Isaiah
Chapter 31
Against the Alliance With Egypt
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who pin their hopes on cavalry, putting their trust in chariots because they are many, relying on horsemen because they are strong. Why did they not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord?
And yet he is very wise, and from him disaster will come. He does not back down on his word; he will rise against the evildoers and cut off the help the wicked waited for.
The Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord stretches forth his hand, the helper and the one he helped will fall and perish together.
For thus the Lord has spoken: Just as a lion or a lion cub growls over its prey and is neither frightened nor disturbed by the shepherd’s shouts, so will the Lord Sabaoth descend to fight on Mount Zion.
Like birds that hover, so will the Lord Sabaoth shield Jerusalem: he will protect, deliver, rescue, and save.
Return, O children of Israel, to him you have so wickedly betrayed.
Conversion of Judah and End of Assyria
On that day each of you will throw away the idols of silver and gold that his sinful hands have made.
Assyria will fall by a sword not wielded by a man. They will be devoured by a sword not held by a mortal. They will flee before the sword, their young men will be captured and put to forced labor.
They will desert their post, and the officers, in terror, will abandon the standard.” It is the Lord who speaks, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Commentaries
Various Oracles.
Chapters 28-33 mainly describe the events caused by the Assyrians between 701 and 691 B.C. Some suggest that a common theme throughout this section is the repeated use of the word “woe” at the beginning of each of the six messages: 28:1; 29:1.15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1.
Against the Alliance With Egypt.
In this new “woe,” Isaiah again condemns attempts to form an alliance with Egypt against Assyria as a lack of trust in the Lord’s protection.
Conversion of Judah and End of Assyria.
It is not military force that will cause the defeat of Assyria, but the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem that will cause them to flee in panic.