Isaiah 30:17 - Exposition

One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one . A hyperbole common in Scripture ( Deuteronomy 32:30 ; Joshua 23:10 ; Le 26:8), and not confined to the sacred writers. Piankhi the Ethiopian boasts, in his great inscription, that, with Ammon's help, "many should turn their backs upon a few, and one should rout a thousand". At the rebuke of five . The "rebuke" of five ( i.e. their war-shout) would put to flight the whole army. As a beacon ; rather, as a flag-staff—stripped and bare (comp. Isaiah 33:23 ; Ezekiel 27:5 ). A tree stripped of its branches and left standing as a landmark seems to be intended. As an ensign. A military standard, such as was in common use among the Assyrians and Egyptians, as among the Greeks and Romans.