Having seen in the previous section, the judgment of God upon the Northern Kingdom for their pride, the focus now moves back to Assyria. Is Assyria sovereign in their dealings? No, they are the means of God's judgment, a tool in His hand. Once He has achieved His ends, the Lord will discard this tool. Yet this passage also speaks of God graciously preserving a remnant according to His promise, and a great victory over Assyria which typifies the eschatological victory over all the Lord's enemies.