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Isaiah 17 · a question people ask

This is the burden of Damascus. Why does it speak of Ephraim and Israel?

In the text

The chapter doesn't give a reason; it names them together: "The fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus" (17:3). Chapter 7 has already set them side by side. "Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it" (Isaiah 7:1), and David's house was told, "Syria is allied with Ephraim" (Isaiah 7:2). The LORD's word to Ahaz named both heads: "For the head of Syria is Damascus" (Isaiah 7:8), and "The head of Ephraim is Samaria" (Isaiah 7:9). Chapter 8 names them together again, "the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria" (Isaiah 8:4), and so does the Assyrian's boast in chapter 10 (Isaiah 10:5, 10:8): "Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?" (Isaiah 10:9). Chapter 17 says what will become of both, and then speaks of Jacob (17:4). It names no king, no date and no army, and these notes add none.

The verses

“The fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria. They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” says the LORD of Armies. “It will happen in that day that the glory of Jacob will be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh will become lean.”
Isaiah 17:3-4 · World English Bible
“In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. David’s house was told, “Syria is allied with Ephraim.” His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.”
Isaiah 7:1-2 · World English Bible
“For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken in pieces, so that it shall not be a people. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.’””
Isaiah 7:8-9 · World English Bible
“For before the child knows how to say, ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.””
Isaiah 8:4 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 17

Isaiah 17: The burden of Damascus

The burden of Damascus turns to Israel by its third verse: Syria's remnant will be "as the glory of the children of Israel" (17:3), and then "the glory of Jacob will be made thin" (17:4). And 17:7's look shares a verse with the Holy One of Israel only here and in 31:1, where "they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel" (31:1).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions