Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 17:2
The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
2. The cities of Aroer ] Hardly, “the (two) cities Aroer” (gen. of appos.), as a name for the trans-Jordanic territory. If Aroer be really a proper name, the phrase must be explained by the analogy of Jos 13:17 “the daughter cities of A.” But where was Aroer? The best-known town of the name, that on the Arnon (Num 32:34; Deu 2:36, &c.), is much too far south and belonged to Moab. There seems to have been another in Ammon (Jos 13:25), but it too is outside the territory of Damascus and can scarcely have been important enough to give its name to a district. We must either assume an unknown Aroer in Syria, or take the word in an appellative sense (“the ruined cities are forsaken”) or else adopt the text of the LXX., which reads “(Damascus shall be) deserted for ever” (omitting “cities”).
shall be for flocks afraid ] cf. Isa 5:17, Isa 32:14, and Zep 3:13; Job 11:19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The cities of Aroer – By Aroer here seems to be meant a tract or region of country pertaining to Damascus, in which were situated several cities. Grotius supposes that it was a tract of country in Syria which is called by Ptolemy Aueira – Aueira. Vitringa supposes that one part of Damascus is meant by this, as Damascus was divided by the river in the same manner that Babylon was. There were several cities of the name of Aroer. One was on the river Arnon in the land of Moab Deu 2:36; Deu 3:12; Jos 12:3. Burckhardt found this city under the name of Aroer. There was another city of this name further north, over against Rabbath-Ammon Jos 13:25. There was a third city of this name in the tribe of Judah 1Sa 30:28. Of the city of Araayr which Burckhardt visited, nothing is now remarkable but its entire desolation. Gesenius supposes (Commentary in loc.) that the phrase the cities of Aroer means the cities round about Aroer, and that were connected with it, similar to the phrase daughters of a city. This city he supposes was near the river Arnon, within the limits of Moab, and that the prediction here was fufilled by Tiglath-pileser, when he carried away the inhabitants of Galilee, Gilead, and other places mentioned in 2Ki 15:29. There can be no doubt that it was under the jurisdiction of Damascus.
Are forsaken – Are desolate, and the inhabitants have fled.
They shall be for flocks … – (See the note at Isa 5:17.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken – “The cities are deserted for ever”] What has Aroer on the river Arnon to do with Damascus? and if there be another Aroer on the northern border of the tribe of Gad, as Reland seems to think there might be, this is not much more to the purpose. Besides, the cities of Aroer, if Aroer itself is a city, makes no good sense. The Septuagint, for aroer, read adey ad, , for ever, or for a long duration. The Chaldee takes the word for a verb from arah, translating it cherebu, devastabuntur, “they shall be wasted.” The Syriac read adoeir. So that the reading is very doubtful. I follow the Septuagint as making the plainest sense.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The cities of Aroer; of that part of Syria called Aroer, from a great city of that name; of which see Deu 2:36; 3:12. These cities were possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, whom Tiglath-pileser carried into captivity, 1Ch 5:26. These he mentions here, as he doth Ephraim in the next verse, because they were confederate with Syria against Judah.
None shall make them afraid, because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. cities of Aroerthat is,the cities round Aroer, and under its jurisdiction [GESENIUS].So “cities with their villages” (Jos15:44); “Heshbon and all her cities” (Jos13:17). Aroer was near Rabbahammon, at the river of Gad, an armof the Jabbok (2Sa 24:5),founded by the Gadites (Nu 32:34).
for flocks (Isa5:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The cities of Aroer are forsaken,…. The inhabitants of them being slain, or carried captive, or obliged to flee. Aroer was a city by the river Arnon, on the borders of Moab and Ammon, De 2:36 De 3:12, it was originally in the hands of the Amorites, and sometimes in the hands of the Moabites and Ammonites: it was given by Moses to the Reubenites and, Gadites, from whom it was taken by the Syrians, and in whose possession it seems to have been at this time; see 2Ki 10:33 though Jarchi thinks it was now in the hands of Pekah king of Israel, and said to be forsaken, because the Reubenites and Gadites were now carried captive. Jerom m says it was seen in his time, upon the top of the mountain. Here it seems to designs a country of this name, in which were many cities. Grotius thinks it was a tract of land in Syria, the same with the Aveira of Ptolemy n. Vitringa is of opinion that Damascus itself is meant, which was a double city, like that divided by the river Chrysorrhoas, as this was by Arnon.
They shall be for flocks which shall lie down; instead of houses, there should be sheepcotes and shepherds’ tents, and instead of men, sheep; and where streets were, grass would grow, and flocks feed and lie down; which is expressive of the utter desolation of these cities, or this tract of ground:
and none shall make [them] afraid; the flocks of sheep, timorous creatures, easily frightened; but so great should be the depopulation now, there would be no man upon the spot, or any pass by, to give them any disturbance.
m De locis. Heb. fol. 87. 1. n Geograph. l. 5. c. 15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken. It is not probable that Aroer here denotes the city which is mentioned elsewhere, (Num 32:34😉 but it is rather the name of a country. He draws the picture of a country which has been ruined; for he shews that those places in which cities had been built will be devoted to pasture, and that no habitation will be left there but huts and shepherds’ tents; for if any inhabitants remained, the shepherds would drive their flocks to some other place.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
2. Cities of Aroer Cities round about “Aroer,” and under its jurisdiction. (Gesenius.) Aroer was a small territory not far south from Damascus. There were, however, two trans-Jordanic cities of this name one in Moab, another near Rabbah-Ammon; the latter at this time may have been subject to Syria, captured from Israel.
Flocks Peacefully lying down amid abandoned ruins; a telling reproach, but at the same time a fine picture.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 17:2 The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
Ver. 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken, ] i.e., The country beyond Jordan Deu 2:36 is desolated and depopulated – the Gadites and the Reubenites being also, together with the Syrians, carried captive by Tiglathpileser. 1Ch 5:26
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
cities of Aroer. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. arey aro’er.
Aroer. There were three other cities of that name, and this one which is not identified.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Aroer: Num 32:34, Deu 2:36, Deu 3:12, Jos 13:16, Jer 48:19
they shall: Isa 5:17, Isa 7:23-25, Eze 25:5, Zep 2:6
none: Jer 7:33
Reciprocal: 2Sa 24:5 – Aroer 1Ch 5:8 – Aroer Isa 7:21 – a man Isa 7:25 – but it Isa 27:10 – there shall the Zep 3:13 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 17:2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken What has Aroer, says Bishop Lowth, on the river Arnon, (see Deu 2:36,) to do with Damascus? He therefore follows the LXX., (who, he supposes, for
, Aroer, read , ,) and renders the clause, The cities are deserted for ever. Grotius, however, thinks the present reading of the Hebrew text is right, and that this Aroer was a tract of ground in Syria, (a valley, say some, which lay between the mountains of Libanus and Anti-Libanus,) and not that Aroer which was on the confines of Moab and Ammon, and part of the possession of the Reubenites and Gadites. But as Tiglath-pileser carried the Reubenites and Gadites into captivity, (see 1Ch 5:26,) and made the country, which they had possessed, desolate, why may not the very Aroer, which was on the confines of Moab, be meant, and mentioned here, as Ephraim is in the next verse, as being confederate with Syria against Judah? And none shall make them afraid Because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:2 The cities of {c} Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
(c) It was a country of Syria by the river Arnon.