But this is not his intention;
Assyria does not think in those terms but intends simply to destroy many nations.
This verse separates imperial intention from divine intention.
5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; 6I will send him against a godless nation; 7But this is not his intention; 8“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says. 9“Is not Calno like Carchemish? 10As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms 11and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, 12So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. 13For he says: 14My hand reached as into a nest 15Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? 16Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease 17And the Light of Israel will become a fire, 18The splendor of its forests and orchards, 19The remaining trees of its forests will be so few