Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 43:17
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
17. which bringeth forth ] i.e. allows them to come forth to their destruction (cf. Eze 38:4, where the same expression is used with regard to the expedition of Gog, king of Magog). The next words should be rendered simply chariot and horse (without art.).
the army and the power ] Perhaps: army and warrior. The second word is found elsewhere only in Psa 24:8 (A.V. “mighty”) in apposition with the common word for “hero.” Here it may be used collectively.
they shall lie down ] Better: they lie down.
quenched as tow ] extinguished like a wick; the same words as in ch. Isa 42:3. The alternation of tenses in the original is noteworthy and very graphic. The participial construction first gives place to the descriptive impf., and this again to two perfects of completed action.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse – The reference here is, undoubtedly, to the occurrences which are recorded in Exo 14:4, following, when Pharaoh and his host are said to have followed the Israelites, but were all submerged in the sea. God is said to have brought them forth in accordance with the general statement so often made, that he controls and directs princes and nations (see the note at Isa 10:5-6).
They shall lie down together – They shall sink together to death, as Pharaoh and his army sunk together in a watery grave.
Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them:
They sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Exo 15:10
The depths have covered them:
They sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exo 15:5
They are extinct – They are destroyed, as the wick of a lamp is quenched suddenly when immersed in water. This is a striking figure, to denote the suddenness with which it was done, and the completeness of their destruction. As a flame is entirely put out when plunged beneath the water, so the whole host of the Egyptians were suddenly and completely destroyed in the Red Sea. The sentiment in this verse is, that God has power over the nations to control them; that it is one of his characteristics to lead on the enemies of his people to destruction; and that they are suddenly destroyed, and their hopes, and joys, and triumphs put out forever. If it was so in regard to the Egyptians, it will be also in regard to all his foes. And if this took place in regard to a nation, it shall also in regard to individual sinners who oppose themselves to God.
How oft is the candle of time wicked put out?
And how oft cometh their destruction upon them?
God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
They are as stubble before the wind,
And as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
Job 21:17-18
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; or rather, Who brought forth the chariots, &c., i.e. Pharaoh, and his chariots, and homes, and army; as may be gathered from the next verse, where the things here mentioned are called former things, and things of old. They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; or, they did lie down together, (to wit, in the bottom of the sea,) they did not rise; they sank like lead, as it is said, Exo 15:10, and they never rose again to molest the Israelites, as God promised, Exo 14:13. These two Hebrew verbs are of the future tense, but that seems to be put for the preter tense, because the two following verbs, which treat of the same thing, and are added to explain these, are of the preter tense.
They are quenched as tow; as the wick of a candle when it is put into the water is wholly extinguished, and not the least spark of fire left, so were they utterly destroyed, and not one of them remained.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. the powerthe might of theenemies host, every mighty warrior.
they shall lie downtogetheras Pharaoh’s army sank “together” in awatery grave.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Which bringeth forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the power,…. Who brought forth the chariots and horses, and the mighty army of Pharaoh, out of Egypt, to pursue the Israelites into the Red sea, where they were drowned. The present tense is put for the future, as in the preceding verse; the future is put for the past tense in the next clause:
they shall lie down together, they shall not rise; they lay down in the Red sea, where they sunk to the bottom, and perished, and never rose more, at least to life, nor never will, till the general resurrection:
they are extinct, they are quenched as tow; or flax, or as the wick of a candle p, when put into water, is quenched at once; so the Egyptian, became extinct in the Red sea. Some observe an allusion to the commodity of flax, for which Egypt was famous. Kimchi interprets the whole of the army of Sennacherib, which was brought out of their own land to Jerusalem, and was destroyed in one night by an angel. Aben Ezra of the Chaldeans being brought out to fight with the Persians. But others rather of the army of the Medes and Persians being brought against them, by whom they became extinct as tow or flax.
p “ut ellychnium” Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gataker, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. When he bringeth out. He shows that no power or forces shall hinder him from delivering his people, whenever he shall think proper. The sea which lay between them could not prevent God from “bringing out” his people; but he divided its waters in the midst, and drowned the pursuing enemies, with their horses and chariots. (Exo 14:28.) This is therefore an amplification; as if he had said, “Though the whole world be leagued for your destruction, and attempt, to hinder the deliverance of my Church, yet it will gain nothing; for not only will the Lord find out a way through whirlpools, when he thinks proper, but he will overthrow and scatter all opposing efforts, and will crush them so that they shall never again raise their head.”
They are quenched like flax. It is possible that he who was vanquished in one battle may renew his strength in another, and at length be victorious; but here the Lord promises a continual victory, for he declares that the enemies shall be subdued in such a manner that they shall be completely extinguished. By the metaphor of flax, he expresses more vividly the sudden destruction of the enemies; for flax may indeed burn and give light, but is immediately consumed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) Quenched as towi.e., as the wick of a lamp going out. (See Note on Isa. 42:3.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 43:17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
Ver. 17. Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse. ] Or, Who brought forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power, viz, Pharaoh’s forces. Exo 14:4 ; Exo 14:9 ; Exo 14:23
They are quenched as tow.
a Ut ellychnium extinguentur.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
together: or, at once.
tow = wick. Hebrew flax. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the wick made of it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
bringeth: Exo 14:4-9, Exo 14:23-28, Exo 15:4, Psa 46:8, Psa 46:9, Psa 76:5, Psa 76:6, Eze 38:8-18
they shall: Isa 14:20-22, Rev 19:17-21, Rev 20:8-9
they are: Isa 1:31
Reciprocal: Jdg 4:16 – there Amo 5:2 – she shall Amo 8:14 – shall fall
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
43:17 Who bringeth {r} forth the {s} chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick.
(r) When he delivered his people out of Egypt.
(s) Pharaoh and his mighty army.