Damafcus, which was the metropolis of the kingdom of Syria, was fituated in a rich plain, upon the river Chryforchoas, about one hundred and forty miles fouth from Jerufalem, and nearly as far north from Antioch. It is perhaps the most ancient city in the known world, being mentioned as exifting in the days of the patriarch Abraham; and is faid to have been one of the most delightful places on the earth. The adjacent country is famous for the great abundance of plants, flowers, and fruits, of almoft every kind, which it produced. Though, in the revolution of ages, it hath been affaulted and defolated, and fuffered many changes, it ftill remains in exiftence. Whilft larger and ftronger cities have perished, and been buried in ruins, it is ftill refpected on account of its riches. In procefs of time, this city became the metropolis of the kingdom of Syria: between which, and the pofterity of Ifrael, there were almost continual wars, which originated from different causes, and terminated with various fucceffes; and therefore an inspired writer remarks, as an uncommon circumstance, that three years elapfed without war between Syria and Ifrael †. Among the kings of Syria, three are mentioned in the facred history, who grievously vexed and diftreffed the Ifraelites; namely, Benhadad, Hazael, and his fon Benhadad. Though Judah lay at a greater diftance from Syria than the Ephraimites, they were often at variance with each other. These animofities and differences fometimes issued in favour of the one nation, and fometimes in favour of the other, according as the Almighty was pleafed to order, for carrying forward the defigns of his all-wife providence. Rezin, who now fat upon the throne of Syria, inflamed with the defire of gratifying his ambition and revenge, having joined in confederacy with Pekah, king of Ifrael, meditated the deftruction of Jerufalem. Being afterward vanquished + Kings xxii. 1. * Gen. xv. 2. and and flain by Tiglath-pilefer, king of Affyria, the future fortunes of Judah were intimately connected with this event. Attention to thefe circumstances may affist you in understanding the following predic tions. The prophecy which we are now to confider, bears the infcription of the Burden of Damafcus. This title was probably affixed to it, either by Ifaiah himfelf, or by fome facred writer, who transcribed these difcourfes, and digefted them into the order in which they now ftand. It justly deferves the name of the Burden, as it contains awful denunciations of the very grievous calamities, which were to be inflicted upon the city Damafcus, and the kingdom whereof it was the capital. The prophet begins by foretelling the total overthrow of this opulent city: Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. So certain was this remarkable event, and fo foon was it to take place after the delivery of this prediction, that it is spoken of as if it had been already accomplished. Its riches are defpoiled; its walls are demolished; its magnificent buildings are thrown down; its inhabitants are taken captive or flain, or fled from the enemy; in confequence of which, it is become a ruinous heap of ftones and rubbish. 2 The cities of Aroer are forfaken; they shall be for flocks which fhall lie down, and none fhall make them afraid. Another inftance of the defolation which was to be made, at the time of fulfilling this prophecy, is here mentioned. Aroer was the name of a confiderable city, fituated on the river Arnon, once in the poffeffion of the Amorites, and afterward given by Mofes to the Reubenites and Gadites, as part of their inheritance. From them it had been taken by the Syrians, in whofe hands it seems to have been at this time. The leffer cities around it, were called the cities of Aroer, as the cities in the neighbourhood of Hefhbon, were named the cities of Hefhbon t. These populous towns, deferted by their inhabitants, were to become folitary places, in which flocks of cattle were to lie down without any fear of disturbance. So great was to be the defolation here foretold, that the condition of the country fhould be entirely reverfed from its former populous, improved state. 3 The fortrefs alfo fhall ceafe from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damafcus, and the remnant of Syria: they fhall be as the glory of the children of Ifrael, faith the LORD of hosts. 6 The calamities here foretold, were to extend both to Ephraim and Syria.--By the fortress of Ephraim might be meant, the city Samaria, which was the metropolis of that kingdom, and probably their best fortified city, on the ftrength of which they greatly depended in times of danger. This fortrefs, with their other ftrong holds, were to ceafe from affording them any protection, and to be taken from the Ifraelites, who were to be carried captive by their enemies. This event the prophet Micah exprefsly foretold in the following words: Therefore I will 'make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard; and I will pour down the stones 'thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. And the kingdom from Damafcus. Damafcus was the chief city of Syria, and the royal refidence of their kings. From this city and nation the kingdom was to cease: it was no longer to be a feparate kingdom by itself, but henceforward to be fubject to foreign powers. The chief cities of Ephraim and Syria, Samaria and Damafcus, Micah i. 6. See 2 Kings x. 33. † Joshua xiii. 17. were were no longer to retain their former importance and grandeur, but to fink into obfcurity, or to be buried in ruins. -They fhall be as the glory of the children of Ifrael, faith the Lord of hofts. The glory of the children of Ifrael, of which I had occafion to fpeak, when treating of chap. x. 3. might comprehend all that was esteemed excellent and valuable by that people; their religious inftitutions, their military forces, their liberty and profperity, their princes and refpectable men. The prediction imports, that the remnant of Syria fhould share the fame fate with the glory of Ifrael. Their kingdom was to be destroyed; their strong cities were to be demolished; their best citizens were to be spoiled of their riches and dignity, and carried away captives into a foreign land. As these two powers of Ifrael and Syria had united in hostile designs against Judah, so they were to participate in the fame, or very fimilar calamities, as the juft retribution of their daring prefumption.To give certainty and effect to thefe predictions, it is added, Saith the Lord of hofts. This prophecy feems to have received its accomplishment in the third or fourth year of Ahaz, when Tiglath-pilefer, king of Affyria, went up against Damafcus, and took it, and carried the inhabitants captives to Kir, and flew Rezin. Though after that period Damafcus be often mentioned, another city feems to be intended than that which was anciently the capital of Syria, which kingdom was never more re-established in its former power and grandeur. From this prophecy, we deduce a clear proof of our prophet's divine inspiration, and that he spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghoft. He not only foretold events which were to happen at remote periods of time, but thofe alfo which were foon after to be accomplished, as in the inftance that we have now been confidering. By the fulfilment of the predictions of this last fort, the people among whom he lived, would have opportunity of comparing the prophecy with the event, and obferving the exact correspondence Ipondence between them, and their faith, in his prophetical character, would be eftablished and confirmed. This circumftance, taken in conjunction with others, ought to confirm our belief in the divine miffion and infpiration of Ifaiah, on whofe teftimony we may at all times fafely rely. 4 And in that day it fhall come to pafs, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatnefs of his fleth fhall wax lean. The Ephraimites having been guilty of fimilar tranfgreffions with the Syrians, our prophet proceeds to foretel, that, at the time to which he looked forward, they fhould fhare with them in punishment.The judgment to be inflicted upon them, he reprefents by a natural fimilitude, taken from a perfon enjoying health, ftrength, and comeliness, who, fuddenly lofing the vigour of his conftitution, foon becomes thin and emaciated; his strength fails, his bones ftick out, and he affumes quite a different appearance from what he formerly made. In like manner, the glory of Jacob, which was conftituted of the prudent, refpectable, and good men among the Ephraimites, with all that contributed to their opulence, fplendour, and magnificence, was to be remarkably diminished, and taken away. They were to be deprived of their best citizens, their wealth, and their ornaments; their cities were to be divefted of their treasures, palaces, and fortifications, and only a few poor helpless people were to remain. In a word, whatever they esteemed excellent and valuable, was to be taken away from them.The royal prophet points out the proper improvement of this article in these words: Be not 'thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory ' of his house is increased. For when he dieth, he 'fhall carry nothing away: his glory fhall not defcend after him." VOL. II. Pfal. xlix. 16, 17. 5 And |