(Isa. 10:28–34)
Having given a message of hope and comfort to Israel’s “remnant,” he now gives us a prophetic but graphic description of the Assyrian invasion through towns or near towns on the northern approaches to Jerusalem. We do not know the exact location of all the towns mentioned, but suffice it to say that most of them were in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Aiath (Josh. 7:2) is supposed to have been about nine miles to the north and east of Jerusalem and about two miles northwest of Michmash, which in turn was a little over seven miles from the capital city of Judah. Migron was probably situated between Ai and Mishmash, but has not been identified. Ramath was located just a short distance north of Jerusalem, and Anathoth, the birthplace of Jeremiah, is about three miles northeast of the capital. Nob (city of priests; 1 Sam. 22:19) was obviously near Jerusalem (v. 32), near enough that an enemy leader could be seen waving his hand or shaking his fist at her. Many scholars think that it may have been situated on Mt. Scopus, a hill to the north of Jerusalem.
Isaiah describes the rapid advance of the enemy and pictures the fear and panic that grip the inhabitants of the towns and villages that lie in the immediate path of the Assyrians. In verse 32 we have the climax—at Jerusalem… .
Isaiah knows that the power of Israel’s enemies is but temporary; he doubtless keeps constantly in mind the eventual redemption of a remnant of Israel free from enemy oppression. And so he ends this particular prophecy with a prediction of the sudden destruction of Assyria by the Lord. He uses the metaphor of a forest being cut down by the forester’s cutting instrument. The Lord is the divine forester who cuts down and humbles the pride of the forest (Assyria). The boughs of the trees may represent the young men who are slain in battle. The tall trees of the forest would then represent the haughty ruling classes, and the thickets the common people (cf. 19:18; 12:12, 13). The Lord does his work with terrifying power. Some authorities think that these verses (33, 34) refer to the destruction of Judah, but the general context of the chapter convinces many others besides myself that the destruction of Assyria is the theme.
(Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 219–221.)