Isaiah 30:16

But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. BUT YE SAID, NO; FOR WE WILL FLEE - not as fugitives, but we will speed our course-namely, against the Assyrians, by the help of cavalry supplied by Egypt (). This was expressly against the Mosaic law (: cf. note, ; ). THEREFORE SHALL YE FLEE - literally, before your enemies. Their sin and its punishment correspond. Retribution in kind....

16._We will flee on horses; therefore shall you flee. _He shews how they refused to wait calmly for the salvation of the Lord; for they chose rather to “flee” to the Egyptians. This is a very beautiful instance of ( ἀντανάκλασις) throwing back an expression, by which he causes their words, so full of confidence, to recoil on themselves. In the first of these clauses, “to flee” means “to escape,” and in the second it means “to take flight.” The Jews said that it would be better for them, if they adopted timely measures for guarding against the danger which was close at hand, and consequently, that they would best provide for their safety by calling in the aid of the Egyptians. “You shall certainly flee,” says Isaiah, “not to find a place of refuge, but to turn your back and to be pursued by horses swifter than yours.” We now perceive more clearly what is the fault which Isaiah describes....

8-18 The Jews were the only professing people God then had in the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety. Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty; that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own minds, and relying up...

BUT YE SAID, NO - Ye who proposed an alliance with Egypt. FOR WE WILL FLEE UPON HORSES - The word ‘flee’ (נוּס _nûc_), usually signifies to flee before or from any person or thing. But here it seems to have the notion of making a rapid motion in general, and not to refer to the fact that they expected to flee “from” their enemy, for it does not seem to have been a part of their expectation. The idea seems to be that by their alliance with Egypt they would secure the means of “rapid motion,” whatever might be the necesity or occasion for it, whether against or from an enemy. The sense is, ‘we will by this alliance secure the assistance of cavalry;’ and, doubtless, the design was to employ it in the attack and discomfiture of their foes. It will be recollected that Moses Deuteronom

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 30:1 THE ALLIANCE WITH EGYPT OPENLY REBUKED. In the preceding chapter (Isaiah 30:15) the design of the Jewish rulers to seek the alliance of Egypt was covertly glanced at and condemned; now it is openly declared and rebuked. The rulers are warned that no good can possibly come of it, even in a worldly sense. The Egyptians will give no aid, or at any rate no effectual aid. The sums expended in purchasing their friendship will be utterly thrown away. ISAIAH 30:1 WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN (comp....

BUT YE SAID, NO, FOR WE WILL FLEE UPON HORSES,.... Hither and thither to get help and assistance; go down to Egypt for it on them, or thither for them, as some render it; and then face the enemy, and, if we can not conquer him, will flee from him, and so provide for our safety; this is man's way of salvation, as opposed to God's way; see Hosea 1:7 or this may design their fleeing on horses and camels with their riches into Egypt, both for the security of them and their persons, Isaiah 30:6: THEREFORE SHALL YE FLEE; on horses from the enemy, and be pursued and taken by him; this was fulfilled long after, when the city was taken by the Chaldeans; see 2 Kings 25:4: AND, WE WILL RIDE UPON THE SWIFT;

CHAPTER 30 The Fourth Woe Against Alliance With Egypt 1. _The alliance and its failure (Isaiah 30:1)_ 2. _The written table against the rebellious people (Isaiah 30:8)_ 3. _Jehovah's word of encouragement (Isaiah 30:15)_ 4. _The nation blest and restored (Isaiah 30:18)_ 5. _Idolatry ceases and the land restored (Isaiah 30:22)_ 6. _The accomplishment by the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 30:27)_ While this chapter had a si

This passage is introduced by a strange title, Oracle concerning the beasts of the Negeb, _i.e._ either the beasts who carry the treasure to Egypt (Isaiah 30:6_ b_), or the wild creatures that infest the Negeb. Duhm supposes that the oracle began In the wastes of the South, and that the title should be, Oracle. In the wastes of the South. the title being taken from the opening words, which have fallen out of the text through haplography. With great trouble and expense the ambassadors go through the difficult and dangerous desert to negotiate a useless alliance with Egypt, an insolent and indolent people. The prophet is bidden write his oracle on a tablet (Isaiah 8:1) and inscribe it in a book, that it may be a witness (_mg._) for ever ...

FLEE... HORSES... SHALL YE FLEE. Note the Figure of speech _Paronomasia_. Hebrew. _nanus_... _sus_... _t'nusun,_ for emphasis. SWIFT... SHALL THEY... BE SWIFT. Figure of speech _Paronomasia_. Hebrew. _kal... yikkallu,_ for emphasis; not. mere "play on words"....

The true policy contrasted with the false. 15 re-echoes the great ruling principle of Isaiah's statesmanship: comp. ch. Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 7:9; Isaiah 28:16. For _saith_read with R.V. SAID. _returning and rest … quietness and in confidence_ The first expression describes the external policy, the second the attitude of mind, demanded by the occasion. On the one hand, averseness to war (Micah 2:8), renunciation of earthly help and a wise passivity in international affairs; on the other, calm reliance on Jehovah: in this last, the prophet says, they would have manifested the truest "strength" or courage....