Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 17:2

"The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid." — Isaiah 17:2 (ASV)

The cities of Aroer - By “Aroer” here seems to be meant a tract or region of country belonging to Damascus, in which several cities were situated. Grotius supposes that it was a tract of country in Syria which Ptolemy calls “Aueira” — Αὔειρα Aueira. Vitringa supposes that this refers to one part of Damascus, as Damascus was divided by the river in the same manner that Babylon was.

There were several cities named “Aroer.” One was on the Arnon River in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:12; Joshua 12:3). Burckhardt found this city under the name of Aroer.

Another city of this name was further north, opposite Rabbath-Ammon (Joshua 13:25). A third city with this name was in the tribe of Judah (1 Samuel 30:28). Of the city of Araayr that Burckhardt visited, nothing is now remarkable except its entire desolation.

Gesenius supposes (Commentary in loc.) that the phrase ‘the cities of Aroer’ means the cities around Aroer that were connected with it, similar to the phrase ‘daughters of a city.’ He supposes this city was near the Arnon River, within the limits of Moab, and that the prediction here was fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser when he carried away the inhabitants of Galilee, Gilead, and other places mentioned in 2 Kings 15:29. There can be no doubt that it was under the jurisdiction of Damascus.

Are forsaken - They are desolate, and the inhabitants have fled.

They shall be for flocks... - (See the note at Isaiah 5:17).