Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Are not my princes altogether kings?"
Text: Isaiah 10:8
ARROGANCE OF ASSYRIA
The arrogance of Assyria is evidenced in the way it spoke of the nations it had conquered. The spirit of boasting was so obvious!
“For he says,
‘Are not my princes altogether kings?
Is not Calno like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria like Damascus?
As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'”
Isaiah 10:8-11
1. The princes of Assyria.
a) The king boasted in his princes.
b) He compared them to the kings of other nations.
c) The intended nuance.
i) Assyrian princes were like kings.
ii) They were “better” than the defeated kings.
2. A list of defeated cities:
a) Calno (also spelt as “Calneh”)
i) It was a Hittite stronghold.
ii) But it was defeated by Assyria.
b) Carchemish
i) It was another Hittite stronghold.
ii) It was captured by the Assyrians.
c) Hamath and Arpad
These were Syrian cities that were conquered by the Assyrians.
d) Samaria was the Capital of the Kingdom of Israel.
e) Damascus was the capital of Syria.
f) Assyria boasted that they were conquered too.
3. The boast of Assyria.
a) That it had defeated many nations with their famed idols.
b) Assyria will also destroy Jerusalem with all its idols.