Isaiah 31 Study Notes

31:6-7 The restoration of God’s people has two sides: returning to him, which implies repentance, and rejecting false gods in the form of silver and gold idols.

31:8 God is the real reason Assyria will fall. He will use Babylon for this task, but God is the one who will give Babylon the victory.

31:9 Though the reference is unusual, the rock is probably a reference to the Assyrian king. A rock is something that provides shelter and protection, but in this case the rock will fail to provide defense. The signal flag is a reference to a battle standard used to rally troops. Zion’s fire and Jerusalem’s furnace may be a reference to the altar fire (see the explanation of “Ariel” in note at 29:1), but in the context of judgment it may point to the fire that will come out of Jerusalem to destroy the attacking enemy.