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.
4 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.
5 As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
<html><b>Woe</b> Concerning Hoshea and the ten tribes who went down to Egypt for aid, who sent emissaries to So, king of Egypt (II Kings 17). <b>on horses</b> that come from there, for they are swift runners. <b>rely</b> (יִשָּׁעֵנוּ) and they did not rely on the Holy One of Israel as Hezekiah did, concerning whom it is written: (II Kings 18:5,7): “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel…and he rebelled against the king of Assyria.”</html>
<html><b>and His words He did not retract</b> What He said, “And the Lord shall take you back to Egypt in ships” (Deut. 28:68). This is payment in kind, for I said to you, “You shall no longer see it (ibid.),” and you went there of your own free will. Eventually, you shall go there in exile against your will. <b>and He rose</b> on the ten tribes, who are a house of evildoers, and on the Egyptians who came to their aid.</html>
<html><b>shall turn His hand</b> For the Holy One, blessed be He, supports everything with His hand, and when He turns it, they will fall, like one who holds something in his hand, and when he inclines his hand, it falls. So is the Midrash Aggadah (Mechilta, Exodus 15:12). Jonathan, however, renders: shall raise the blow of His might.</html>
<html><b>As…growls</b> (יֶהְגֶּה) a roaring sound. Comp. (infra 59:11) “And like doves we will moan (הָגֹה נֶהְגֶּה) .” <b>although a band of shepherds gather against him</b> (יִקָּרֵא, lit., will be called.) They will gather upon him with a stirring shout. <b>band of shepherds</b> (מְלֹא) a gathering of shepherds. Comp. (Jer. 12:6) “They called after you a band (מָלֵא).” Comp. also (Job 16:10) “Together they gather (יִתְמַלָּאוּן) against me.” All of these are expressions of gathering. <b>he is not subdued</b> (יַעֲנֶה) he will not humble himself, he will not make himself as a poor man. Comp. (Exodus 10:3) “To humble yourself (לֵעָנוֹת) from before Me.” Comp. also (Hosea 5:5) “And the pride of Israel shall be humbled (וְעָנָה).” <b>so shall…descend</b> (This intimates that God will descend) and will not be afraid of the stirring (or the multitude) of the nations.</html>
<html><b>passing over</b> (פָּסוֹחַ) passing over. Alternatively, it may be interpreted as an expression of sparing. <b>and rescuing</b> He will extricate Israel from the strait. This is an expression of rescue (esmoucer in O. F.).</html>
<html><b>Return</b> To the One about Whom you have thought deeply how to turn away from Him, now return to Him.</html>
<html><b>And his rock shall pass from fear</b> And his strength shall be weakened from great fear. <b>shall be dismayed at the miracle</b> Because of the great miracles that the Holy One, blessed be He, performs for Israel. <b>whose fire is in Zion</b> There the fire will be prepared to burn them.</html>