The fallacious human reason was the alliance which Ahaz had made with Assyria. In what state that alliance now was, does not clearly appear, but the most optimist of the Assyrian party at Jerusalem could not, after all that had happened, be feeling quite comfortable about it. The Assyrian was as unscrupulous as themselves. There was too much impetus in the rush of his northern floods to respect a tiny province like Judah, treaty or no treaty. Besides, Sargon had as good reason to suspect Jerusalem of intriguing with Egypt, as he had against Samaria or the Philistine cities; and the Assyrian kings had already shown their meaning of the covenant with Ahaz by stripping Judah of enormous tribute. So Isaiah discounts in this prophecy Judah's treaty with Assyria. He speaks as if nothing was likely to prevent the Assyrian's immediate march upon Jerusalem. He puts into Sargon's mouth the intention of this, and makes him boast of the ease with which it can be accomplished (vv. 7-11). In the end of the prophecy he even describes the probable itinerary of the invader from the borders of Judah to his arrival on the heights, over against the Holy City (vv. 27 last clause to 32).[31] [31] It will be noticed that in the above version a different reading is adopted from the meaningless clause at the end of verse 27 in the English version, out of which a proper heading for the subsequent itinerary has been obtained by Robertson Smith (_Journal of Philology_, 1884, p. 62). _Cometh up from the North the Destroyer._ _He is come upon Ai; marcheth through Migron; at Michmash musters his baggage._ _They have passed through the Pass; "Let Geba be our bivouac."_ _Terror-struck is Ramah; Gibeah of Saul hath fled._ _Make shrill thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!_ _In mad flight is Madmenah; the dwellers in Gebim gather their stuff to flee._ _This very day he halteth at Nob; he waveth his hand at the Mount of the Daughter of Zion, the Hill of Jerusalem._ This is not actual fact; but it is vision of what may take place to-day or to-morrow. For there is nothing--not even that miserable treaty--to prevent such a violation of Jewish territory, within which, it ought to be kept in mind, lie all the places named by the prophet. But the invasion of Judah and the arrival of the Assyrian on the heights over against Jerusalem does not mean that the Holy City and the shrine of Jehovah of hosts are to be destroyed; does not mean that all the prophecies of Isaiah about the security of this rallying-place for the remnant of God's people are to be annulled, and Israel annihilated. For just at the moment of the Assyrian's triumph, when he brandishes his hand over Jerusalem, as if he would harry it like a bird's nest, Isaiah beholds him struck down, and crash like the fall of a whole Lebanon of cedars (vv. 33, 34). _Behold the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, lopping the topmost boughs with a sudden crash,_