Isaiah 30:16-17

30:16 You say, ‘No, we will flee on horses,’

so you will indeed flee.

You say, ‘We will ride on fast horses,’

so your pursuers will be fast.

30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; ¹ 

at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, ² 

until the remaining few are as isolated ³ 

as a flagpole on a mountaintop

or a signal flag on a hill.”

[30:17]  ¹ tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (gÿ’arah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.

[30:17]  ² tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.

[30:17]  ³ tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).