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The arrangement of the text and the transitional term laken, therefore, suggests that vv.1-13, while originally directed toward the northern kingdom, are placed here as an entree into an indictment of Judah in the south. Isaiah’s point is this: the fate that came upon Samaria will just as surely come upon Jerusalem, for its people and, more importantly, its rulers, are just as corrupt.
Mention of a refuge in v.15 causes the prophet to develop the imagery of a true refuge, a building that has a true cornerstone, built according to the principles of justice and righteousness rather than lies and falsehoods. Only this refuge will stand in the day of the overwhelming scourge, which will sweep away all of their falsehoods along with the people themselves.
What is the historical referent? It is difficult to know. It may refer to the events of 721 b.c. when Assyria swept into the north and spilled over into the southern kingdom. Or more likely it may refer to the days of Hezekiah and his ill-advised revolt against Assyria in 705 b.c. and the resulting Assyrian invasion in 701 b.c. It may indeed look to the future invasion of Babylon in 597 and 587 b.c. It is important to remember that the prophetic message, while given in a particular historical situation for that historical moment, is always expansive. The vitality of the word lives on beyond the moment and is ever applicable to future events. One thinks of Jesus' parable about building a house on a rock rather than on sand (Mt 7:24-27; Lk 6:47-49).
V.20 is probably a popular proverb, employed here to highlight increasing torment, as in spending a sleepless night because the bed is too short and the blanket too small.
With v.21 the prophet recalls two of the great stories of ancient sacred history although with yet another terrifying twist of irony. Just as God had struck out at the Philistines at Mount Perazim (2Sa 5:20) and routed the Canaanites at Gibeon (Jos 10:10), so will God again attack his enemies. But his enemies now are not foreigners; they are his own disobedient people.
Isaiah concludes this prophecy with a parable of the farmer (vv.23-29). Characteristic of Isaiah, he follows a word of judgment with a word of promise. The judgment will be severe, but it will not be forever. The farmer breaks up the soil, but he does so in order to sow the seed. It is a word of hope.