2 Yet he also is wise, H2450 and will bring H935 evil, H7451 and will not call back H5493 his words: H1697 but will arise H6965 against the house H1004 of the evildoers, H7489 and against the help H5833 of them that work H6466 iniquity. H205
For the day H3117 of vengeance H5359 is in mine heart, H3820 and the year H8141 of my redeemed H1350 is come. H935 And I looked, H5027 and there was none to help; H5826 and I wondered H8074 that there was none to uphold: H5564 therefore mine own arm H2220 brought salvation H3467 unto me; and my fury, H2534 it upheld H5564 me.
For G1063 after G1894 that in G1722 the wisdom G4678 of God G2316 the world G2889 by G1223 wisdom G4678 knew G1097 not G3756 God, G2316 it pleased G2106 God G2316 by G1223 the foolishness G3472 of preaching G2782 to save G4982 them that believe. G4100 For G2532 G1894 the Jews G2453 require G154 a sign, G4592 and G2532 the Greeks G1672 seek G2212 after wisdom: G4678 But G1161 we G2249 preach G2784 Christ G5547 crucified, G4717 unto the Jews G2453 a stumblingblock, G3303 G4625 and G1161 unto the Greeks G1672 foolishness; G3472 But G1161 unto them G846 which G3588 are called, G2822 both G5037 Jews G2453 and G2532 Greeks, G1672 Christ G5547 the power G1411 of God, G2316 and G2532 the wisdom G4678 of God. G2316 Because G3754 the foolishness G3474 of God G2316 is G2076 wiser than G4680 men; G444 and G2532 the weakness G772 of God G2316 is G2076 stronger than G2478 men. G444 For G1063 ye see G991 your G5216 calling, G2821 brethren, G80 how that G3754 not G3756 many G4183 wise men G4680 after G2596 the flesh, G4561 not G3756 many G4183 mighty, G1415 not G3756 many G4183 noble, G2104 are called: But G235 God G2316 hath chosen G1586 the foolish things G3474 of the world G2889 to G2443 confound G2617 the wise; G4680 and G2532 God G2316 hath chosen G1586 the weak things G772 of the world G2889 to G2443 confound G2617 the things which are mighty; G2478 And G2532 base things G36 of the world, G2889 and G2532 things which are despised, G1848 hath G1586 God G2316 chosen, G1586 yea, and G2532 things which G3588 are G5607 not, G3361 to G2443 bring to nought G2673 things that are: G5607 That G3704 no G3361 G3956 flesh G4561 should glory G2744 in his presence. G1799 G846
And this shall be a sign H226 unto you, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will punish H6485 you in this place, H4725 that ye may know H3045 that my words H1697 shall surely H6965 stand H6965 against you for evil: H7451 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, I will give H5414 Pharaohhophra H6548 king H4428 of Egypt H4714 into the hand H3027 of his enemies, H341 and into the hand H3027 of them that seek H1245 his life; H5315 as I gave H5414 Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah H3063 into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon, H894 his enemy, H341 and that sought H1245 his life. H5315
Therefore this iniquity H5771 shall be to you as a breach H6556 ready to fall, H5307 swelling out H1158 in a high H7682 wall, H2346 whose breaking H7667 cometh H935 suddenly H6597 at an instant. H6621 And he shall break H7665 it as the breaking H7667 of the potters' H3335 vessel H5035 that is broken in pieces; H3807 he shall not spare: H2550 so that there shall not be found H4672 in the bursting H4386 of it a sherd H2789 to take H2846 fire H784 from the hearth, H3344 or to take H2834 water H4325 withal out of the pit. H1360
So shall the king H4428 of Assyria H804 lead away H5090 the Egyptians H4714 prisoners, H7628 and the Ethiopians H3568 captives, H1546 young H5288 and old, H2205 naked H6174 and barefoot, H3182 even with their buttocks H8357 uncovered, H2834 to the shame H6172 of Egypt. H4714 And they shall be afraid H2865 and ashamed H954 of Ethiopia H3568 their expectation, H4007 and of Egypt H4714 their glory. H8597 And the inhabitant H3427 of this isle H339 shall say H559 in that day, H3117 Behold, such H3541 is our expectation, H4007 whither we flee H5127 for help H5833 to be delivered H5337 from H6440 the king H4428 of Assyria: H804 and how shall we escape? H4422
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 or Song H7892 of David.]] H1732 Let God H430 arise, H6965 let his enemies H341 be scattered: H6327 let them also that hate H8130 him flee H5127 before H6440 him. As smoke H6227 is driven away, H5086 so drive them away: H5086 as wax H1749 melteth H4549 before H6440 the fire, H784 so let the wicked H7563 perish H6 at the presence H6440 of God. H430
For the oppression H7701 of the poor, H6041 for the sighing H603 of the needy, H34 now will I arise, H6965 saith H559 the LORD; H3068 I will set H7896 him in safety H3468 from him that puffeth H6315 at him. The words H565 of the LORD H3068 are pure H2889 words: H565 as silver H3701 tried H6884 in a furnace H5948 of earth, H776 purified H2212 seven times. H7659
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 31
Commentary on Isaiah 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
Isa 31:1-9. The Chief Strength of the Egyptian Armies Lay in Their Cavalry.
1. and stay on horses, and trust in chariots—In their level and fertile plains horses could easily be used and fed (Ex 14:9; 1Ki 10:28). In hilly Palestine horses were not so easily had or available. The Jews were therefore the more eager to get Egyptian chariots as allies against the Assyrian cavalry. In Assyrian sculptures chariots are represented drawn by three horses, and with three men in them (see Isa 36:9; Ps 20:7; Da 9:13).
2. he also is wise—as well as the Egyptian priests, so famed for wisdom (Ac 7:22), but who are "fools" before Him (Isa 19:11). He not only devises, but executes what He devises without "calling back His words" (Nu 23:19).
home—the whole race.
help—the Egyptian succor sought by the Jews.
3. not spirit—not of divine power (Ps 56:4; 146:3, 5; Zec 4:6).
he that helpeth—Egypt.
holpen—Judah.
4. (Isa 42:13; Ho 11:10).
roaring on—"growling over" his prey.
abase himself—be disheartened or frightened.
5. As in the image of "the lion," the point of comparison is the fearless might of Jehovah; so in that of the birds, it is His solicitous affection (De 32:11; Ps 91:4; Mt 23:37).
flying—Rather, "which defend" their young with their wings; "to fly" is a secondary meaning of the Hebrew word [Maurer]. "Hovering over" to protect their young [G. V. Smith].
passing over—as the destroying angel passing over, so as to spare the blood-marked houses of the Israelites on the first passover (Ex 12:13, 23, 27). He passed, or leaped forward [Lowth], to destroy the enemy and to spare His people.
6. The power and love of Jehovah, just mentioned, are the strongest incentives for returning to Him (Eze 16:62, 63; Ho 6:1).
ye … Israel—The change of person marks that when they return to the Lord, He will address them in more direct terms of communion in the second person; so long as they were revolters, God speaks of them, as more at a distance, in the third person, rather than to them.
7. In the day of trial the idols will be found to render no help and will therefore be cast away. Compare as to the future restoration and conversion of Israel simultaneously with the interposition of Jehovah in its defense, Zec 12:9-14; 13:1, 2.
for a sin—that is, whereby especially you contracted guilt (1Ki 12:30).
8. Assyrian—Sennacherib, representative of some powerful head of the ungodly in the latter ages [Horsley].
sword, not of … mighty … mean man—but by the unseen sword of God.
flee—Sennacherib alone fled homewards after his army had been destroyed (Isa 37:37).
young men—the flower of his army.
discomfited—rather, "shall be subject to slavery"; literally, "shall be liable to tribute," that is, personal service (De 20:11; Jos 9:21) [Maurer]. Or, not so well, "shall melt away" [Rosenmuller].
9. Rather, "shall pass beyond his strongholds"; he Shall not stop to take refuge in it through fear (Jud 20:47; Jer 48:28) [Gesenius].
ensign—the banner of Jehovah protecting the Jews [Maurer].
fire … furnace—"light" and "fire," namely, of Jehovah's altar at Jerusalem (Isa 29:1). Perhaps "furnace," as distinguished from "fire," may mean that His dwelling-place (His hearth) was at Jerusalem (compare Isa 4:5); or else the fiery furnace awaiting all the enemies who should attack Jerusalem.