Isa. 31 The folly and punishment of trust in Egypt, Isa. 31:1–3. God will fight for Jerusalem, Isa. 31:4–5, if they will turn unto him, Isa. 31:6–7. The fall of Assyria, Isa. 31:8–9.

That go down to Egypt for help; as the Jews did, contrary to God’s command, Deut. 17:16. And stay on horses; for Egypt had many and choice horses. They look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord; their confidence in the creature was accompanied with and did produce a distrust of…

He also is wise: you think you are wise, and act wisely in engaging the Egyptians, who are a wise and warlike people, to help you; but God is not inferior to them in wisdom nor in strength, but much their superior; and therefore you have done foolishly and wickedly in preferring them before him.

Are men, and not God; and therefore utterly unable to defend you, either without or against my will. Their horses flesh; weak and frail, as that word signifies, Ps. 78:39, Heb. 5:7, and elsewhere.

For; or, but; or, nevertheless, as this particle is elsewhere used, as hath been proved before. Although you have done evil in sending to Egypt for help, and they shall not be able to help you; yet the Lord himself will, of his own grace, and for the glory of his own name, give you that help and…

As birds flying; which come from above, and so cannot be kept off; which fly swiftly, and engage themselves Valiantly and resolutely, when they perceive that their young ones are in eminent danger. He seems to allude, and to oppose this, to those boasting expressions of the Assyrian, Isa.

Turn ye unto him; let the consideration of this gracious promise engage you to repent of your carnal policies, in seeking and trusting to Egypt for help, and sincerely to return to God. The children of Israel; either, 1.

For when the Assyrian shall invade your land, you shall find the vanity of those idols to which you have trusted; and therefore shall cast them away with indignation, and be forced to seek to me for help. So this is added as an argument to persuade them to practise his counsel of turning to God.

Then; when you have cast away your idols, and seriously sought to me for help; both which things were performed by Hezekiah. With the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man; by the sword, not of any man, either mean or mighty, but of an angel.

He shall pass over to his strong hold; Sennacherib shall flee away, with all speed, from Jerusalem, to his strong city of Nineveh, Isa. 37:37. Or, as it is in the margin, and as the words lie in the Hebrew text, his rock (i.e.