Yeshayah 31

1 1 Woe to them that go down to Mitzrayim for ezrah (help); and rely on susim, and trust in merkavot, because they are many; and in parashim, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Kadosh Yisroel, neither seek Hashem!

2 Yet He also is chacham (wise), and will bring rah (disaster), and will not call back His devarim; but will arise against the Bais Mere’im (house of evildoers), and against the ezrat po’alei aven (the help of them that work iniquity).

3 Now the Mitzrayim are adam, and not El (G-d); and their susim basar, and not ruach. When Hashem shall stretch out His yad, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is helped shall stumble, and they all shall come to an end together.

4 For thus saith Hashem unto me, Just as the aryeh (lion) and the young lion roars over his prey, when a multitude of ro’im (shepherds) is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their clamor, nor disturb himself because of the noise of them; so shall Hashem Tzva’os come down to fight for Mt Tziyon, and for the givah (hill) thereof.

5 As tzipporim (birds) flying, so will Hashem Tzva’os defend Yerushalayim; defending also He will deliver it; and paso’ach (passing over) He will preserve it.

6 Shuvu (turn ye, return) unto Him from Whom the Bnei Yisroel have deeply revolted.

7 For in that day every ish shall cast away his elilim of kesef, and his elilim of zahav, which your own hands have made unto you as a chet.

8 Then shall the Assyrian fall by a cherev, not of an ish (man); and a cherev not adam (of mortals) shall devour him; so he shall flee from before the cherev, and his bochrim shall become forced laborers.

9 And his rock shall pass away in magor (terror), and his sarim shall desert the nes (battle flag) in panic, saith Hashem, Whose fire is in Tziyon, and His furnace in Yerushalayim.

Yeshayah 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

The sin and folly of seeking help from Egypt. (1-5) God's care for Jerusalem. (6-9)

Verses 1-5 God will oppose the help sought from workers of iniquity. Sinners may be convicted of folly by plain and self-evident truths, which they cannot deny, but will not believe. There is no escaping the judgments of God; and evil pursues sinners. The Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will appear for the defence of his church. And as birds hovering over their young ones to protect them, with such compassion and affection will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. He will so defend it, as to secure its safety.

Verses 6-9 They have been backsliding children, yet children; let them return, and their backslidings shall be healed, though they have sunk deep into misery, and cannot easily recover. Many make an idol of their silver and gold, and by the love of that are drawn from God; but those who turn to God, will be ready to part with it. Then, when they have cast away their idols, shall the Assyrian fall by the sword of an angel, who strikes more strongly than a mighty man, yet more secretly than a mean man. God can make the stoutest heart to tremble. But if we keep up the fire of holy love and devotion in our hearts and houses, we may depend upon God to protect us and them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 31

This chapter denounces woe to those that trusted in the Egyptians; assures the Jews of God's care and protection of them; calls them to repentance, and foretells the destruction of the Assyrian army. The sin of those that trusted in Egypt, with the reasons of their trust, and not looking to the Lord, and seeking him, is declared in Isa 31:1 and their folly exposed in so doing; since the Lord is wise, powerful, and unchangeable, and the Egyptians frail and weak; so that the helper and the helped must fall before him, Isa 31:2,3 whereas protection might be expected from the Lord, as is promised, whose power is like that of the lion, and whose tender care is like that of birds to defend their young, Isa 31:4,5 wherefore the Jews are called upon to return to the Lord by repentance, from whom they had revolted; which would be shown by their detestation of idolatry, the sin they had been guilty of, Isa 31:6,7 and the chapter is closed with a prophecy of the ruin of the Assyrian army, and the flight of their king, Isa 31:8,9.