5 Woe to, Assyria, the rod of my anger;
the staff in their hands is my fury!
6 Against a godless nation I send him,
and against the people of my wrath I command him,
to take spoil and seize plunder,
and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Comment: Here the first word is ‘woe’. Although God’s command to Assyria was to carry out catastrophic disciplinary actions the ‘woe’ isn’t because of their obedience in carrying out His orders, herein stated. The next section tells us why!
7 But he does not so intend,
and his heart does not so think;
but it is in his heart to destroy,
and to cut off nations not a few; Comment: God sees Assyria’s intended plan! God’s plan was to be severe discipline, as commanded by God, but the Assyrians planned annihilation of the countries which they are attacking!
8 for he says:
“Are not my commanders all kings?
9 Is not Calno like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria like Damascus? Comment: these first four cities are mentioned in Amos ch6 for judgement as is also Samaria!
10 As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,
whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11 shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols
as I have done to Samaria and her images?” Comment: Here we have stated by the Assyrians their complete contempt for the idols of six listed cities. And idols are worthless! The mistake is made that in mentioning Jerusalem they forgot that Jehovah God is not an idol!
Jeremiah 8: 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, that Your thoughts are disciplinary and not destruction!
As I read it! 