Isaiah 31

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 31

CHAP. XXXI. The prophet sheweth the extreme folly of trusting to Egypt, and forsaking God: he exhorteth to conversion: he sheweth the fall of Assyria. Before Christ 713. THIS and the following chapter, which are very improperly divided in our English Bible, contain the second part of the third section of this discourse, and are nearly of the same argument with that preceding. They may be properly divided into two reproofs, to which are added consolatory promises. The first reproof respects the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 31:2

Isaiah 31:2. Yet he also is wise— There are two things which those who placed their confidence in Egypt peculiarly extolled in the Egyptians; namely, their wisdom and strength; particularly the strength of their cavalry. The prophet, comparing the Egyptians in each respect with God, beats down the vanity of their carnal confidence; for, though the Egyptians were wise and powerful, yet he acquaints them that God was more wise and more powerful, who could never want understanding to conceive the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 31:4

Isaiah 31:4. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, &c.— For thus hath Jehovah spoken by me, &c. Isaiah 31:5. As birds hovering [over their young], so will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem, defending and delivering it, protecting and rescuing it. Men of a carnal worldly mind, who understood not the secret ways of God, often inferred against his promises delivered by the prophets, that, in certain cases, they waited in vain for the divine help: groaning under the Assyrian yoke, they... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 31:6-7

Isaiah 31:6-7. Turn ye unto him— This address of the prophet to the Jews is both monitory of the duty, without which this divine benefit of protection and deliverance would not be conferred, and prophetical, wherein he teaches, that God would offer to them, and that they would as a nation at that time receive the grace of repentance from idolatry, that they might obtain this blessing agreeably to the laws of divine Providence and grace. The admonition immediately respects the Jews, in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 31:8-9

Isaiah 31:8-9. Then shall the Assyrian fall— The history of the Assyrian overthrow fully explains these verses. The meaning of the phrase, His young men shall be discomfited, is, that those of Sennacherib's soldiers who should escape in flight, should melt through fear in the way, and should be so dispersed and so distressed, that the greater part of them should perish. The first clause of the ninth verse should be read, And he shall pass by his strong-hold in a fright; that is, "Sennacherib... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 31

CHAPTER 31 :-. THE CHIEF STRENGTH OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMIES LAY IN THEIR CAVALRY. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 31:1

1. and stay on horses, and trust in chariots—In their level and fertile plains horses could easily be used and fed (Exodus 14:9; 1 Kings 10:28). In hilly Palestine horses were not so easily had or available. The Jews were therefore the more eager to get Egyptian chariots as allies against the Assyrian cavalry. In Assyrian sculptures chariots are represented drawn by three horses, and with three men in them (see Isaiah 36:9; Psalms 20:7; Daniel 9:13). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 31:2

2. he also is wise—as well as the Egyptian priests, so famed for wisdom ( :-), but who are "fools" before Him ( :-). He not only devises, but executes what He devises without "calling back His words" ( :-). home—the whole race. help—the Egyptian succor sought by the Jews. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown