Rashi on TanakhIsaiah 31
Rashi
Read Isaiah 31 in the BibleIsaiah 31:2
and His words He did not retract What He said, “And the Lord shall take you back to Egypt in ships” (Deut. 28:68). This is payment in kind, for I said to you, “You shall no longer see it (ibid.),” and you went there of your own free will. Eventually, you shall go there in exile against your will.
and He rose on the ten tribes, who are a house of evildoers, and on the Egyptians who came to their aid.
Isaiah 31:3
shall turn His hand For the Holy One, blessed be He, supports everything with His hand, and when He turns it, they will fall, like one who holds something in his hand, and when he inclines his hand, it falls. So is the Midrash Aggadah (Mechilta, Exodus 15:12). Jonathan, however, renders: shall raise the blow of His might.
Isaiah 31:4
As...growls (יֶהְגֶּה) a roaring sound. Comp. (infra 59:11) “And like doves we will moan (הָגֹה נֶהְגֶּה) .”
although a band of shepherds gather against him (יִקָּרֵא, lit., will be called.) They will gather upon him with a stirring shout.
band of shepherds (מְלֹא) a gathering of shepherds. Comp. (Jer. 12:6) “They called after you a band (מָלֵא).” Comp. also (Job 16:10) “Together they gather (יִתְמַלָּאוּן) against me.” All of these are expressions of gathering.
he is not subdued (יַעֲנֶה) he will not humble himself, he will not make himself as a poor man. Comp. (Exodus 10:3) “To humble yourself (לֵעָנוֹת) from before Me.” Comp. also (Hosea 5:5) “And the pride of Israel shall be humbled (וְעָנָה).”
so shall...descend (This intimates that God will descend) and will not be afraid of the stirring (or the multitude) of the nations.
Isaiah 31:5
passing over (פָּסוֹחַ) passing over. Alternatively, it may be interpreted as an expression of sparing.
and rescuing He will extricate Israel from the strait. This is an expression of rescue (esmoucer in O. F.).
Isaiah 31:6
Return To the One about Whom you have thought deeply how to turn away from Him, now return to Him.
Isaiah 31:9
And his rock shall pass from fear And his strength shall be weakened from great fear.
shall be dismayed at the miracle Because of the great miracles that the Holy One, blessed be He, performs for Israel.
whose fire is in Zion There the fire will be prepared to burn them.
Rashi on Tanakh — Rashi. Metsudah Publications / Judaica Press · CC BY
Isaiah 31:1