“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!”
Chariots. He continues to inveigh against this practice, chap. xxx. 16. (Calmet) — Salmanasar will ruin the ten tribes. (Menochius)
“Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. call: Heb. remove”
Words. The Lord will punish the wicked Jews, (Calmet) after the Egyptians. (Josephus, [Jewish Antiquities?] x. 1.) — The former would not believe the prophets. (Worthington)
“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.”
Hand. If God neglect to support empires, they fall of themselves.
“For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. noise: or, multitude”
Thereof. He will thence hurl destruction on the distant enemy. (Calmet) — He had destroyed Sennacherib’s army, 4 Kings xix. Yet they forgot this and other proofs of God’s power and love. (Worthington)
“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.”
Over. He will protect Jerusalem, notwithstanding the menaces of Sennacherib, as he did his people from the destroying angel.
“Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.”
Revolted. Let your conversion bear proportion (Calmet) with your sins. (Haydock)
“For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. his idols of gold: Heb. the idols of his gold”
Idols. Their worship was afterwards more severely prohibited, chap. xxx. 21.
“Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. from: or, for fear of discomfited: or, tributary: Heb. for melting, or, tribute”
Flee not. Hebrew, “flee to himself,” lo. Septuagint and Vulgate have read la, “not.” The angel destroyed the army, and the king was slain at his return. — Tributaries. Ninive being afterwards subject to the Chaldeans, &c. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “shall melt.” (Vatable)
“And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. he: Heb. his rock shall pass away for fear his strong hold: or, his strength”
Strength. Hebrew, “rock,” the king. — Jerusalem, to protect it, (Calmet) and punish the guilty. (Chaldean)