Isaiah 31 Study Notes

31:1 On woe, see note at 1:4. This is the fifth woe in chaps. 28-33 (28:1; 29:1,15; 30:1; 33:1). The issue again is that God’s people were trusting foreign nations (in this case Egypt) rather than God for help against their enemies (30:1-17). The “holy war” theme of the OT makes it clear that Israel’s safety depended on God, not on the size of their army. Examples include the battle of Jericho (Jos 7), Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Jdg 7-8) and countless other accounts (Ps 20:7).

31:2-3 Israel’s attempt to get help from Egypt will backfire because God will cause both helper (Egypt) and helped (God’s people) to be destroyed.

31:4-5 God is the only one who can protect his people. In these verses, Isaiah uses two images to describe God’s protection. He is a fearless lion on behalf of Israel against the foreign armies (represented by the shepherds who try to fend him off). He is also hovering over his people like birds hover over their prey. The point is that God will see to the deliverance of his people.

31:6-7 The restoration of God’s people has two sides: returning to him, which implies repentance, and rejecting false gods in the form of silver and gold idols.

31:8 God is the real reason Assyria will fall. He will use Babylon for this task, but God is the one who will give Babylon the victory.

31:9 Though the reference is unusual, the rock is probably a reference to the Assyrian king. A rock is something that provides shelter and protection, but in this case the rock will fail to provide defense. The signal flag is a reference to a battle standard used to rally troops. Zion’s fire and Jerusalem’s furnace may be a reference to the altar fire (see the explanation of “Ariel” in note at 29:1), but in the context of judgment it may point to the fire that will come out of Jerusalem to destroy the attacking enemy.