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Egypt Cannot Protect Israel Against the Lord's Wrath
v. 1. Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, making it a practice to turn to this world-power for assistance, and stay on horses and trust in chariots, because they are many, the chief strength of the Egyptian army being represented by their cavalry, which boasted some very powerful war-chariots, and in horsemen, because they are very strong, there being a powerful multitude of them; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! They forsake the God of the covenant in order to put their trust in mere men.
v. 2. Yet He also is wise, said in divine irony, for God is wise in essence, far wiser than the Egyptians, and in comparison with Him the Jews had surely proved themselves fools in forsaking His mighty counsel and protection, and will bring evil, executing punishment upon those who ignore Him, and will not call back His words, He will not take back the threats which He had uttered against the Egyptian alliance, but will arise against the house of the evil-doers and against the help of them that work iniquity, both the Jews who sought assistance and the Egyptians who were ready to give assistance being condemned together.
v. 3. Now, the Egyptians are men, and not God, that is, on the one hand were finite, powerless creatures, on the other the almighty God; and their horses flesh and not spirit, not endowed with the power of spirit beings, but only weak and perishable flesh. When the Lord shall stretch out His hand, make use of His almighty power, both he that helpeth shall fall, namely, Egypt, and he that is holpen, namely, Judah, shall fall down, the helper stumbling and he who accepts the help being carried down to the ground in his fall, and they all shall fail together.
v. 4. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, in a word which partakes of the nature of both a warning and a promise to Judah, His people, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, growling over an animal which he has stolen from the herd and is in the act of tearing to pieces, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, there being an allusion here to the help solicited from Egypt, he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself, shrinking back or slinking away in fear, for the noise of them, not permitting himself to be deprived of his prey, so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion and for the hill thereof, for the congregation of His children. Thus the visitation of the Lord becomes a chastisement of love to His people, for He will finally deliver them from every evil work.