In Isaiah, chapter twenty-nine, verses five through eight, “Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.”
Although terrible judgment was coming down upon God’s chosen nation, it would not involve full destruction. God would deliver His people and destroy the nation’s enemies. Isaiah’s description refers to their deliverance from Assyria during Sennacherib’s invasion, as in chapter ten, verses five to nineteen. God had to use the Assyrians to punish His godless people. Unfortunately, even this miracle of God did not accomplish a thorough repentance and true obedience in His people. Therefore, a more devastating judgment came later, during the Babylonian invasions.
However, God would punish Assyria for their pride and arrogance, as in verses eight to fourteen. Therefore, Isaiah prophesied destruction for the Assyrians, as in verses sixteen through nineteen. This specific prophecy was fulfilled when God’s angel put to death one hundred and eighty-five thousand soldiers in the Assyrian camp surrounding God’s chosen nation.