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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Stay on horses, and trust in chariots. In their level and fertile plains horses could easily used and fed (; ). 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 ; .)

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See also Isaiah 31:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXXI _The Jews again reproved for their confidence in Egypt, finely_ _contrasted with their neglect of the power and protection of_ _God_, 1-3. _Deliverance and protection are, notwithstan...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WO - (see the note at Isaiah 30:1). TO THEM THAT GO DOWN TO EGYPT - (see the note at Isaiah 30:2). AND STAY ON HORSES - (see the note at...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 31 The Fifth Woe Against Them that Go Down to Egypt 1. _The Egyptian Alliance condemned again (Isaiah 31:1)_ 2. _Jehovah promises to deliver Jerusalem (Isaiah 31:4) _ All looks forward toward...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ISAIAH 31. THE FOLLY OF RELIANCE ON EGYPT. JERUSALEM WILL BE PROTECTED, AND ASSYRIA OVERTHROWN. vv. Isaiah 31:6 f. seems to be an interpolation. Isaiah 31:4 f_._ creates serious difficulties. Isaiah 3...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WOE. The fourth of the six woes. DOWN. It is always "down" to Egypt, geographically and morally. TRUST. confide. Hebrew. _batah._ App-69. THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. See note on Isaiah 1:4.Psalms 71:22...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Woe to them that put their trust in the horses and chariots of Egypt! The Jews were painfully conscious of their weakness in cavalry as compared with the Assyrians, and this was one of the considerati...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. SWORD TEXT: Isaiah 31:1-9 1 Woe to them that 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 lo...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    See Isaiah 30:16....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1-5. Judah should trust not in Egypt, but in Jehovah. 6-9. The wonderful deliverance from the Assyrian....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD DEFENDS *JERUSALEM ISAIAH CHAPTER S 31 TO 39 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 31 NUMBERS ARE NOT EVERYTHING V1 *Woe to people who are appealing to Egypt for help!...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Isaiah intends his list (‘horses, *chariots, horsemen’) to emphasise Egypt’s great military strength. • The ‘horsemen’ are the skilled soldiers who drive the *chariots....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XXXI. (1) WOE TO THEM THAT GO DOWN... — The Egyptian alliance was, of course, the absorbing topic of the time, and Isaiah returns to it yet again. As in Isaiah 30:16, the princes of Judah were attract...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הֹ֣וי הַ יֹּרְדִ֤ים מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְ עֶזְרָ֔ה ע

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XIV THREE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD ABOUT 702 B.C. Isaiah 31:1 CHAPTER 31, which forms an appendage to Chapter s 29 and 30, can scarcely be reckoned among the more important prophecies of Isaiah. It...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BOOK 3 ORATIONS ON THE EGYPTIAN INTRIGUES AND ORACLES ON FOREIGN NATIONS 705-702 B.C. Isaiah: 29 About 703 30 A little later 31 A little later 32:1-8 Later 32:9-20 Date uncertain -----------...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A NOBLER FUTURE FOR THE NATION Isaiah 31:1-9; Isaiah 32:1-8 Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The prophet again denounces the alliance with Egypt. He declares that the sin of it is a false trust consequent on the chosen people tuning their back on Jehovah. The folly of it is manifest in the fa...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Woe to them that (a) 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 look not to the Holy One of...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Chariots. He continues to inveigh against this practice, chap. xxx. 16. (Calmet) --- Salmanasar will ruin the ten tribes. (Menochius)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This chapter is to the same purport as the former. The prophet setteth forth the fully of all human confidences. Some gracious promises are given towards the close of the chapter....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Reader! we shall find scriptures, such as the present, truly profitable, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost, if we make application of what is here said in history, concerning Israel's trusting in E...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _HELP FROM A WRONG QUARTER_ ‘Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses … but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel.’ Isaiah 31:1 I. HERE WE SEE HOW FOOLISH WE ARE NOT TO P...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._Woe to them that go down to Egypt. _He again returns to the subject which he had handled at the beginning of the former chapter; for he still cries loudly against the Jews, whose ordinary custom it...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The folly of trusting in an arm of flesh is again pointed out, but only while dwelling on the true means of deliverance. Jehovah at Jerusalem would be in the midst of the nations as a lion among the s...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Is...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Wo to them that go down to Egypt_, &c. As the Jews did, contrary to God's command, Deuteronomy 17:16. _And stay on horses_ For Egypt had many and choice horses. _But they look not unto the Lord_ Thei...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    EGYPT CANNOT PROTECT ISRAEL AGAINST THE LORD'S WRATH...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, making it a practice to turn to this world-power for assistance, AND STAY ON HORSES AND TRUST IN CHARIOTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE MANY, the chief strength of the...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 God will oppose the help sought from workers of iniquity. Sinners may be convicted of folly by plain and self-evident truths, which they cannot deny, but will not believe. There is no escaping th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ISAIAH CHAPTER 31 The folly and punishment of trust in Egypt, ISAIAH 31:1. God will fight for Jerusalem, ISAIAH 31:4,5, if they will turn unto him, ISAIAH 31:6,7. The fall of Assyria,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 31:1 Woe H1945 down H3381 (H8802) Egypt H4714 help H5833 rely H8172 (H8735) horses H5483 trust...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THEY MUST TRUST IN YAHWEH AND NOT IN THE HORSES OF EGYPT (ISAIAH 31:1). The Assyrians had powerful chariotry and horsemen, and in order to combat them many felt that their only hope was in Egypt, famo...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    TRUST (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 2:12). _...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Judah again warned against the Egyptian alliance. Jehovah's defense of Jerusalem. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: It is gross absurdity to forsake the Rock of Ages for broken reeds. If men wi...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 31:1. _Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help._ This was a sin in open defiance of the law. Deuteronomy 28:68. It was a great revolt of unbelief, because it distrusted the Lord, and all his...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help_ THE ABUNDANCE OF HORSES IN EGYPT The abundance of horses in Egypt is attested, not only in other parts of Scripture, but by profane writers. Homer descri...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 31:1 WOE. See note on 28:1. GO DOWN TO EGYPT FOR HELP. See Isaiah 28:15;...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE ONLY COUNSELLOR Isaiah 31:1. _Woe to the rebellious children, &c._ These words were spoken by the prophet at a time when the Jewish nation was in great and imminent danger. They were addrest to t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ISAIAH 31:1 A FURTHER WARNING AGAINST SEEKING THE ALLIANCE OF EGYPT. This prophecy seems to be quite independent of the last (Isaiah 30:

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Isaiah 31:1-9. Now as a backdrop to these scriptures in Isaiah 31:1-9 is the impending invasion of Assyria. Assyria is the world-conquering power at the moment. Assyria...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Chronicles 16:7; Amos 5:4; Daniel 9:13; Deuteronomy 17:16; E

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Horses — For Egypt had many and choice horses....

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