49:23 The Lord spoke about Damascus. “The people of Hamath and Arpad will be dismayed because they have heard bad news. Their courage will melt away because of worry. Their hearts will not be able to rest. 

Damascus was the capital of Syria. Damascus currently claims to be the oldest city in the world. Hamath and Arpad were two other major Syrian cities. These three cities heard some bad news. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was marching towards them. His plan was to destroy their cites. This Babylonian march would cause all of the Syrian soldiers and citizens to lose courage.

49:24 The people of Damascus will lose heart and turn to flee. Panic will grip them. Pain and anguish will seize them like a woman in labor. 

The soldiers of Damascus would flee from their city.

49:25 How deserted will that once-famous city be, that city that was once filled with joy! 

The famous city of Damascus would become deserted.

49:26 For her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,” says the Lord who rules over all. 

All of the soldiers of Syria would die in the city square.

49:27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will burn up the palaces of Ben Hadad.”

The walls of Damascus would be burned to the ground. Ben Hadad means “the son of Hadad.” Hadad was a Syrian god. The dynasties of the 8th and 9th centuries of Syria took upon this name. Their palaces would be burnt by fire as well.