After the series of oracles against the nations, the next major section (28-35) is comprised of six woes (28:1-29; 29:1-14; 29:15-24; 30:1-33; 31:1-32:20; 33:1-24) followed by an eschatological section that predicts Yhwh’s destruction and restoration of the earth (34-35).[1] The first five of these woes are directed against Israel and Judah. They are primarily historical in focus (from our perspective). However, as they progress, there are increasing references to future deliverance until the final woe oracle, which is directed not at Israel and Judah but at Assyria. Tully notes, “The theme that runs through this section is trust.”[2] God’s people are not to trust Egypt or their own military might. They are to trust the Holy One of Israel alone.
[1] The KJV, NASB, LSB, NIV, CSB all translate הוֹי “woe” while the ESV tends to translate it “ah,” though it does use “woe” on one occasion. The ESV’s inconsistency masks the structure in this section.
[2] Tully, Reading the Prophets as Christian Scripture,