Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
Vers. 1. THat go down to Egypt] Whither God had forbidden his people to return, Deut. 17. 16. & 28, 68. Hos. 11. 5. that they might not forget the benefit of their deliverance thence; and to keep them the freer from the superstitions and idolatries of that place and people. Jer. 2. 17, 18.
for help] Against the King of Assyria. 2 King. 18. 21. Chap. 30. 6, 7. 36. 9. and after that also, against the Chaldean. Jer. 37. 5.
trust in chariots] Psal. 20. 7.
horsemen] Whereof Egypt had store and choice. Deut. 17. 16. 1 King. 10. 28, 29. Ezek. 17. 15.
not unto the holy One of Israel] Implying that men can not trust in God, while they trust to worldly means. Psal. 40. 4. Jer. 17. 5.
neither seek the LORD] Or, enquire of him. Chap. 30. 2.
V. 2. he also is wise] Not ye alone; as ye think: and it were your wisdome therefore, to take advice of him, Jer. 8. 8, 9. who indeed alone is truly wise, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Jude 25. which because ye have neglected to do; he will bring all your plots to nought. Psal. 33. 10, 11.
call back his words] Heb. remove. Chap. 48. 9. or, revoke. annull, frustrate.
V. 3. stretch out his hand] Chap. 23. 11.
he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall] Both Egyptians and Israelites shall alike miscarry. Chap. 22. 25.
V. 4. For] Or, Yet. as Chap. 8. 10.
thus hath the LORD spoken] Yet hath God promised, in the midst of all these troubles to defend and deliver his Church, by his almightie and irresistible power. Chap. 37. 35.
as the lion and the young lion] Jer. 2. 15. & 25. 30.
a multitude] Heb. fulnesse. Gen. 49. 19.
the noise] Or, multitude. Chap. 33. 3.
come down] By his Angel. Chap. 37. 36.
to fight for mount Zion] For the citie of Jerusalem, whereof mount Zion a chief part. Chap. 1. 8. & 37. 35.
the hill thereof] The hill, or rising, on which it is situate. Jer. 17. 3.
V. 5. As birds flying] As they flutter over their young ones to shelter them: so will God protect those that trust in him. Deut. 32. 12. Psal. 91. 1, 2. Or, he will swiftly and suddenly come to rescue and save them. Deut. 28. 49. Psal. 18. 10. Hos. 8. 1.
passing … ] As he did in Egypt. Exod. 12. 12.
V. 6. the children of Israel have deeply revolted] Heb. made deep revolt. as Chap. 7. 11. He setteth forth the grievousnesse of their sinne, together with the greatnesse of the danger, as being deeply sunk and almost drowned in it, and with it, Psal. 69. 2, 14. to encite them the rather to speedy repentance, before their condition grow irrecoverable. Hos. 9. 9.
V. 7. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols] Or, When in that day. Or, For in that day, wherein every man, or, each of you. Heb. a man. as Chap. 9. 20. When being humbled by the Assyrian invasion, Chap. 37. 3. they shall return to God, from whom they had revolted, vers. 6. and manifest the sinceritie of their repentance by abandoning their idols. Chap. 27. 9. & 30. 22.
his idols of gold] Heb. the idols of his gold, his golden idols. Chap. 2. 20.
V. 8. not of a mighty man] Not of any man, but of God. Chap. 37. 36.
he shall flee] See Chap. 37. 37.
from the sword] Or, for fear of the sword. Chap. 21. 15. Jer. 55. 11.
shall be discomfited] Or, be tributary. Josh. 16. 10. or, faint. Josh. 2. 11. Heb. for melting. Chap. 10. 18. or, tribute. Lam. 1. 1.
V. 9. he shall passe over to his strong hold for fear] Or, his rock shall passe away for fear.
his strong hold] Or, his strength. Nineveh, his chiefest and strongest citie. Chap. 37. 37.
the ensigne] The standard, that God shall set up against him. Chap. 59. 19.
whose fire is in Zion] Whose residence is at Jerusalem; where his house is, and his fire constantly kept in it. Levit, 6. 13. which he will therefore protect: or, who hath there his furnace, and his fire, to burn up all his enemies, and the enemies of it. Lev. 10. 2. Numb. 16. 25. Psal. 21. 9. Zech. 2. 5.
furnace] Or, chimney. Lam. 5. 10.