This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.
1. The burden of Damascus. Here he prophesies against the kingdom of Syria, and mentions the chief city in which the seat of the kingdom lay. It was proper that this calamity, like others which came before it, should be described, that the righteous might confidently believe that God would one day assist them, and would not always permit them to be oppressed by the wicked without end.
We have here the burden of Damascus; the Chaldee paraphrase reads it, The burden of the cup of the curse to drink to Damascus in; and, the ten tribes being in alliance, they must expect to pledge Damascus in this cup of trembling that is to go round. 1.
Commenting on Isaiah 17:1-5
The burden of Damascus,.... A heavy and grievous prophecy, concerning the destruction of it; the Arabic version is, "the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Damascus;'' and the Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing to give Damascus to drink.'' Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city; a kingdom, as the Targum; it was the head of one, but now its walls were...