For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
This is what the Lord God says: Long ago my people went down to Egypt to live there temporarily, and later the Assyrians mistreated them for no good reason.
God is reminding His people of how they've been oppressed by foreign nations in the past, setting up a contrast to show His faithfulness in delivering them.
📚 Historical Context
This verse references two major periods of Israel's oppression: their time in Egypt (which began peacefully with Joseph but led to slavery) and later Assyrian domination. The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and posed ongoing threats to Judah. Isaiah is speaking during a time when God's people were facing or would face exile and oppression.
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