Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 30:16
But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
16. we will flee ] Translate: we will fly (against the enemy). The word, which in the next clause (as in every other instance) means “flee,” is chosen because in Hebr. it resembles in sound the word for “horses.”
upon the swift ] (coursers). In ch. Isa 36:8 the Rabshakeh seems to taunt the Judans with their childish fondness for horsemanship.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But ye said, No – Ye who proposed an alliance with Egypt.
For we will flee upon horses – The word flee ( nuc), usually signifies to flee before or from any person or thing. But here it seems to have the notion of making a rapid motion in general, and not to refer to the fact that they expected to flee from their enemy, for it does not seem to have been a part of their expectation. The idea seems to be that by their alliance with Egypt they would secure the means of rapid motion, whatever might be the necesity or occasion for it, whether against or from an enemy. The sense is, we will by this alliance secure the assistance of cavalry; and, doubtless, the design was to employ it in the attack and discomfiture of their foes. It will be recollected that Moses Deu 17:16 strictly forbade that the future monarch of the Jews should multiply horses to himself, to cause the people to return to Egypt, and that consequently the employment of cavalry was against the laws of the nation. For the reasons of this prohibition, see the note at Isa 2:7. The attempt, therefore, in the time of Hezekiah to call in the aid of the cavalry of Egypt, was a violation of both the letter and the spirit of the Jewish institutions (compare Isa 31:1; Hos 14:4).
Therefore shall ye flee – You shall fly before your enemies; you shall be defeated and scattered.
We will ride upon the swift – That is, upon fleet horses or coursers. Arabia was celebrated, and is still, for producing fleet coursers, and the same was formerly true of Egypt (see the note at Isa 2:7).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
We will flee out of this land from the king of Assyria; which is very probable divers of the richer sort did, having sent their treasures before them, as we read Isa 30:6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. fleenot as fugitives, butwe will speed our course; namely, against the Assyrians, bythe help of cavalry supplied by Egypt (Isa31:1). This was expressly against the Mosaic law (De17:16; see on Isa 2:7; Ho14:3).
shall . . . fleeliterally,”before your enemies”; their sin and its punishmentcorrespond.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses,…. Hither and thither to get help and assistance; go down to Egypt for it on them, or thither for them, as some render it; and then face the enemy, and, if we can not conquer him, will flee from him, and so provide for our safety; this is man’s way of salvation, as opposed to God’s way; see Ho 1:7 or this may design their fleeing on horses and camels with their riches into Egypt, both for the security of them and their persons, Isa 30:6:
therefore shall ye flee; on horses from the enemy, and be pursued and taken by him; this was fulfilled long after, when the city was taken by the Chaldeans; see 2Ki 25:4:
and, We will ride upon the swift; horses or camels, to the swiftness of which they trusted, and doubted not to get off safe, but would find themselves mistaken:
therefore shall they that pursue you be swift; yea, swifter than the horses and camels they rode on, and overtake them, and either put them to death, or carry them captive. The Chaldeans are represented as very swift, Jer 4:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. We will flee on horses; therefore shall you flee. He shews how they refused to wait calmly for the salvation of the Lord; for they chose rather to “flee” to the Egyptians. This is a very beautiful instance of ( ἀντανάκλασις) throwing back an expression, by which he causes their words, so full of confidence, to recoil on themselves. In the first of these clauses, “to flee” means “to escape,” and in the second it means “to take flight.” The Jews said that it would be better for them, if they adopted timely measures for guarding against the danger which was close at hand, and consequently, that they would best provide for their safety by calling in the aid of the Egyptians. “You shall certainly flee,” says Isaiah, “not to find a place of refuge, but to turn your back and to be pursued by horses swifter than yours.”
We now perceive more clearly what is the fault which Isaiah describes. By the distinct reply, No, he shews how obstinately they refused to comply with the advice which was given to them by the prophets, and chose rather to provide for their safety in another manner. Thus, by despising God, they gave a preference to a groundless appearance of safety, which they had allowed themselves to imagine. We ought, therefore, to turn away our minds from looking at present appearances and outward assistance, that they may be wholly fixed on God; for it is only when we are destitute of outward aid that we rely fully on him. It is lawful for us to use the things of this world for our assistance, but we altogether abuse them by our wickedness in forsaking God.
It is proper also to observe how unhappy is the end of those who rely more on outward aids than on God; for everything must be unsuccessful and contrary to their expectation; as we see that these men, in their attempts to find safety, are constrained to undertake a flight which is highly disgraceful, and from which they obtain no advantage. At first there is some appearance of prosperity; but the only effect is, that the change of condition makes the final result more bitter and distressing. And yet Isaiah does not affirm that they will receive no assistance from Egypt, but forewarns them that the Lord will find new methods of thwarting that assistance, so that they will not be able to escape his hand; for, although all men agree together, yet they will not succeed in opposition to God and to his purposes.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) We will flee upon horses.These were expected as the Egyptian contingent of the forces of Judah. With them and the prestige attaching to their fame, the generals and statesmen reckoned on being able to resist Assyria. Isaiah, with his keen insight into the present temper of Egypt, tells them that the only use of the horses will be for a more rapid retreat, not for the charge of battle.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 30:16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
Ver. 16. But ye said, No. ] We will not return or rest. This is a golden rule of life, In silentio et spe fortitudo vestra; but these refractories would have none of it, they knew a better way to work than all that came to. Politicians are like tumblers, that have their heads on the earth and their heels against heaven. Cross-grained they are for the most part to all good.
For we will flee upon horses.
Therefore shall ye flee.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
flee . . . horses . . . shall ye flee. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. nanus . . . sus . . . t’nusun, for emphasis.
swift . . . shall they. . . be swift. Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. kal . . . yikkallu, for emphasis; not a mere “play on words”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
for we will: Isa 5:26-30, Isa 10:28-32, Isa 31:1, Deu 28:25, 2Ki 25:5, Psa 33:17, Psa 147:10, Jer 52:7, Amo 2:14-16, Amo 9:1, Mic 1:13
therefore: Deu 28:49, Jer 4:13, Lam 4:19, Hab 1:8
Reciprocal: Deu 32:25 – sword Jos 11:6 – horses 1Sa 27:1 – there is nothing 2Ch 28:20 – distressed him Job 39:11 – trust Psa 20:7 – Some trust Isa 2:7 – their land is Isa 10:3 – to whom Isa 20:6 – whither Isa 30:5 – General Isa 36:9 – and put Isa 50:11 – all ye Jer 39:4 – when Jer 41:18 – for they Jer 42:14 – we will go Jer 46:6 – not Jer 52:8 – General Eze 11:8 – General Hos 2:7 – she shall follow Hos 14:3 – we will not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
30:16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon {o} horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
(o) We will trust to escape by our horses.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Their punishment would be talionic; their punishment would fit their crime. They would flee before their very swift enemy, because they chose to run away on swift horses rather than to rest in the Lord (cf. Mat 26:52). When we rely on our swiftness and strength, it is only a matter of time before someone faster and stronger comes along and overtakes us.
"The film Chariots of Fire illustrates what this looks like in real life. It tells the story of two men, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Both are great athletes on the same team, but there is a difference. Abrahams competes out of an inner drivenness. He is deeply insecure. He has a point to prove. It’s all about him. Liddell also competes to win. But he runs out of a sense of God’s goodness. He’s not in bondage to himself. He runs for the glory of God. Two men, two motives, two inner lives – Eric Liddell competing in the Holy Spirit, Harold Abrahams running on sheer adrenaline. It’s the difference between spirituality, even in athletics, and self-absorption." [Note: Ortlund, p. 174.]