Isaiah 10:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He has come to Aiath; he has passed through Migron; at Michmash he stores his baggage;

NIV: They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash.

NASB: He has come against Aiath, He has passed through Migron; At Michmash he deposited his baggage.

CSB: Assyria has come to Aiath and has gone through Migron, storing their equipment at Michmash.

NLT: Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath. They are passing through Migron and are storing their equipment at Micmash.

KJV: He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

NKJV: He has come to Aiath, He has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment.

The Assyrians (Isaiah 10:5–7) had attacked and destroyed much of Judah. But their destruction of the nation would not be complete until Jerusalem was taken and struck down. The Lord had promised His people that Assyria would not succeed in fully wiping them out (Isaiah 10:20).

This verse begins to explain one possible approach an invading army might take to lay siege to the city of Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:29–32). Scholars reading from the annals of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, as well as 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 36, insist that this is not the route Sennacherib took on his way to his defeat by the Israelites while laying siege to Jerusalem.

Still, these few verses do describe a fast-approaching army on its way to attack the city. Isaiah begins to follow their route at the town of Aiath, which may be Ai, about ten miles north of Jerusalem. They march through Migron and store their baggage at Michmash. Migron may be a pass between Michmash and Geba. It's possible the army coming to attack Jerusalem left behind their extra supplies at Michmash so they could move faster and get to Jerusalem more quickly.

Isaiah 10:20–34 describes the remnant that will be saved in Israel and who will reestablish trust in the Lord. Only these few will be saved, and the Lord's destruction will come. The Lord, though, urges His people not to fear the Assyrians. His anger will soon turn from Israel to Assyria's direction. He will use His supernatural power to end Assyria's oppression over Israel. Even if a great Assyrian army marches all the way to the edge of Jerusalem, the Lord will cut them down as a forest.

Isaiah declares woe on those in Israel and Judah who use the law to take advantage of the poor. These people will not escape the Lord's judgment. He next describes the Assyrians as the Lord's staff of judgment against the godless nation that is His people. When He is done punishing His people, the Lord will turn His anger on the Assyrians, nearly destroying them. Eventually, a remnant of Israelites will return to faith in the Lord. Destruction will come, but it will not consume everything. The Lord will triumph over Assyria.

Isaiah 10 follows prophecies about God's judgment on Israel for the nation's sins. It begins pronouncing sorrow for those who oppress the poor and needy. He also declares woe on the Assyrians, whom the Lord is using to judge His people Israel. Soon, the Lord will direct His anger against the Assyrians for the arrogance of their king. He will burn them down as a forest. A remnant of Israel will survive the Assyrian judgment and trust the Lord again. His anger will turn from Israel to Assyria. The Assyrian oppression of Israel will be ended.

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).