Teks -- Isaiah 31:1 (NET)

Egypt Will Disappoint

31:1 Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt’s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the Lord.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Isa 31:1 - Horses

For Egypt had many and choice horses.

JFB: Isa 31:1 - and stay on horses, and trust in chariots

In their level and fertile plains horses could easily be used and fed (Exo 14:9; 1Ki 10:28). 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 Isa 36:9; Psa 20:7; Dan 9:13).

Clarke: Isa 31:1 - Wo to them that go down to Egypt

Wo to them that go down to Egypt - This is a reproof to the Israelites for forming an alliance with the Egyptians, and not trusting in the Lord

And stay on horses "Who trust in horses"- For ועל veal , and upon, first twenty MSS. of Kennicott’ s, thirty of De Rossi’ s, one of my own, and the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate, read על al , upon, without the conjunction, which disturbs the sense.

Calvin: Isa 31:1 - Woe to them that go down to Egypt // They have not looked to the Holy One of Israel

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 was, in seasons of danger, to resort, not to the Lord, but to the Egyptians. We have formerly explained why this was so highly displeasing to God. To state the matter briefly, there are two reasons why the Prophet reproves this crime so severely. The first is, because it is impossible for us to place confidence for our salvation in creatures, and at the same time in God; for our eyes must be withdrawn from him as soon as they are directed to them. The second reason is, God had expressly forbidden them to enter into alliance with the Egyptians. (Deu 17:16.) To sinful confidence was added rebelliousness, as if they had resolved to provide for their safety by despising God, and by disobeying his will.

We must therefore look at the source of this evil, if we wish to understand fully the Prophet’s meaning. There was also a peculiar reason, as we have formerly remarked, why the Lord wished the Jews to have no intercourse with the Egyptians. It was, lest that wicked alliance should obliterate the remembrance of the redemption from Egypt, and lest they should be corrupted by the superstitions and sinful idolatry of the Egyptians. Yet these arguments were regarded by them as of no weight; and, though God had forbidden it, this did not hinder them from continually applying to them for assistance, and imagining that their assistance was a shield which defended them against the arm of God. Consequently, there are good reasons why the Prophet exclaims so earnestly against such madness. Even on the ground that God had forbidden it, their “going down into Egypt” deserved to be severely blamed; but it was still more intolerably criminal, that by false confidence they bestowed on mortal men the glory which was due to God. In order to make it still more clear that in this manner they defraud God of his right, he not only accuses them of having relied on the Egyptians, but likewise brings a charge against them, on the other hand, that

They have not looked to the Holy One of Israel Here appears more clearly the reason why that treachery of the Jews is so sharply reproved by Isaiah; for in other respects God does not disapprove of our using lawful remedies, just as we eat bread and other kinds of food which were intended for our use. Thus if any person, placed in danger, employ means which were not forbidden, but which are customary and lawful, provided that he do not at all deny the power of God, he certainly ought not to be blamed; but if we are so strongly attached to outward means, that we do not at the same time seek God, and if, through distrust of his promises, we resort to unlawful methods, this is worthy of condemnation and abhorrence.

The word look is frequently employed in Scripture to denote this confidence; for we commonly turn our eyes towards that quarter from which we expect assistance. In a word, we are here taught that we ought to place our trust for salvation in none other than in God alone, that, relying on his promises, we may boldly ask from him whatever is desirable. He undoubtedly permits us to use all things which he intended for our use, but in such a manner that our minds must be entirely fixed on him.

When he calls God “the Holy One of Israel,” he presents in a striking light the wickedness and ingratitude of the people, who, after having been taken under God’s protection and guardianship, despised such a protector and guardian of their salvation, and ran eagerly after their own lusts. By immediately adding, neither have they sought Jehovah, he shews that neither the power, nor the goodness, nor the fatherly kindness of God, could keep them in the discharge of their duty. In the present day, since he invites us not less kindly to come to him, we offer a grievous insult to him if we look to any other, and do not resolve to trust in him alone; and everything that shall turn away and withdraw our minds from God will be to us like “Egypt.”

TSK: Isa 31:1 - to them // stay on horses // neither

to them : Isa 30:1-7, Isa 36:6, Isa 57:9; Eze 17:15; Hos 11:5

stay on horses : Isa 30:16, Isa 36:9; Deu 17:16; Psa 20:7, Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17, the look, Isa 5:12, Isa 17:7, Isa 17:8, Isa 22:11; 2Ch 16:7; Jer 2:13, Jer 17:5; Hos 14:3

neither : Isa 9:13, Isa 64:7; Dan 9:13; Hos 7:7, Hos 7:13-16; Amo 5:4-8

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Isa 31:1 - That go down to Egypt for help // And stay on horses // They look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord

That go down to Egypt for help as the Jews did, contrary to God’ s command, Deu 17:16 .

And stay on horses for Egypt had many and choice horses.

They look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord their confidence in the creature was accompanied with and did produce a distrust of God, and a neglect of seeking to him by prayer for his help.

Haydock: Isa 31:1 - Chariots

Chariots. He continues to inveigh against this practice, chap. xxx. 16. (Calmet) ---

Salmanasar will ruin the ten tribes. (Menochius)

Gill: Isa 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

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 and people, who either went themselves, or sent ambassadors to the king of Egypt, to supply them with men and horses against the king of Assyria, contrary to the express command of God, which forbid them returning to Egypt; and which showed their unmindfulness of deliverance from thence, and their not having a due sense of that mercy upon them; as well as their so doing exposed them to the danger of being drawn into the superstitions and idolatries of that people:

and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; having their dependence upon, and placing their confidence in, the strength and numbers of the cavalry of the Egyptians:

but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord; they did not look unto the Lord with an eye of faith, nor seek him by prayer and supplication; or ask any counsel or instruction of him, as the Targum paraphrases the last clause; so that their sin lay not only in their confidence in the creature, but in their neglect of the Lord himself; and so all such persons are foolish and miserable, that trust in an arm of flesh, that place their confidence in creature acts, in their own righteousness, duties, and services, and have no regard to the Holy One of Israel, to the holiness and righteousness of Christ, neglect that, and do not submit to it; thus the Targum interprets the former clause of the Word of the Holy One of Israel, the essential Word Christ.