Oh You People Who Rely on Egypt: In the introduction to chapters 28–30 we suggested that 31:1–32:20 is one unit. Chapter 31 is much shorter than the units on either side, chapter 32 has no opening “Oh” like the rest of chapters 28–33, and taken together chapters 31–32 better fit the pattern whereby chapters 28–30 give increasing prominence to reassuring promise on the other side of threat.

31:1–3 In powerful fashion these opening verses sum up the thrust of chapters 28–30 as Isaiah tries one more time to reach Judah. There is little that is new or subtle here. Rather, the prophetic preacher recapitulates the point of the sermon in unmistakable terms and words of one syllable before making the appeal in verse 6. The repetitions tell the story: Woe, go down to Egypt, help, rely on, horses, tr…