Isaiah 9:11
ESV
But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.
NIV
But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
NASB
Therefore the Lord raises superior adversaries against them from Rezin And provokes their enemies,
CSB
The Lord has raised up Rezin’s adversaries against him and stirred up his enemies.
NLT
But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes.
KJV
Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
NKJV
Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on,
What does Isaiah 9:11 mean?
The people of Israel had become arrogant in Isaiah's day. They faced the upcoming onslaught of the Assyrians with the belief that they will simply rebuild bigger and better once it passed (Isaiah 9:10). They underestimated the Assyrians. But even more so, they gravely underestimated the Lord's judgment. It is God who is sending the Assyrians to wipe them out (Isaiah 8:7).Now Isaiah adds that the Lord is raising up the enemies of Rezin against them. Rezin was the king of Syria, north of Israel. Israel and Syria had an alliance. It is possible that Israel was trusting this alliance to give them protection from the worst attacks of their enemies. The problem, as Isaiah points out here, is that an alliance means that your ally's enemies become your enemies as well.
The Lord causes the enemies of Syria to turn their attention on Israel. This is in addition to the juggernaut of the Assyrian army. Israel will soon face destruction from a host of enemies.
Isaiah 9:8–21 returns to describing the judgment coming upon Israel in Isaiah's time. Despite the arrogance of the people, the enemies of their allies will devour them. When the people do not repent, the Lord will wipe out their leaders. He will have no compassion for the sinful people in every level of society. Wickedness burns through the people like a wildfire, turning human lives into fuel. Sinfulness causes people to devour each other and even themselves in trying to satisfy sin's appetite. The Lord will judge Israel for all of it.
Isaiah 9 begins prophecy about a future when darkness will be lifted from Israel. The nation will be free, prosperous, and at permanent peace. This will happen because God will send a child who will become a king on David's throne. More than a man, this king will be called Mighty God and Prince of Peace and will rule forever. In Isaiah's day, though, God's judgment will soon fall on Israel. He will wipe out their leaders. Wickedness burns through the nation like fire.
