Isaias xxxi.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Chariots. He continues to inveigh against this practice, chap. xxx. 16. (Calmet) — Salmanasar will ruin the ten tribes. (Menochius)
Ver. 2. Words. The Lord will punish the wicked Jews, (Calmet) after the Egyptians. (Josephus, [Jewish Antiquities?] x. 1.) — The former would not believe the prophets. (Worthington)
Ver. 3. Hand. If God neglect to support empires, they fall of themselves.
Ver. 4. Thereof. He will thence hurl destruction on the distant enemy. (Calmet) — He had destroyed Sennacherib’s army, 4 Kings xix. Yet they forgot this and other proofs of God’s power and love. (Worthington)
Ver. 5. Over. He will protect Jerusalem, notwithstanding the menaces of Sennacherib, as he did his people from the destroying angel.
Ver. 6. Revolted. Let your conversion bear proportion (Calmet) with your sins. (Haydock)
Ver. 7. Idols. Their worship was afterwards more severely prohibited, chap. xxx. 21.
Ver. 8. Flee not. Hebrew, “flee to himself,” lo. Septuagint and Vulgate have read la, “not.” The angel destroyed the army, and the king was slain at his return. — Tributaries. Ninive being afterwards subject to the Chaldeans, &c. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “shall melt.” (Vatable)
Ver. 9. Strength. Hebrew, “rock,” the king. — Jerusalem, to protect it, (Calmet) and punish the guilty. (Chaldean)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The folly of trusting to Egypt, and forgetting God. He will fight for his people against the Assyrians.
1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, trusting in horses, and putting their confidence in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; and have not trusted in the holy One of Israel, and have not sought after the Lord.
2 But he that is the wise one hath brought evil, and hath not removed his words: and he will rise up against the house of the wicked, and against the aid of them that work iniquity.
3 Egypt is man, and not God: and their horses, flesh, and not spirit: and the Lord shall put down his hand, and the helper shall fall, and he that is helped shall fall, and they shall all be confounded together.
4 For thus saith the Lord to me: Like as the lion roareth, and the lion’s whelp upon his prey, and when a multitude of shepherds shall come against him, he will not fear at their voice, nor be afraid of their multitude: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight upon Mount Sion, and upon the hill thereof.
5 As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem, protecting and delivering, passing over and saving.
6 Return as you had deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
7 For in that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your hands have made for you to sin.
8 *And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of a man; and the sword, not of a man, shall devour him; and he shall flee not at the face of the sword: and his young men shall be tributaries:
9 And his strength shall pass away with dread, and his princes fleeing shall be afraid: the Lord hath said it, whose fire is in Sion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
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8: Isaias xxvii. 36.; 4 Kings xix. 35.; 2 Paralipomenon xxxii. 21.