Isaiah 17:3

Both Syria and Israel will lose their defences.

Israel’s fate

v4 When the time comes for God to act, Israel will lose its greatness. v5 The land of Israel will be as empty as a field after workers have collected the harvest. Only a few grains of corn remain. v6 The people in Israel will be like the few *olives that remain on the top branch of a tree after harvest. The *Lord God of Israel has spoken. v7 (Only then will the people from Israel again turn back to the God who created them. Only then will they again obey the Holy God of Israel.) v8 They had made *altars to images of false gods. And they had set up sacred places where they burned *incense to give honour to Asherah. They had also erected special poles in her honour. But now the people from Israel will not join in these activities. v9 On that day your strong cities will be empty of people. Like the cities of the Hittites and Amorites long ago when the army of Israel approached. These cities will again be empty. Weeds and bushes will cover them. v10 Because you forgot the God who saved you. You did not remember that God is your strong Rock (your security). So plant your gardens that are sacred to Baal, that foreign god. v11 Protect your gardens with a fence on the day that you plant them. Next morning your seeds will begin to grow. But then disease will strike them and they will all die.