Isaiah 17:9 Commentary: Rashi & Ibn Ezra

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יִהְי֣וּ ׀ עָרֵ֣י מָעֻזּ֗וֹ כַּעֲזוּבַ֤ת הַחֹ֙רֶשׁ֙ וְהָ֣אָמִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָזְב֔וּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָיְתָ֖ה שְׁמָמָֽה׃

In that day shall his strong cities be as the forsaken places, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel, after the manner of woods and lofty forests; and it shall be a desolation.

Rashi on Isaiah

the cities of his strength [The antecedent is] Israel.
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Ibn Ezra on Isaiah

His strong cities. The strong cities of Israel.
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Rashi on Isaiah

like the abandonment of the forest and the many branched trees Forsaken like this forest, desolate without people.
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