The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap [Isa. 17:1].

“It shall be a ruinous heap”—there will be those quick to point out that this has not been fulfilled, inasmuch as the present-day city of Damascus claims to be the same as the original city. As I have said before, there is a far-off fulfillment of all these prophecies and a local or contemporary fulfillment also. There are two possible explanations for the problem presented by this prophecy:
1. Historians are not always accurate in their identification of such things as the locations of ancient cities. One man wrote a profound history not long ago and then made the statement that the biggest liars in the world have been historians. In the area of present-day Damascus there happen to be many ruins of a city, and any one of these ruins could be the original Damascus. Damascus is like a great many of the ancient cities in that when it was destroyed in one place, they did not always rebuild on the same site, but shifted it somewhat to another location. (Other cities, such as the sacred city of Jerusalem, were rebuilt on exactly the same site because of the significance of the location to the people.) We will just leave this problem to the archaeologist who hasn’t come up with the answer yet as to which of the ruins is old Damascus.
2. Damascus has withstood the ravages of war throughout history and has never ceased being a city, although it has shifted locations. It probably is the oldest city in the world. It thus far has survived every catastrophe that has come upon the earth, particularly in a land that has seen army after army march through it. But it will not survive during the Great Tribulation Period. It will be destroyed; and, as Isaiah says here, it will cease being a city. It will become a ruinous heap.
Both of these explanations show the accuracy of the prophecy that Isaiah gives here.

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid [Isa. 17:2].

“The cities of Aroer” is a suburban area near Damascus. This entire area would be destroyed. This probably has happened in the past, and it will happen again.

The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts [Isa. 17:3].

The northern kingdom of Israel must bear her share of the burden or judgment of Damascus because of the alliance they have. Both were besieged by Tiglath-pileser, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:29, and were finally deported by the Assyrian, Shalmaneser, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:6. This certainly was a partial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy; and, as far as many are concerned, it is the total fulfillment. But I feel that all of this is looking even to a future day. Certainly this has been fulfilled partially at least, but oftentimes in the Word of God we find that God is letting us know by giving an earlier partial fulfillment, that a prophecy will be completely fulfilled.


McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed.) (Is 17:1–3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail [Jer. 49:23–24].

Damascus is said to be the oldest inhabited city. There are many other cities that make the same claim, but Damascus probably has some right to it. Here is a prophecy against Damascus stating that the city would be destroyed. It has been destroyed, and it has shifted its position several times. However, the name Damascus continues on with the city, and today it is the capital of Syria.


McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed.) (Je 49:23–24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.