Is not Calno like Carchemish?Calno and Carchemish were significant cities in the ancient Near East. Calno, also known as Calneh, was a city in northern Mesopotamia, often associated with the Assyrian Empire. Carchemish was a major Hittite city located on the Euphrates River, known for its strategic military importance. The rhetorical question implies that just as Calno fell to Assyrian power, so did Carchemish. This reflects the Assyrian king's arrogance, believing that all cities, regardless of their strength or history, are equally conquerable. Historically, Carchemish was a site of significant battles, including the famous battle in 605 BC where Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians. This comparison underscores the Assyrian king's confidence in his military campaigns.
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Hamath and Arpad were cities in Syria. Hamath was a prominent city-state located on the Orontes River, known for its wealth and influence. Arpad was a smaller city north of Aleppo, often mentioned in Assyrian records as a rebellious city that was eventually subdued. The comparison suggests that just as Arpad was conquered, so too was Hamath, despite its greater size and strength. This reflects the Assyrian king's view that no city, regardless of its defenses or alliances, could withstand his might. The historical context shows that both cities fell to Assyrian expansion, illustrating the empire's dominance in the region during the 8th century BC.
Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while Damascus was the capital of Aram (Syria). Both cities were significant political and cultural centers in the region. The comparison indicates that just as Damascus was conquered by the Assyrians, so too would Samaria fall. This reflects the historical reality of the Assyrian conquest of Samaria in 722 BC, leading to the exile of the Israelites. Theologically, this serves as a warning of judgment against Israel for its idolatry and disobedience. The fall of these cities is often seen as a fulfillment of prophetic warnings, emphasizing the theme of divine justice and the consequences of turning away from God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
CalnoAn ancient city, possibly identified with Calneh in
Genesis 10:10, known for its wealth and significance in the Assyrian empire.
2.
CarchemishA major city on the Euphrates River, known for its strategic importance and as a site of significant battles.
3.
HamathA city in Syria, often mentioned in the context of Assyrian conquests.
4.
ArpadA city in northern Syria, frequently mentioned in the Bible as a target of Assyrian campaigns.
5.
SamariaThe capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, known for its idolatry and eventual conquest by the Assyrians.
6.
DamascusThe capital of Aram (Syria), a city with a long history of conflict with Israel.
Teaching Points
The Folly of PrideThe Assyrian king's comparison of conquered cities reflects human arrogance. We must guard against pride, recognizing that all power and success come from God.
The Consequences of IdolatrySamaria's comparison to other fallen cities serves as a warning against idolatry and turning away from God. We should examine our lives for anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God.
God's Sovereignty Over NationsThe passage underscores God's control over the rise and fall of nations. We can trust in His ultimate plan and justice, even when worldly powers seem dominant.
The Danger of ComplacencyThe cities mentioned were once strong and secure but fell due to complacency and sin. We must remain vigilant in our faith and obedience to God.
Hope in God's DeliveranceDespite the Assyrian threat, God preserved a remnant of His people. This reminds us of His faithfulness and the hope we have in His promises.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 10:9?
2.How does Isaiah 10:9 illustrate God's judgment on prideful nations?
3.What lessons can we learn from Isaiah 10:9 about God's sovereignty?
4.How does Isaiah 10:9 connect with God's justice in other Bible passages?
5.How can Isaiah 10:9 guide us in recognizing modern-day idols?
6.In what ways should Isaiah 10:9 influence our response to worldly power?
7.How does Isaiah 10:9 reflect God's judgment on nations?
8.What historical events are referenced in Isaiah 10:9?
9.Why does Isaiah 10:9 mention Calno, Carchemish, Hamath, Arpad, Samaria, and Damascus?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 10?
11.Isaiah 10:7-11: Is there sufficient historical or archaeological evidence supporting the extensive conquests described here?
12.Did Jesus come to bring peace or division? (Luke 2:14 vs. Matthew 10:34)
13.How do we reconcile Isaiah 59:9-10, describing spiritual and moral blindness, with other biblical passages that suggest God provides ongoing guidance to His people?
14.If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, why does He say, 'I have not come to bring peace, but a sword' (Matthew 10:34)?What Does Isaiah 10:9 Mean
Is not Calno like Carchemish?“Is not Calno like Carchemish?”
• The Assyrian king surveys his past victories. Carchemish, a strategic city on the Euphrates, had already fallen (Isaiah 36:19;2 Kings 18:34). If mighty Carchemish could not withstand Assyria, why should Calno (Calneh) expect a different outcome?
• The comparison underlines the uniform success of Assyria’s campaigns. Every city, no matter how fortified, succumbed—fulfilling God’s word that He would use Assyria as “the rod of My anger” (Isaiah 10:5-6).
• Like the earlier example of Babel’s empire inGenesis 10:10, Calno symbolizes human pride brought low. The boast anticipates the later prophetic warning, “Shall the axe boast over him who chops with it?” (Isaiah 10:15).
• Cross references reinforce the pattern:Isaiah 37:11-13 lists conquered cities, calling them a precedent for future targets;Amos 6:2 cites Calneh and Hamath to remind Israel that judgment is impartial.
Is not Hamath like Arpad?“Is not Hamath like Arpad?”
• Hamath, a major Aramean capital on the Orontes, had long claimed independence (1 Kings 8:65). Arpad, a fortified neighbor, fell during Tiglath-Pileser III’s reign (2 Kings 18:34). Assyria lumps them together, erasing any distinction between great and small.
• The taunt signals that distance or reputation offers no refuge.Jeremiah 49:23 later echoes, “Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,” showing how God’s warnings span generations.
• By pairing the two, the king implies an unbroken chain of triumphs, bolstering his belief that even Judah’s God cannot stand against him (Isaiah 36:18-20). Yet Scripture preserves the record to expose that very arrogance (Isaiah 10:12).
• For believers, the lesson is clear: God may permit worldly powers to flourish for a season, but He remains sovereign (Psalm 33:10-11).
Is not Samaria like Damascus?“Is not Samaria like Damascus?”
• Damascus, capital of Aram, fell to Assyria when Tiglath-Pileser III deported its people (2 Kings 16:9). Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom, followed under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II (2 Kings 17:5-6).
• By equating the two, the Assyrian boasts that covenant status grants no special protection. If Damascus, outside the covenant, was crushed, Samaria—once within the covenant—proved equally helpless because of its idolatry (Hosea 13:1-3).
• The claim ignores God’s promise to preserve a remnant (Isaiah 10:20-22). Assyria’s confidence will be shattered when the “Light of Israel” burns them like thorns in a single day (Isaiah 10:17).
• This contrast reminds readers that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17), yet also that God’s discipline serves His redemptive purposes.
summaryIsaiah 10:9 records Assyria’s boast, stringing together four conquered cities to argue that future targets are already foregone conclusions. The invader sees only military precedent; God is revealing that every conquest has unfolded under His sovereign hand, and the pride it breeds will bring Assyria’s own downfall. The verse challenges us to recognize that human achievements, however impressive, cannot thwart the Lord’s purposes.
(9)
Is not Calno as Carchemish?--The six names obviously pointed to more recent conquests in which Sargon and his predecessors had exulted. One after another they had fallen. Could Judah hope to escape? (1) Calno, the Calneh of
Genesis 10:10,
Amos 6:2. That prophet had held up its fate in vain as a warning to Samaria. It has been identified by Kay with Ctesiphon on the east bank of the Tigris, by Lenormant (
Manual,i. 80) with Ur of the Chaldees and with the ruins known now as the
Mugheir,by Rawlinson (
Five Great Monarchies,i. 20) with
Nipur.The Assyrian form, Kil-Anu, means the "house" or "temple" of Anu, an Assyrian deity). Sennacherib (Lenormant i. 398), speaks of having reconquered it after a Chaldean revolt, and sold its inhabitants as slaves. The LXX. version, which instead of naming Carchemish, gives "Calane, where the tower was built," seems to imply a tradition identifying that city with the Tower of Babel of
Genesis 11:4. (2) Carchemish. Few cities of the ancient world occupied a more prominent position than this. Its name has been explained as meaning the Tower of Chemosh, and so bears witness to the widespread
cultusof the deity whom we meet with in Biblical history as the "abomination of the Moabites" (
1Kings 11:7). It has been commonly identified with the Circesium of Greek historians, but the inscriptions found by Mr. George Smith at
Tarabolos(the Hierapolis of the Greeks) on the banks of the Euphrates, at its junction with the
Kyabur,prove that this is the true representative of the great commercial city of the old Hittite kings (
Times,Aug. 23, 1876). Its importance is shown by the frequent occurrence of the name, in its Egyptian form of Karakumusha, in the record of Egyptian kings. Thothmes I. (
circaB.C. 1600) conquered it, and, as a result of his campaign, strengthened the forces of Egypt with the chariots and horses for which it was afterwards conspicuous (Lenormant,
Manual,1 p. 229). Thothmes III. built a fortress there to guard the passage of the Euphrates (
ibid.1 p. 232), the ruins of which, with Egyptian inscriptions and works of Egyptian manufacture, have recently been found there (
ibid.1 p.,263). It revolted against Ramses II. (the Sesostris of the Greeks), with the Hittites and Ph?nicians, and other nations, but was subdued by him in the expedition in which the victorious issue is recorded on the monument on the
Nahr-el-Kelbnear
Beyr-t.Shalmaneser IV. (contemporary with Ahab) records that he demolished and burnt it (
ibid.1 p. 380). Tiglath-pileser II., the king to whom Ahaz paid tribute, received tribute from its king in B.C. 742 (
ibid.1 p. 389). The last two victories are probably referred to in the boast now before us. At a later period it was conspicuous for the great defeat of Pharaoh Necho's army by Nebuchadnezzar (see notes on
Jeremiah 46:2). Its commercial importance is indicated by the fact that the "
mana(Heb.,
manah) of Carchemish" appears in numerous cuneiform inscriptions as the standard weight of the time, just as that of Troyes, in the commerce of the Middle Ages, is shown by the survival of the name in the "Troy weight" of our arithmetic books (
Records of the Past, vii. 114).
Is not Hamath as Arpad?--(1) Hamath on the Orontes, the capital of an Aramaean kingdom, was prominent in the history of the East. Under its kings Toi and Joram it paid tribute to David (2Samuel 8:9-10). It fell under the power of Jeroboam II. of Israel (2Kings 14:25). In conjunction with Damascus it revolted against Shalmaneser IV., and was subdued by him (Lenormant'sManual,1 p. 380). Its king was first among the tributary princes under Tiglath-pileser II. after having joined with Pekah and Rezin in their revolt (ibid.1 p. 389). Lastly, to come to the date of the present prophecy, it again revolted, in conjunction, as before, with Damascus and Samaria, and was again subdued by Sargon (ibid.1 p. 393). (2) Of the early history of Arpad we know less, but it appears as having sustained a three years' siege from the forces of Tiglath-pileser II. It joined Hamath in its revolt against Sargon, and was again, as this verse implies, subdued by him. It is always united in the Old Testament with Hamath (Isaiah 36:19;Isaiah 37:13). Under the name ofErfadit is still traceable about nine miles from Aleppo (Lenormant, 1 pp. 389, 393). . . .
Verse 9. -
Is not Calno as Carehemish? A further proof of superiority, and ground of confidence, lay in the further fact, that the strongest cities had, one and all, succumbed to the Assyrian arms, and been laid in ruins to punish them for offering resistance. Six such cities are mentioned - Calneh, probably Niffer, in Lower Mesopotamia; Carchemish, on the right bank of the Euphrates in Lat. 36° 30' nearly; Hamath, the "great Hamath" of Amos (
Amos 6:2), in Coelesyria on the routes; Arpad, perhaps Tel-Erfad, near Aleppo; Damascus, and Samaria.
Calneh was one of the cities of Nimrod (
Genesis 10:10), and, according to the LXX., was "the place where the tower was built." It may have been taken by Tiglath-Pileser in one of his expeditious into Babylonia. Amos (
Amos 6:2) speaks of it as desolate in his day.
Carchemish (Assyrian
Gargamis) was a chief city of the Hittites, and has been called "their northern capital." Long confounded by geographers with Circesium at the junction of the Khabour with the Euphrates, it has recently been proved to have occupied a far more northern position, and is now generally identified with the ruins discovered by Mr. George Smith at Jerabis or Jerabhs. It was conquered by Sargon in
B.C. 717, when "its people were led captive, and scattered over the Assyrian empire, while Assyrian colonists were brought to people the city in their place; Carchemish being formally annexed to Assyria, and placed under an Assyrian governor" (G. Smith, 'Assyria,' p. 97).
Hamath was originally a Canaanite city (
Genesis 10:18). By the time of David it had become the scat of an independent monarchy (
2 Samuel 8:9, 10), and so continued until its reduction by the Assyrians. We find it leagued with the Hittites, the Syrians of Damascus, and the Israelites against Assyria about
B.C. 850 ('Ancient Monarchies,' vol. 2. pp. 361-363). About
B.C. 720 it was taken by Sargon, who beheaded its king, and probably reduced it to ruins (ibid., p. 411; comp.
Amos 6:2). The name remains in the modern
Hamah, where many curious inscriptions have been recently dug up.
Arpad was attacked by Tiglath-Pileser in the early part of his reign, and reduced to subjection. It revolted in conjunction with Hamath from Sargon, and was severely punished ('Ancient Monarchies,' l.s.c.).
Is not Samaria as Damascus? This mention of Samaria among the subjugated and ruined cities may undoubtedly be prophetic; but the connection with Carchemish, Hamath, and Arpad all of them towns reduced by Sargon within the years
B.C. 720-717 - points rather to the verse being historical, and would seem to indicate that the date of the entire prophecy - vers. 5-19 - is subsequent to the capture of the cities, and so not earlier than
B.C. 716.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
“Is notהֲלֹ֥א(hă·lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noCalnoכַּלְנ֑וֹ(kal·nōw)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3641:Calneh -- a place in Babylonlike Carchemish?כְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ(kə·ḵar·kə·mîš)Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3751:Carchemish -- a city on the EuphratesIs notלֹ֤א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noHamathחֲמָ֔ת(ḥă·māṯ)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2574:Hamath -- a place North of Damascuslike Arpad?כְאַרְפַּד֙(ḵə·’ar·paḏ)Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 774:Arpad -- a city in Aram (Syria)Is notלֹ֥א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noSamariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃(šō·mə·rō·wn)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8111:Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israellike Damascus?כְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק(ḵə·ḏam·me·śeq)Preposition-k | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1834:Damascus -- a city in Aram (Syria)
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 10:9 Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like (Isa Isi Is) 
