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Isaiah 31:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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! 2. 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. 3. 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.

Isaiah 31:1-3 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 31:1

Theological / Devotional

Go down to Egypt. Isaiah continues (see ch. 30:2-7) rebuke of the leaders of Judah for turning to Egypt for help against Assyria. Judah was so weak in cavalry that the Assyrians tauntingly offered to provide 2,000 horses if Hezekiah could set riders upon them (ch. 36:8). The Hebrew politicians sought to make up for this weakness by an appeal to Egypt.

Stay on horses. That is, “depend on horses.” In ancient times horses were used almost exclusively for warfare. God, who had once given Israel a signal triumph over the horses and chariots of Pharaoh (Ex. 14:9, 17, 18, 23, 27 ; 15:19), was forgotten, and Egypt, now a relatively weak nation (see Vol. II, p. 53), was looked to as a source of help.

By SdaBc