10:24 So 1 here is what the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did. 2
31:1 Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, 3
those who rely on war horses,
and trust in Egypt’s many chariots 4
and in their many, many horsemen. 5
But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel 6
and do not seek help from the Lord.
45:14 This is what the Lord says:
“The profit 7 of Egypt and the revenue 8 of Ethiopia,
along with the Sabeans, those tall men,
will be brought to you 9 and become yours.
They will walk behind you, coming along in chains. 10
They will bow down to you
and pray to you: 11
‘Truly God is with 12 you; he has no peer; 13
there is no other God!’”
1 tn Heb “therefore.” The message that follows is one of encouragement, for it focuses on the eventual destruction of the Assyrians. Consequently “therefore” relates back to vv. 5-21, not to vv. 22-23, which must be viewed as a brief parenthesis in an otherwise positive speech.
2 tn Heb “in the way [or “manner”] of Egypt.”
3 tn Heb “Woe [to] those who go down to Egypt for help.”
4 tn Heb “and trust in chariots for they are many.”
5 tn Heb “and in horsemen for they are very strong [or “numerous”].”
6 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
5 tn Heb “labor,” which stands metonymically for the fruits of labor, either “monetary profit,” or “products.”
6 tn Or perhaps, “merchandise” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “the gain of Ethiopia”; CEV “the treasures of Ethiopia.”
7 tn Heb “they will pass over to you”; NASB, NIV “will come over to you”; CEV “will belong to you.”
8 sn Restored Israel is depicted here in typical ancient Near Eastern fashion as an imperial power that receives riches and slaves as tribute.
9 sn Israel’s vassals are portrayed as so intimidated and awed that they treat Israel as an intermediary to God or sub-deity.
10 tn Or perhaps, “among.” Cf. KJV, ASV “Surely God is in thee.”
11 tn Heb “there is no other” (so NIV, NRSV). The same phrase occurs at the end of v. 18, in v. 21, and at the end of v. 22.