Isaiah 31 WEB
Summary: Isaiah renews the warning against relying on Egypt's horses and chariots instead of the Holy One of Israel, insisting the Egyptians are men, not God, and their horses flesh, not spirit, so that when the LORD stretches out His hand both helper and helped will fall together. He compares the LORD's defense of Jerusalem to a lion undeterred by shepherds, and to birds hovering protectively over their young, promising He will defend and deliver the city, "passing over" it as in the Passover imagery. The chapter calls Israel to turn back to the God they have deeply rebelled against, foreseeing a day when everyone will cast away idols of silver and gold as detestable. It closes announcing Assyria's fall by a sword not of man, fleeing in terror before a devouring fire and furnace in Jerusalem.
1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek Yahweh!
2Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
4For Yahweh says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
6Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.
7For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.
8“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
9His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
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