Isaiah 31:9 - Exposition

And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear ; rather, and his Rock shall pass away for fear (marginal rendering). It is generally agreed by recent commentators (Kay, Delitzsch, Cheyne), that the rock intended, which is contrasted with the "princes" of the next clause, is Assyria's king (see the contrast of the king, who is "a great rock ," and his princes, in Isaiah 32:1 , Isaiah 32:2 ). (On the hurried flight of Sennacherib to Nineveh, see below, Isaiah 37:37 .) His princes shall be afraid of the ensign . The word nes , ensign, seems to be here used collectively. The Assyrian princes would tremble at every signal that they saw displayed along their line of route, expecting some enemy to fall upon them. His furnace. Jehovah was at once a Light to his people, and "a consuming Fire" ( Hebrews 12:29 ) to his enemies. His presence, indicated by the Shechinah in the holy of holies, was at once for blessing and for burning.