Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
Hasn't Calno fallen just like Carchemish? Hasn't Hamath been conquered just like Arpad? Hasn't Samaria been defeated just like Damascus?
The writer is pointing out that many great cities have already fallen to the same enemy, showing a pattern of conquest that seems unstoppable.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Assyrian Empire was aggressively expanding its territory through military conquests, and the prophet Isaiah was addressing this threat to Judah and Israel. In this verse, Isaiah quotes the Assyrian king's boastful rhetoric, comparing fallen cities like Calno to Carchemish and Hamath to Arpad, to illustrate their overconfidence in overpowering strongholds such as Samaria and Damascus. This reflects the historical reality of Assyria's campaigns against these ancient Near Eastern cities, which were key political and cultural centers in Syria and Israel.
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