Isaiah 31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 31

This chapter is an abridgment of the foregoing chapter; the heads of it are much the same. Here is, I. A woe to those who, when the Assyrian army invaded them, trusted to the Egyptians, and not to God, for succour, Isa. 31:1-3. II. Assurance given of the care God would take of Jerusalem in that time of danger and distress, Isa. 31:4, 5. III. A call to repentance and reformation, Isa. 31:6, 7. IV. A prediction of the fall of the Assyrian army, and the fright which the Assyrian king should... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 31:1-5

This is the last of four chapters together that begin with woe; and they are all woes to the sinners that were found among the professing people of God, to the drunkards of Ephraim (Isa. 28:1), to Ariel (Isa. 29:1), to the rebellious children (Isa. 30:1), and here to those that go down to Egypt for help; for men's relation to the church will not secure them from divine woes if they live in contempt of divine laws. Observe, I. What the sin was that is here reproved, Isa. 31:1. 1. Idolizing the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 31:6-9

This explains the foregoing promise of the deliverance of Jerusalem; she shall be fitted for deliverance, and then it shall be wrought for her; for in that method God delivers. I. Jerusalem shall be reformed, and so she shall be delivered from her enemies within her walls, Isa. 31:6, 7. Here is, 1. A gracious call to repentance. This was the Lord's voice crying in the city, the voice of the rod, the voice of the sword, and the voice of the prophets interpreting the judgment: ?Turn you, O turn... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 31 This chapter denounces woe to those that trusted in the Egyptians; assures the Jews of God's care and protection of them; calls them to repentance, and foretells the destruction of the Assyrian army. The sin of those that trusted in Egypt, with the reasons of their trust, and not looking to the Lord, and seeking him, is declared in Isaiah 31:1 and their folly exposed in so doing; since the Lord is wise, powerful, and unchangeable, and the Egyptians frail and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:1

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help ,.... Or, "O ye that go down", &c.; what poor foolish creatures are you! And in the end what miserable and wretched ones will ye be! Such were the Jewish rulers and people, who either went themselves, or sent ambassadors to the king of Egypt, to supply them with men and horses against the king of Assyria, contrary to the express command of God, which forbid them returning to Egypt; and which showed their unmindfulness of deliverance from thence,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:2

Yet he also is wise ,.... That is, God, the Holy One of Israel, is, whom they disregarded; and wiser too than the Egyptians, to whom they sought for help, and who were thought to be a wise and political people; and wiser than themselves, who imagined they acted a prudent part, in applying to them; so wise as to know all their schemes, and able to confound them, as well as most certainly and fully to complete his own; and it would have been therefore the highest wisdom to have sought to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:3

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God ,.... Be it that they are mighty, they are not mighty, as God is; and indeed they are but frail, feeble, mortal, and mutable men, and therefore not to be trusted in, and depended on; or to be put upon an equality with God, and even to be preferred to him, as they were by the Jews; and of what use and service could they be unto them, seeing God was against them? and their horses flesh, and not spirit ; only flesh, without an immortal soul or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:4

For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me ,.... The prophet Isaiah, who had heard and received what follows from the Lord, and therefore it might be depended upon; and they are words of grace and mercy, promising preservation and deliverance; and therefore it was a foolish thing to send to Egypt for help: Like as the lion, and the young lion roaring on his prey ; or "muttering", or "growling over his prey" F18 יהגה על טרפו "ab" הגה , "mussitare." ; for the lion roars when he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:5

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem ,.... As the preceding metaphor expresses the mighty power of God, this his tenderness and affection, as well as his speed and swiftness in the deliverance of his people. As birds in the air, at a distance, especially the eagle, have their eye upon their nests, and their young ones in them, and when in danger fly to their assistance, and hover over them, and about them, to keep off those that would hurt them, or carry them away; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 31:6

Turn ye unto him ,.... From the Egyptians, to whom they sought for help, unto the Lord, they had neglected; from evil ways and practices, idolatry and impiety, by repentance and reformation; to the true worship of God, to his word and ordinances, statutes and commands. The Targum is, "turn to the law;' which they had rejected and broken. These are the words of the prophet, a call of his to the people to repentance, to which they might be induced by the gracious declaration of the Lord... read more

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