunken stupor, staggering, vomiting, and mocking Isaiah's warning message from the Lord. Isaiah assures them they will hear the message firsthand from foreign lips when the Lord's judgment falls on them.

Samaria, the capital of Israel, also called Ephraim, is the beautiful crown on the head of the rich valley below. Her leaders are proud and drunk. The Lord will send the Assyrians to trample the crown and send the people into exile. Israel's religious leaders mock Isaiah, but they will hear the Lord's message from the Assyrians. Isaiah warns Jerusalem's leaders not to mock his warning to them from the Lord about the same fate. Their covenant with death will fail. The hailstorm of the Assyrians will beat them down. The Lord's counsel is wonderful.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).