The majority of the past few blog entries have focused on Isaiah 11:11-16, one of the most important passages in Bible prophecy. Last Thursday’s entry focused on the desert highway that the redeemed, remnant of Israel located in Egypt and Assyria shall travel on as they head back to Israel while last Friday’s entry focused on finding the specific time when the remnant of Israel shall be gathered from around the world. Monday’s blog post began a multi-part series on Isaiah 11:14, perhaps the most important verse of Isaiah 11:11-16. For those who are reading my blog for the first time, here is what Isaiah 11:14 says:
- Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Monday’s blog post specifically covered how the remnant of Israel (“they” in Isaiah 11:14) are likely going to get revenge against the Edomities, Ammonites, and the Moabites following the Battle of Armageddon. Israel shall annihilate these nations and shall take possession of their respective lands. Part 2 of this multipart series of blog posts about Isaiah 11:14 shall focus on the fate of the Philistines.
Recall that Isaiah 11:14 tells us that Israel shall “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines”. “Fly upon the shoulders” is an expression that does not exactly clarify what Israel shall do to the Philistines by itself. Fortunately, Habakkuk 1:18 and other verses may help us to understand what the expression means. Habakkuk 1:18 describes the image of an aggressor flying upon its enemies like an eagle who swoops down to consume its prey.
- Hab 1:8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
Similarly, Jeremiah 48:40 and Jeremiah 49:22 describe an aggressor (Israel) flying like an eagle to destroy Edom and Moab.
- Jer 48:40 For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
- Jer 49:22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
With these verses in mind, it’s likely that the expression “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines” is another way of saying that Israel is going to overwhelm the Philistines with military force. This leads to a key question: “Will Israel attack the Philistines at the same time they attack the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Moabites?
At this point, I suspect the Philistines will be attacked at the same time Israel will the Ammonites, Edomites, and Moabites because each nation’s impending destruction is listed together quite often. For instance, the grouping of the Philistines with the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Moabites in Isaiah 11:14 suggest that these nations may get attacked simultaneously.
- Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Another instance is found in Obadiah 1:19, which suggests that Israel shall possess the “plain of the Philistines” at the same time they shall possess the mount of Esau, which is in Bozrah (Edom).
- Oba 1:19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
Similarly, the land of the Philistines is grouped with Moab and Edom in a Psalms passage where the Lord describes His dominance over these peoples.
- Psa 60:6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
- Psa 60:7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
- Psa 60:8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Finally, other verses or chapters that group the Philistines’ destruction along with the destruction of the Ammonites, Edomites, and/or Moabites are Zephaniah 2, Ezekiel 25, and Amos chapters 1 and 2.
Like with my first three blog posts on Isaiah 11, what I’ve presented is just preliminary stuff. My thinking on Isaiah 11:14 can change if someone finds a way to disprove the scenario I’ve laid out or if I find a way to disprove it. Feel free to disprove it if you can.
- Passages that can potentially complicate the theory I’ve laid out are Isaiah 14:28-32 and Jeremiah chapter 47. Each of these passages speak of the Philistines being attacked by a military force coming from the north. These verses may refer to a past Babylonian invasion of the Philistines’ land or refer to the future. If these verses refer to the future it is possible that the aggressor mentioned is Israel since the land of the Philistines is nearby the Gaza Strip.
