The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
B. The Anchor Bible has an interesting chart that shows the characteristic prophetic swingsbetween judgment and hope (p. 426).ThreatAssurance28:14-15 28:16-1729:1-4 29:5-829:15-16 29:17-2130:1-17 30:29-3331:1-3 31:4-5, 8-9WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 31:1-31Woe to those who go down to Egypt for helpAnd rely on horses,And trust in chariots because they are manyAnd in horsemen because they are very strong,But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!2Yet He also is wise and will bring disasterAnd does not retract His words,But will arise against the house of evildoersAnd against the help of the workers of iniquity.3Now the Egyptians are men and not God,And their horses are flesh and not spirit;So the LORD will stretch out His hand,And he who helps will stumbleAnd he who is helped will fall,And all of them will come to an end together.31:1 “Woe” This is the fifth in a series of “woes” that began in 28:1; 29:1,15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1. Theterm introduces the poetic meter of a funeral lament. See note at 5:8.} “who go down to Egypt for help” The people of God were attempting to trust (BDB 105, KB 120,see Special Topic at 22:23) in political alliances instead of the power, presence, and promises of YHWHfor their help (cf. chapters 28-34).} “horses. . .chariots. . .horsemen” The Assyrians were known for their very large cavalry. Egyptwas known for her very large contingent of chariots. Judah was afraid of the Assyrians and was trustingin Egypt instead of God. Humans of all ages must be careful of trusting in the current level oftechnology or numerical superiority instead of the God of creation and mercy.} “chariots” Egypt exported chariots to all the surrounding countries (cf. I Kgs. 10:29), but they couldbe effective only on flat land, not the hill country of Judah.} “the Holy One of Israel. . .the LORD” These two terms apply to the Covenant God (cf. 1:4). Thefirst refers to His nature as righteous, yet the God that calls sinful humans to be His children.307
The second term is the Covenant name for God, “YHWH” (cf. Exod. 3:14). See Special Topic:Names for Deity at 1:1.} “look. . .seek” Both of these VERBS are NEGATED Qal PERFECTS, which denotes a settled condition.1. look (lit. “to gaze at intently”), BDB 1043, KB 1609, cf. 17:7,82. seek, BDB 205, KB 233, cf. 9:13; 55:6; 58:2; 65:10These VERBS denote an intense personal element (cf. Dan. 9:13).31:2 “He also is wise and will bring disaster” The NET Bible sees this as a sarcastic comment aboutJudah’s advisors who are seeking help from Egypt. However, the whole verse, not just the last twolines, speaks of YHWH.} “And does not retract His words” When God speaks, His words can be depended on (cf. Isa. 45:23;55:11; Jer. 44:29).} “will arise” This VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal PERFECT) is used anthropomorphically of YHWHrising from His throne to do battle on behalf of His people (cf. 14:22) or against His people (cf. Amos7:9). See Special Topic: Anthropomorphic Language Used for God at 6:1.} “the house of evil-doers. . .the workers of iniquity” These two phrases refer to Judah (i.e., “he whois helped,” v. 3e) and her political alliances (i.e., Egypt, “he who helps,” v. 3d).31:3 This is a comparison between the frailty of human beings and the eternality of God (El).Specifically here it may refer to Exod. 14:26-31a.This verse also clearly contrasts God (El) with flesh. God is “spirit” (cf. John 4:24). He can take ahuman form (theophany), but He is spirit and dwells throughout his creation (cf. I Kgs. 8:27; Jer. 23:24).He chooses to fellowship with humble, repentant believers (i.e., Isa. 66:1-2).} “the LORD will stretch out His hand” This is an anthropomorphic idiom of God’s actions. SeeSpecial Topic at 6:1.} “all of them will come to an end together” This VERB (BDB 477, KB 476, Qal IMPERFECT) denotesa complete destruction and end (cf. 1:28; 16:4; 29:20). What looks powerful and long lasting is not!This is similar to the common proverb about the transitoriness of humans as grass (cf. Isa. 40:6-8; Ps.90:5-6; 103:15; 104:14; James 1:10-11; I Pet. 1:24).NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 31:4-54For thus says the LORD to me,"As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey,Against which a band of shepherds is called out,And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise,So will the LORD of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill."5Like flying birds so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem.He will protect and deliver it;He will pass over and rescue it.31:4 “the lion” This metaphor seems to describe God as powerful and tenacious over His own specialplace (i.e., temple). If so, it is a reversal of the first strophe (31:1-3).308
- Page 282 and 283: 6. “spread out,” BDB 831, KB 97
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- Page 286 and 287: NJB, REB “we invoke your name”L
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- Page 294 and 295: } “by driving them away” The He
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- Page 320 and 321: } “rebellious children” This ti
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- Page 324 and 325: . see not, BDB 906, KB 1157, negate
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- Page 328 and 329: 2. good crops, v. 23a. rich (BDB 20
- Page 330 and 331: JB“will be battered”LXX, Peshit
- Page 334 and 335: } “the LORD of hosts come down”
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- Page 352 and 353: } “locusts” Locust invasions we
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B. <strong>The</strong> Anchor <strong>Bible</strong> has an interesting chart that shows the characteristic prophetic swingsbetween judgment <strong>and</strong> hope (p. 426).ThreatAssurance28:14-15 28:16-1729:1-4 29:5-829:15-16 29:17-2130:1-17 30:29-3331:1-3 31:4-5, 8-9WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 31:1-31Woe to those who go down to Egypt for helpAnd rely on horses,And trust in chariots because they are manyAnd in horsemen because they are very strong,But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!2Yet He also is wise <strong>and</strong> will bring disasterAnd does not retract <strong>His</strong> words,But will arise against the house of evildoersAnd against the help of the workers of iniquity.3Now the Egyptians are men <strong>and</strong> not God,And their horses are flesh <strong>and</strong> not spirit;So the LORD will stretch out <strong>His</strong> h<strong>and</strong>,And he who helps will stumbleAnd he who is helped will fall,And all of them will come to an end together.31:1 “Woe” This is the fifth in a series of “woes” that began in 28:1; 29:1,15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1. <strong>The</strong>term introduces the poetic meter of a funeral lament. See note at 5:8.} “who go down to Egypt for help” <strong>The</strong> people of God were attempting to trust (BDB 105, KB 120,see Special Topic at 22:23) in political alliances instead of the power, presence, <strong>and</strong> promises of YHWHfor their help (cf. chapters 28-34).} “horses. . .chariots. . .horsemen” <strong>The</strong> Assyrians were known for their very large cavalry. Egyptwas known for her very large contingent of chariots. Judah was afraid of the Assyrians <strong>and</strong> was trustingin Egypt instead of God. Humans of all ages must be careful of trusting in the current level oftechnology or numerical superiority instead of the God of creation <strong>and</strong> mercy.} “chariots” Egypt exported chariots to all the surrounding countries (cf. I Kgs. 10:29), but they couldbe effective only on flat l<strong>and</strong>, not the hill country of Judah.} “the Holy One of Israel. . .the LORD” <strong>The</strong>se two terms apply to the Covenant God (cf. 1:4). <strong>The</strong>first refers to <strong>His</strong> nature as righteous, yet the God that calls sinful humans to be <strong>His</strong> children.307
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