Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
Isaiah pronounces woe on those who run to Egypt for help, leaning on horses, chariots, and horsemen because they are many, while refusing to look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the LORD. Yet the LORD is wise enough to bring the disaster He has spoken, and because Egypt is only human and its horses are flesh rather than spirit, both helper and helped will stumble together when God stretches out His hand.
W1oe to those who go down to Egypt for help, 2Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; 3But the Egyptians are men, not God;
The LORD then describes His coming defense of Zion with two images: like a lion growling over prey, unshaken by the shouting of shepherds, and like birds hovering over their young. He will descend to fight on Mount Zion and over its hill, shielding, delivering, passing over, and preserving Jerusalem with a resolve and tenderness no human alliance can match.
4For this is what the LORD has said to me: 5Like birds hovering overhead,
The chapter concludes by calling the deeply rebellious children of Israel to return to the LORD and to cast away the silver and gold idols their own hands have sinfully made. When they do, Assyria's fall will show where real power lies, for the empire will be shattered by a sword not of man, its rock will melt away in terror, and its leaders will panic before the LORD whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
6Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel. 7For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made. 8“Then Assyria will fall, 9Their rock will pass away for fear,