Yeshaya Perek 17

• As mentioned earlier, Sefer Yeshaya was not written in chronological order. This perek is actually a continuation of perek 7

• Background: Ritsin, the king of Aram, and Pekach ben Ramlah, the king of the ten tribes of Yisrael, created an alliance to do battle against Achaz, king of Yehudah.

• Yeshaya prophesied the downfall of the ten tribes, as well as Aram.

• The capitol city of Aram will be destroyed. Hashem will also punish the ten tribes for trying to destroy Yehudah. (Radak, Metsudos: the damage will be done through Sancheriv, king of Ashur. The wealthy members of the ten tribes will become skinny and will need to rely on the gentile nations for financial support.

• All of the ten tribes will finally understand and realize that Hashem is the source of all life, and their eyes will turn only to Hashem, and rely only on Him.

• Note: Alshich learns that many of the pesukim in our perek are references to when Mashiach will come. If we are meritorious, Mashiach will come quietly, without harm to members of the Jewish nation. If we do not merit it, Mashiach will come “in its time”, and danger will fall upon members of Yisrael.

• Ultimately, Hashem will save the Jewish nation from the hands of their enemies, specifically from Sancheriv.