Isaiah 17:13 - Exposition

God shall rebuke them ; literally, he shall rebuke them—he who alone can do so. There is no need to mention his name. They shall flee far off . The destruction of the great bulk of Sennacherib's army in the night was followed, as soon as morning came, by the hasty flight of the survivors ( 2 Kings 19:36 ; Isaiah 37:37 ). And shall be chased. Herodotus says that the Egyptians pursued the army of Sennacherib and slew vast numbers (2:141). As the chaff of the mountains (comp. Hosea 13:3 ). Threshing-floors were ordinarily placed upon eminences ( 2 Samuel 24:18 ; 2 Chronicles 3:1 ), where the wind had freer course and consequently greater power. Like a rolling thing ; or, like whirling dust (Kay). The word used commonly means "a wheel."