1The folly and danger of trusting in Egypt, instead of seeking to God. 6An exhortation to turn to God. 8The fall of Assyria.
1WOE to 1them that go down to Egypt 2for help; and stay 3ona horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they 4look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither 5seek the LORD!
1 This did those of Jerusalem.
2 Namely, against Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. Compare 2 Kings 18:21, 24.
3 Understand the strong horses of Egypt, as appears in verse 3.
a Psalm 20:7; Jer. 17:5.
4 See Isa. 29:19.
5 Namely, by prayers, or ask not counsel of Him.
2Yet 6he 7also is wise, and will bring 8evil, and 9will not call back his words: but will arise 10against the house of the evildoers, and 11against the help of them that work iniquity.
6 Namely, the Lord.
7 Not less, but much more than you; as if the prophet had said: The Lord knows well enough how to execute His judgments and threats, although the Jews do invent and devise all kinds of means to escape. If they were wise, they would inquire and ask counsel of Him.
8 That is, punishments, mishaps upon the disobedient.
9 But He performs whatever He threatens.
10 That is, against the wicked and disobedient Jews.
11 Understand the Egyptians that would come to help the Jews.
3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall 12stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
12 Or, turn away, incline.
4For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when 13a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself 14for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts 15come down 16to fight 17for mount Zion, and 18for the hill thereof.
13 Or, a great number. Hebr. the fullness of shepherds, that is, all the shepherds who are thereabouts.
14 Or, because there is a great number of them. Other, because of the stir.
15 Namely, from heaven.
16 Namely, against the Assyrians.
17 That is, for Jerusalem, or for His people. See the fulfillment 2 Kings 19:35. Other, upon mount Zion.
18 Or, upon the hill thereof. Understand hereby this hill mount Moriah, whereon stood the temple. It was called the hill of Zion, because it was lower and less than mount Zion, whereon the city of David was situated.
519Asb birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and 20passing over 21he will preserve it.
19 Other, As birds fly (round about their nest), namely, to defend it.
b Deut. 32:11.
20 Or, passing through, or, leaping over. It is the same word in the Hebrew from which is derived passover or passage. Understand than also this: He shall destroy the Assyrians in a short time, namely, in one night, as He did the Egyptians in former time, Exod. 12:12, etc.
21 Or, he will help them out, namely, the citizens of Jerusalem.
6 ¶ 22Turn ye 23unto him 24from whom the children of Israel have 25deeply revolted.
22 Or, return, namely, the backsliders among the Jews.
23 Namely, unto the Lord, Whom ye have greatly offended.
24 Hebr. that have made the departure or revolting deep.
25 That is, greatly, wide, far.
7For 26in thatc day every man shall 27cast away 28his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
26 Namely, when the Lord shall visit them by the Assyrians who shall come to fight against them.
c Isa. 2:20.
27 Since they will see and perceive that they are not able to help them.
28 Hebr. the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, as Isa. 30:22.
8¶Then shall the 29Assyrian fall with the sword, 30not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee 31from the sword, and his young men 32shall be discomfited.33
29 Or, Asshur, that is, the Assyrians.
30 But by the sword of the angel. See 2 Kings 19:35.
31 Namely, from the sword of the angel. Hebr. from the face of the sword.
32 Hebr. shall be for a melting, that is, their hearts shall tremble and melt away in their bodies for anguish and fear.
33 Some do translate this 8th verse thus: Then shall Asshur fall by the sword, not of a mighty man, and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him; but he shall flee from the sword (that is, for fear of the sword), and his young men shall be brought under tribute.
9And 34hed shall pass over 35to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall 36be afraid 37of the ensign, saith the LORD, 38whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
34 Namely, the king of Assyria.
d 2 Kings 19:36, 37.
35 Or, to his rock, that is, he shall flee toward his strong city Nineveh; see 2 Kings 19:36. Other, and their rock shall depart for fear.
36 Or, fall down, or, be destroyed.
37 That is, of the sign of the battle, which the angel shall give them. Or, of the angel of the Lord, who shall pursue them as with a banner or standard that is set up.
38 That is, Who dwells at Zion, and has His household at Jerusalem; and Who consequently will not permit the Assyrians to thrust him out of it.