Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see this as just a description of a fierce invading army, but notice the specific phrasing: "the Lord has one who is mighty and strong." This isn't just any army; it's an army that belongs to the Lord, placed there by Him to execute His judgment.
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah delivers a "woe" to the drunkards of Samaria, the proud and self-indulgent leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel. Their glorious kingdom is depicted as a fading flower, beautiful but fleeting, because of their corruption and their misplaced trust in alliances rather than God. This verse then introduces the divine instrument of judgment that will sweep through their land.
Who is this 'mighty and strong one' the Lord 'has'? Is it God Himself, or someone else acting on His behalf?
The verse opens with a powerful declaration: "Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one." This isn't another god equal to Yahweh, but rather an instrument at His disposal. Commentators consistently identify this 'one' as the king of Assyria, specifically Shalmaneser, and his formidable army.
God's Sovereign Control
What do 'hail,' 'storms,' and 'floods' have in common, and why would God use them to describe an invading army?
The prophet uses intense, natural imagery to convey the devastating nature of this incoming force. It's not just an army; it's a catastrophic event:
Nature's Fury Unleashed
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These are not just descriptions of military tactics, but of the complete obliteration of pride and security. The invaders, empowered by God, will leave nothing standing, mirroring the destructive power of nature unleashed.
Isaiah 28:2 speaks of a mighty force, a destructive storm, that God will unleash. This imagery points directly to the Assyrian invasions that devastated the Northern Kingdom of Israel, culminating in the fall of Samaria. The prophecy serves as a stark warning to both Israel and Judah about the consequences of their pride and sin.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian invasions of Israel
Under Tiglath-Pileser III, the Neo-Assyrian Empire invades the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). This invasion leads to the deportation of many Israelites and the subjugation of the kingdom.
c. 722 BC— this verse
Fall of Samaria and end of Israel
Sargon II of Assyria conquers the capital city of Samaria, ending the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The remaining population is deported, and the land is resettled by foreigners.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invades the Southern Kingdom of Judah and besieges Jerusalem. The city is miraculously spared, but Judah becomes a vassal state.
This passage uses similar imagery of overflowing waters and a powerful force to describe an invading army, directly preceding the section where this verse appears.
Jeremiah 46:7-8This passage also uses the metaphor of a flood with overflowing waters to depict the unstoppable advance of an invading army, drawing a parallel to the destructive power described in Isaiah.
Ezekiel 13:10-11Here, a wall built with whitewash is described as being undermined by a flood, illustrating how flimsy defenses (like those of Ephraim) will be swept away by God's judgment delivered through an external force.
Daniel 11:10This verse describes a powerful northern king advancing with a great army, using imagery of overwhelming force that echoes the destructive storm and flood described in Isaiah.
Psalm 90:5This psalm compares humanity to grass that is swept away by a flood, highlighting the vulnerability and fleeting nature of those who oppose God's power, similar to how the 'mighty and strong one' casts down his enemies.
barnesIsaiah 28:2: "Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand."
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one - The Hebrew of this passage is, 'Lo! there is to the Lord (לאדני la'donāy) mighty and strong.' Lowth renders it, 'Behold the mighty one, the exceedingly strong one,' And supposes that it means the Lord himself. It is evident, however, that something mu…
bensonIsaiah 28:2: "Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand."
Isaiah 28:2-4. Behold, the Lord hath — Namely, at his command, prepared and ready to execute his judgments; a mighty and strong one — Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria; which, as a tempest of hail, &c., shall cast down — The crown of pride, to the earth, by his hand — By the hand of God, which shall s…
It's easy to see this as just a description of a fierce invading army, but notice the specific phrasing: "the Lord has one who is mighty and strong." This isn't just any army; it's an army that belongs to the Lord, placed there by Him to execute His judgment.
The prophet Isaiah delivers a "woe" to the drunkards of Samaria, the proud and self-indulgent leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel. Their glorious kingdom is depicted as a fading flower, beautiful but fleeting, because of their corruption and their misplaced trust in alliances rather than God. This verse then introduces the divine instrument of judgment that will sweep through their land.
The prophet Isaiah delivers a "woe" to the drunkards of Samaria, the proud and self-indulgent leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel. Their glorious kingdom is depicted as a fading flower, beautiful but fleeting, because of their corruption and their misplaced trust in alliances rather than God. This verse then introduces the divine instrument of judgment that will sweep through their land.
"Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand." — It's easy to see this as just a description of a fierce invading army, but notice the specific phrasing: "the Lord has one who is mighty and strong." This isn't just any army; it's an army *that belo…
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Last reviewed October 2026